went out on a property i didnt hunt much last season just to do some scouting and target shooting with my one buddy (hence the gun) We happened to come across this rub and a couple others of its size. Having never seen one quite this large I figured id post the picture to see what other people had to say about it. how big was the beast who made it?
Honestly, looks like it may have been a black bear. Look closely and it looks like there are claw marks. Not saying it is but those cuts look like they came from sharp claws, not antlers.
yup - looks like that or a someones mock rub - looks kinda fresh too...wonder was the sap still oozing
I agree with the bear theory on this one.....the upper left of the rub has scratch marks that are evenly spaced just like claw marks....However, I have seen rubs that big....here are a few from a copule years ago on my farm
If it was made by a whitetail, it probably has split brow tines or sticker points at its bases to make deep grooves like that. IMO its a rub.
I've never saw a rub post look like that from a bear and I've saw my share. Not saying it isn't but it just looks way to low to the ground to be a bear rub. If it is from a buck it looks to be one of those community rubs that all the bucks hit. It doesn't appear to be a real high rub so to me that says a bunch of little guys are/were hitting hit and along with a couple older bucks that are making the digging marks up higher. Put a cam on that thing this year. You'll find out for sure what's going on then. Cool rub none the less!!
There's elk in western Pennsylvania. ArcheryAddict, do you reside in Elk County or anywhere near there?
Not real sure, scratch marks at the bottom of the tree are throwing me off. Something sure tore it up though, for your sake I hope its a nice buck!
The top marks of your picture do look like claw marks. Looks like you can clearly see 4 claw marks with just a bit of scraping on the right side mark but thicker on the inner marks. I would think that is a bear but might be wrong.
i have seen scratching posts from bears at my buddies camp up north and it doesnt look the same this one is too low and has all of the characteristics of a buck rub but thats my opinion. Also, there are multiple of this size on the property which makes me lean even more towards it being a buck rub.. maybe ill take a walk after fishing tomorrow and snap some pictures of the other ones i found earlier in the year. Also @sharpbroadheads thats a sick picture.
I say buck rub!! I have a couple of trees in my woods that are at least that big that the bucks hit every year. They have killed a few of them from rubbing all the way around it.
