What's your theory on rub length/height? Could this be from the monster I'm looking for? For reference, my young side kick in the pic is 5'11"
On a bigger tree the height and width really excites me. On a tree the size In your picture It doesn't as much being he could of easily bent that over when rubbing It.
See the tree on the left that also appears to be a rub to me and I will go with a young one doing that. T
Never underestimate a rub. Looking at it there is a rub to the left as Peak said and it isn't as aggressive which makes me think small buck. There looks to be a good water source behind you in the pic, I might sit on that here in the early season and see what kind of activity you get and you might catch the rub line bandit in action. I would also look for scraps around the rubs, if there are some and they are no bigger that 33 gallon garbage lid I'd say you got a small sub-dominant buck.
A big buck can make a small rub, but a small buck cannot make a big rub. Other than that, no one really knows anything. BTW, I can't see the picture so I am making a general statement there. As an interesting point, my father watched his 187" buck rub a sapling before he shot him. Don't judge all books by their cover.
I am always amazed at how little most deer hunters put into rubs. They look at them.. acknowledge there presence.. then move on. Looking at rubs requires more than just a few seconds. You really have to look at them and use commen sense.. and a little imagination. If you don't have those two resources within you.. you're screwed. Josh.. just looking at the pic and noticing it's height says alot about the deer. It would be my opinion that the deer has a wider rack.. since it would have to stretch quite a bit to get from 12" off the ground to 4'.. that's common sense. Now.. I'm not there.. so the individual hunter has to look at everything else. Yes deer do bend over small saplings.. but a telling sign would be tracks and torn up earth going the opposite direction of the rub.. again.. common sense. Anybody can discern a GREAT deal of knowledge about a rub. But one must be willing to LOOK at it. And notice the clues that surround it. That only you can do Josh. Since you were there. But it is in my opinion based off the picture that the particular rub you are showing in the photo was made by a whitetail buck with an above average spread. Common sense.
I'd say go and find a tree about 8" around & half of that rubbed, then you'd be talkn' monster. I'd be leaning to what the others have said & the tree was bent over. Not to mean that it isn't a large buck, but I'd look for more of them nearby on larger trees. They do get you excited. I hunt over rubs early in the season, because those bucks will visit them, and they usually are the marker for their bedroom.
My guess would be a 1.5 to 2 year old with a tall rack.As Duke stated above check the prints and sign leading away from rubbed side of tree.
What if the tree to the left got rubbed incidently with the main one? Are there any rub marks on the other trees? A big buck rubbing that little tree might hit the others also. Or maybe he had and itch that only that little tree woud fit! LOL! lp
Thanks for lots of good input, gents. Duke, your post makes alot of sense, great points! Hogwire, you brought up a great point, also. The saplings to either side also have minor rubs, well within the reach of the spread of the one I'm looking for. I wish I could catch him on cam, just one pic. He's almost unreal.
