Scrapes, Rub Lines, and Beds…Oh My!
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There are very few feelings like scouting on a crisp fall day and finding a fresh scrape dug into the earth, immediately before the season opens. Further down the trail, maybe you find a fresh rub gouged into a tree or a group of saplings all thrashed about. The late season is spent focusing on finding funnels and beds in and around food sources. Even after the season ends, our off time is a time to look for this sign and pull it all together. Once found, deer sign has you automatically thinking you hit the jackpot, and that a big mature buck will come sauntering right through your set on opening morning. But is that true?
Bringing up the word “fall” is still a sore subject with bow hunters, the off season can be tough to swallow. Off season scouting is one way to stay in the woods and at the same time improve your chances at success next season. Scouting in February and March while looking for sheds mostly, also reveals deer sign from December and November. This deer sign should be taken note of as it can be vital to next year. While heavy deer sign does indicate that deer semi-regularly use that area, that doesn’t always mean it will be useful to you as a hunter. It may make us feel better to find scrapes, rubs, beds, scat, tracks, or trails. But let’s look at three common types of deer sign and see what they really mean.
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