Deer Rubs
Spring Deer Scouting
Whitetail Deer hunters interested in scouting rub lines will find this series of pictures on this page representative of the variety of rubs found in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Not that rubs in the mid-west are different than anywhere else, it is that these pictures add one more fragment of information about our deer hunting lease land and scouting.
Deer Rubs
About as much of a shredder rub to be found anywhere.
If this quality of deer sign does not get the hunter excited then re-calibration is in order. This is one good rub possibly indicating a trophy whitetail deer has been in the area.
The challenge with our fairly large population of non-resident hunters traveling in from big woods states is that such sign while scouted for is often overlooked by not being on perceived good deer spots. The shredder rub at right came from the deer lease pictures below.
This first picture is of an individual shredder rub found in a small wood patch found as part of a scouting trip prior to hunting lease contracting. The last three, below, are of rubs on traditional rub lines. It is commonly accepted that trophy bucks make big rubs. It is also commonly accepted a traditional rub line has mature deer returning over the years.
Members are encouraged to pre season scout their potential deer hunting spots, select tree stands, etc. The membership is for a 365 day year starting the day of membership allocation. Scouting and shed hunting in late winter or spring, glass fields pre season, scouting trails, rubs and scrapes, etc. The only limitations to be encountered are two. The first is that we have large corporation land holdings run by businessmen that seek minimum resource expenditure and maximum gain, or simply put they negotiate seasonal rather than year long leases. The second is that while a perfect 200 acre deer lease may produce the best hunting we have it may be connected to 1,500 acres of useless land. That type of lease will most likely be on our delete list to be replaced as soon as we find something better.
Non-resident hunters without the benefit of pre-season deer scouting will be placed on lease land with this quality of sign. We do encourage the non-resident to come early or spend the first couple days of the hunt scouting the area before selecting their stands or hunting leases.
Do not consider this quality of rubs a scarce item. They can be found by anyone willing to walk.
The traditional rub line pictured below was from the wooded creek bottom shown in the aerial.
A lot of big woods state deer hunters are surprised by the aerials of some of our deer leases remarking at the lack of trees. It cannot be over emphasized that our best deer hunting is within the 45 to 55% agricultural land use region. That region of plentiful food and cover brought by the wooded creek bottom cutting through the grain fields.
All the trees on this rub line are of this general size. Large trees suitable for deer stand are near by and were left entirely untouched by the bucks using this line. The attraction of this one spot on this farm is unknown. The overall area is unremarkable. The only possible benefit of this site is it is nearly in the center of the property well out-of-site of any road, house or other typical indicator of human presence. This observation is only conjecture with only the minimal corroborating observations with other traditional rub lines. During all the time scouting this one deer lease we saw a few deer overall and one with a respectable rack.
What many traveling deer hunters from big woods states have commented on is that patterning deer behavior in our more open land to be easier. Connecting the dots between rub lines, bedding tall grass, water source, specific crops dependent on the time for the year, etc.
This deer hunting lease was recommended to several do it yourself deer hunters both for pre season deer scouting and during season deer hunting over several seasons. Some of whom hunted it while others passed on it for what they considered better deer hunting leases found through their own scouting without our recommendations.