scrapes

[fillthefreezer]

in the area ive been scouting for blackies this week thee are lots of scrapes from the elk, wondering if theres an easy way to tell if and when i get a buck rubbing as opposed to just more bulls...

[sirmissalot]

buck rubs are much smaller and lower to the ground. I'd say buck rubs are around 2ft off the ground and only 12-18 inches long, where a bull rub is probably 3-5ft off the ground (often times even higher) and longer, say 2-3ft long. Most buck rubs I see are on small firs or alders about 1-2 inches in diameter, its pretty easy to tell its just a buck.

[boneaddict]

Usually in a bit different terrain/topography as well.   All what he said, plus check for hair in the sap. 

[buglebuster]

 

[buckfvr]

I find a lot of rubs along fence lines and its the 4in round posts that are getting gored up.....that and bigger trees with adjoining trunk and limb damage is what I look for....but its whitetails here.   Elk is easier to notice as the broken branches catch the eye first....more damage.  When an elk horns up a young tree, it many times kills the tree.....

[AKBowman]

Elk

[AKBowman]

This is also a common elk rub. They will bend alders over and rub the hell out of them then the alder will bend back and the rub will be 10' off the ground.

[AKBowman]

Or just snap the alder in half like in the picture above.

[fillthefreezer]

ya ive got elk rubs all over out there, mostly on alder, but ive seen a few nice bucks in person and on my cam, just trying to see if theyve stuck around and are coming into rut.
i figured there would be smaller and lower to the ground, just wasnt sure what trees they like, there isnt much for small fir in the area but lots of alder, and ive seen some rubs that probably only came up to belt line, just wasnt sure

[woowoo]

Don't mean to hijack here but we have a lot of those trees snapped in half like that with no real signs of rubbing. Wondering what's causing this? Havn't seen any elk but do have some moose running around. It's got us pretty confused and I was just curious if it may be an animal. 

[boneaddict]

VERY characteristic of a moose.   Especially one asserting dominance.  I have noted it particularly with certain individual moose.   For instance the one I got in Washington was snapping 4-6 inch trees in half.  It was INSANE.   I only find it from certain bulls.  Probably the more dominanat ones.

[boneaddict]

AKBOWMAN, the latter pic is more characteristic of a moose than an elk.  Just saying......

moose tend to take on chunks of brush versus individual trees until later in the year when they are peeling bark for food.   

[hunter360]

Don't mean to hijack here but we have a lot of those trees snapped in half like that with no real signs of rubbing. Wondering what's causing this? Havn't seen any elk but do have some moose running around. It's got us pretty confused and I was just curious if it may be an animal. 

That's Bigfoot 

[fillthefreezer]

Don't mean to hijack here but we have a lot of those trees snapped in half like that with no real signs of rubbing. Wondering what's causing this? Havn't seen any elk but do have some moose running around. It's got us pretty confused and I was just curious if it may be an animal. 

i have alot of rubs that are broken off, some even look like maybe they stuck a point through it and pull up like youd do with a filet knife in a salmon..

[blacktail luv]

I know bears snap trees off also.