When a buddy and I were walking around some state land looking for a spot we came across an area that looked like it was hit hard last year from a pretty good sized deer because there were rubs on 4-6" trees about 4-5' up. But the problem is it was a rub from "Last Year". If you aren't finding any other signs in the area would you set up close this spot? The only Fresh sign was tracks and some movement through some high wheatgrass, I'm thinking this may have been the outer perimeter of this bucks range. Whats your thoughts on "Old Sign"
Rubs aren't like scrapes that they will come back to over and over. You might find a rub line on a trail that the buck uses, but a buck will make 300-400 rubs each year. I have seen trees that get used for multiple years, but it may or may not have been the same buck.
I`ve seen quite a few trees around here which get rubbed year after year, by different bucks. But those rub lines are usually in funnels and areas that bucks seem to travel quite frequently. It may work out different in different areas, but that's been my experience in the land of the 120" booner
The only good thing about setting up on "old sign" is that is slightly better than setting up on "no sign". Only because you know that deer use the area. However, his pattern could have changed, he could have died, it could be a one off rub. But, it's better than no sign at all.
Very true. I wouldn't hunt on last years sign, but often enough last years hotspot will be good this year. The spot I`m gonna hunt oct 1st worked out really well for me last year. No rubs that I`ve seen yet but I`ve got several good bucks on the TC every week.
It may have good buck activity near by and by sitting in that area will give you a better idea of that
I used to always set a camera out on old sign and I have only gotten one or two good pictures from that. Like everyone else said, I always look for sign in the surrounding areas.
