Post by: Acrosstheriver on October 17, 2019, 01:51:19 PM
I've been out just a couple times so far, but am waiting for the last week or so this month when things usually get better with rut approaching. I hunt 40 acres of private property where there are typically lots of does and I occasionally get a buck on my game camera. I scout early looking for well-worn trails, beds and antler rubbed saplings, the latter of which I've yet to find. Seems like last year there were rubs everywhere by this time! This year I've yet to find a single one and haven't had a single buck appear on camera since last July. As a side note, elk, however, have been milling around all Summer. I have cows on my camera and vid of a large bull in rut that I encountered one evening a few weeks ago. I found a huge rub from what I assume was the same bull, on an alder tree.
So my main question is: how important is finding antler rubs in determining the whereabouts and/population of these blacktails? Is it a sign that maybe they've gone elsewhere this year?
Second question: Does the heavy presence of elk tend to drive the blacktails off?
Post by: Teepee96 on October 17, 2019, 02:23:57 PM
Now that my disclaimer is over with, I'd say if you're on does that last week there's bound to be a buck sniffing around the area. And if you have seen rubs in that area then he shouldn't be far. I've heard that blacktail will live most of it's life in a pretty small area.
With that said, rubs are better because it's hard evidence that a buck is in that area and he's laying claim to it, but just because there's not I wouldn't say there's no bucks either
Post by: bobcat on October 17, 2019, 02:28:49 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 17, 2019, 07:21:24 PM
Elk in the area often are often noisy enough in the woods to move deer to the periphery of their territories until the elk leave. The deer just can't seem to settle down when they've got big honkin' animals walking up and down the trails where they bed and feed. I've got property in 506 like that - If I go out deer hunting there and see a lot of fresh elk sign, it is almost guaranteed that I won't see any deer until the elk move on from the area.
Post by: jason4429 on October 19, 2019, 09:19:05 PM
Post by: Acrosstheriver on October 19, 2019, 10:04:57 PM
Post by: lewy on October 19, 2019, 10:10:58 PM
Post by: Turner89 on October 19, 2019, 10:15:12 PM
Post by: fishnfur on October 19, 2019, 10:28:07 PM
I could see a rub on a Ponderosa Pine at 65 yards from my blind today that seems new overnight.
Post by: X-Force on October 19, 2019, 10:31:20 PM
Post by: boneaddict on October 20, 2019, 07:33:46 AM
Post by: Axle on October 20, 2019, 07:54:16 AM
Post by: Okanagan on October 20, 2019, 07:55:43 AM
Re rubs this year: I saw my first fresh rub of the year last Monday, two days after opening day when the rub was not there. I tagged a big bodied older 2x3 on Thursday because he acted just enough rut goofy to let me get off a snap shot at 37 yards. Shotgun only area, slug.
Post by: Threewolves on October 20, 2019, 07:57:07 AM
Post by: Okanagan on October 20, 2019, 08:02:14 AM
Killing a fork horn is way better than finding rubs, congratulations!
!!! :tup:
Post by: cooltimber on October 20, 2019, 08:09:13 AM
Thank you for your replies. Still no rubs, but all of a sudden the bucks showed up! This forky isn’t as big as last year’s but He should be good eating! He was with a doe that I’d been trailing. Got him from about 30 yards with my grandpa’s Savage 99.great job