Rubs And Rutting Bucks (FTPO)
In Chapter 11 of my book, “Rub Line Secrets”, I wrote that hunters have long been led to believe that mature bucks never travel along their rub-lines during the rut. As the theory goes, big buck travel along rub-lines screeches to a halt when the first does enter estrus. And they won’t resume traveling along their rub-lines until after the last doe is bred.
I can sum up my feelings on this theory with one word. BALONEY! Not only will rutting bucks relate to rubs, there’s every possibility that you could catch a monster buck moving along a rub line during the peak of the rut. Granted, some special circumstances must exist before this happens. Regardless, the fact remains. Rub-line travel during the rut does indeed occur.
One special circumstance involving the rut and rub-lines concerns antlerless deer numbers. The more breeding-age does in an area, the less big bucks must travel outside their core areas. And the less wandering they do during the rut, the more likely they are to travel along their rub-lines.
Of course, just the opposite is true in areas where antlerless deer numbers are relatively low, such as in big woods or wilderness environments. Obviously, if rutting bucks spend the majority of their time chasing hot does miles from their own core areas, they aren’t going to be doing much traveling along their rub lines.
Having said that, I’ve also come to believe that hunters everywhere can expect to see at least some big buck activity along rub lines during the rut. Here’s why. Even the most nomadic rutting bucks occasionally return to their core areas. In most instances these returns aren’t prompted by the prospects of finding hot does either. Rather, it’s more a case of bucks coming home to rest and recharge their batteries.
After laying low for a whie, rutting bucks often will spend a day or two feeding ravenously. After replenishing their energy supplies, they’re going to jump back into the breeding game.
Here’s the interesting part of this. When rutting bucks do return home to rest, rub-line hunting can suddenly become productive. That’s because, just like during the pre-rut, bucks are again traveling along rub-lines that link bedding and feeding areas. If you did even the slightest bit of scouting and/or hunting during the pre-rut, you should already know the exact location of the hottest rub-lines.
Another time to possibly catch a rutting buck on his core area rub lines is at the tail end of the rut. Mature bucks often return home before the rut is “officially” over. It’s not that they’re no longer in a rutting mood, it’s more a case of being plain tuckered out. Instead of resting and recuperating just anywhere, however, big bucks almost always return to their core areas. And once at home, they’ll again start traveling along their rub-lines.
As I said at the beginning, big buck travel on rub-lines during the rut does occur. Granted, waiting in ambush along rub lines at this time of year is by no means anywhere near as productive as during the late pre-rut. But it’s certainly productive enough to warrant giving it a shot every now and then–especially if all your other tried and true rut strategies are falling short.
Remember, hunt hard, but always hunt safe!
