Fresh Rubs

[GoodPartner]

When I started scouting for black-tails last November I found lots of rubs but was not sure how to age them. Some of them looked old but even the ones that looked fresher I was unsure of. I have been anticipating this time of year since then to get a better idea of what a fresh rub looks like. I have been checking constantly and there has been almost nothing until today. After waiting almost a year it was a great feeling to discover 8 new rubs made sometime after last Thursday. I look forward to keeping an eye on these rubs through the fall and winter to see how they age. Here are a few pics... Does anyone else have any pics of fresh rubs to post up?

http://i40.tinypic.com/2gvk4gi.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/24b3tqh.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/29vcobk.jpg

[Sofa King]

you'll know if they are real fresh by the shavings on the ground.

I've seen one rub so far, but I haven't been in the bush much.
I've been hiking more open areas so far.

[Wood butcher]

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oHyuyTHputM/UlwMJlqPx6I/AAAAAAAAAkk/eT48rnRgfAQ/w590-h790-no/IMG_1187.JPG
This is a pretty serious Blacktail rub. The trees are 4-5 inches wide. Odds are very high this thing is a monster buck. It is a urban buck, but in a very rural area.

[ruger#1]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Big_rubs_005.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Big_rubs_002.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Big_rubs_008.jpg

[kennyj]

This one is pretty fresh.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/BT_10_032.jpg

[takla1]

the B-T rubs should commence in the next few days,was frost in our area{mission} this morning at 6;00 am and we have seen proof off bucks comeing down in elevation.the party will get started soon

[pro 111]

A real fresh blactail rub on the coast will have flies on it for the first and second day . Pay attention to this you will see.

[Sitkaspruce]

BT rubs on the Island

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/IMGP1716.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/IMGP1716.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/IMGP1717.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/IMGP1717.jpg.html)

Biggest WT rub I found

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/OurFirstTrip072.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/OurFirstTrip072.jpg.html)

Cheers

SS

[boxhitch]

That third one is wicked
Looks like that guy has some aggression issues

[ruger#1]

That third one is wicked
Looks like that guy has some aggression issues
More like an antlered doe with PMS.

[Badlands62]

BT rubs on the Island



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/IMGP1716.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/IMGP1716.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/IMGP1717.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/IMGP1717.jpg.html)

Biggest WT rub I found

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Sitkaspruce/OurFirstTrip072.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Sitkaspruce/media/OurFirstTrip072.jpg.html)

Cheers

SS


Hey Ken, I will back in there in November...

[BlacktailStalker]

This years sub alpine hammer BT rub (last years is behind it)
This deer is a behemoth, never seen a BT rub this tall.
http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y305/TaylenJames/BFFB42A2-3173-40CE-B06C-031CC8448069-6905-0000041E584D230C_zps9b8e00c9.jpg (http://s1024.photobucket.com/user/TaylenJames/media/BFFB42A2-3173-40CE-B06C-031CC8448069-6905-0000041E584D230C_zps9b8e00c9.jpg.html)

[GoodPartner]

I put some new cameras up around the fresh rubs I found and got this guy yesterday morning. This is a new moultrie camera with an "invisible" flash which appears to white out almost every picture taken so far. I just bought 4 of these units and I am pretty choked that they don't seem to be functional. I'm curious to know if any of the black tail experts out there can help guess/determine how many points this deer has. I wish this picture was clear!


http://i44.tinypic.com/2afic5s.jpg

I played with the picture a little bit to try and draw out detail. Are those more points on the top or are those ears?

http://i40.tinypic.com/ld6vc.jpg

Thanks,
GP

[pro 111]

3x3 with brows

[GoodPartner]

I've been thinking about this buck all night. Any thoughts on the points?

One good thing I learned is that he is coming down off the side of the hill in the morning. I saw fresh tracks going up the hill when I first put up the camera. There are two rubs going down a large bank that are rubbed on the top side. I put this camera down the trail below the rubs about 15 yards. He is heading away. I guess I will try to get to that place for first light whenever I can and wait to see if he comes out there.

[Sitkaspruce]

Send the cameras back....LOL How are the day picts?? Are the Moultrie 990's??

Try moving the camera back, looks like you are getting tunnel flash and reflextion due to be too close. Your best distance for the camera is around 20-20', this seems to close.

Seems like a good buck.

Cheers

SS

[takla1]

goodpartner remember most large bt bucks stay nocturnal until the rut is in full swing.the time mark shows 7;20 am so id conclude he's been out all night establishing/checking/freshening his rub line and was getting ready to head up to his beading area for the day.Any signs of doe's/tracks near the rubs? this is early activity that's for sure.Also looks like a 3 by 3 to me as well.the partys getting started soon!!!

[GoodPartner]

Send the cameras back....LOL How are the day picts?? Are the Moultrie 990's??

Try moving the camera back, looks like you are getting tunnel flash and reflextion due to be too close. Your best distance for the camera is around 20-20', this seems to close.

Seems like a good buck.

Cheers

SS

I think they are the Moultrie 990's. I have another Moultrie which works great without this problem (standard IR). I think it is the black faceplate to conceal the IR that is an issue. All four of these new units do the same thing. I think you are right that another issue is close proximity to the camera which is creating tunnel flash and reflection. The challenge is that this area is thick and there is a lot of brush which will continue to create reflection. Maybe these cameras would be more appropriate for a field or something. I don't want to trim the area at this point, I want to leave it as is. I guess I could expiriment putting the unit further up a tree pointing down to create a little more distance. Another thing that is frustrating is that the IR is going off during every day time pic. This creates a completely useless white image. I can shut the IR off, then the unit will then work fine in the day, but I won't get night time shots. I think the easiest fix for me will be to swap out my other cameras that I know will work and set them up in this area. I'll figure it out. Thanks for the advice.

[GoodPartner]

goodpartner remember most large bt bucks stay nocturnal until the rut is in full swing.the time mark shows 7;20 am so id conclude he's been out all night establishing/checking/freshening his rub line and was getting ready to head up to his beading area for the day.Any signs of doe's/tracks near the rubs? this is early activity that's for sure.Also looks like a 3 by 3 to me as well.the partys getting started soon!!!

Thanks Takla1. I have only seen his track (or another decent buck track) close to these rubs but this is an area that does not show tracks very much at all. I will do a more thorough inspection next time I get up there. I saw a doe in the evening about 1/4 km away on the road two weeks ago. I have does on camera on the next hill up which is steeper and higher in elevation. There have been no bucks at all caught on camera up there. There are also no fresh rubs up there yet but there are plently of older rubs right on top of the hill and I had a decent 3 point up there on camera last November. As this is my first fall scouting the area I am interested to see if I will be able to use fresh rubs to pattern the bucks moving up the hill as the rut comes on. The does have been up there all summer, from what I have read on here, the bucks will make their way to them when the rut kicks in right?

[Sitkaspruce]

I have BF cameras (Bushnells) and they all run on video due to the fact that they take crappy night pictures, but OK video. I believe the 990 has video, maybe try that?? Also, go to www.chasingame.com (http://www.chasingame.com) and show the experts on there, see what they say. I know the 990 gets great reviews and if all 4 are doing this, it might be more an operator error than camera.

Trimming a little here and there will not make much of a difference to the deer, just don't clear cut the area......

Good luck

Cheers

SS

[GoodPartner]

I have BF cameras (Bushnells) and they all run on video due to the fact that they take crappy night pictures, but OK video. I believe the 990 has video, maybe try that?? Also, go to www.chasingame.com (http://www.chasingame.com) and show the experts on there, see what they say. I know the 990 gets great reviews and if all 4 are doing this, it might be more an operator error than camera.

Trimming a little here and there will not make much of a difference to the deer, just don't clear cut the area......

Good luck

Cheers

SS

That's a good call. I did take one unit last night and try it on video and photo on every possible setting and various distances with similar results each time. The one thing I could have done was to try this outside rather than indoors. Perhaps the heat inside makes a difference. I'll figure it out, thanks for the good advice.

[Rackem]

Dammit I thought someone was offering massage...