how many of yall hunt rub lines? assuming a deer made it through the season, and you found a huge rub line leading in and out of a bucks bedding area, will he use the rub line again next year? how would you hunt it? without getting to close to bedding area? I am certain this buck made it through the season, only seen once, he is a wise old buck , at least 5 years old. I want a good solid plan to set up on him next season. I didnt know where he was bedding untill 2 weeks ago while squirrel hunting,

I wouldn't waste my time hunting a rub line. Scrape lines, trails and food sources are usually the key.

Only thing a rub line is good for is setting up cameras imo. He will use the rub line again but it may extend a little (just depends on the bucks in area). You will notice (with your cams) most of the touching up on the line is done during after dark hours (rendering hunting the lines useless during legal hours).

I generally use rub lines as directional signs. They are either to or from his bedding/feeding areas. I study the general direction and knowing the layout of the land I then determine where he's bedding and feeding and hunt him accordingly.

Find the "cluster" of rubs and then you are in the money. Core area.


Bottom line, don't spend too much time on rub lines. Some may disagree with their experience, but I'm willing to bet they are mistaking cluster rubs for a rub line.

All that rub line is telling you is his direction of travel, and it's probably at night. And it's probably not visited or traveled near as regularly as you think.

Like Dkhargroves said, if you can find a cluster of rubs (usually 25 or more in a very small, tight, confined area) immediately adjacent to thick cover then you need to hang a stand now, get the heck out of there, and don't go back until you can be there before day light on a cold December/January morning with the wind in your favor.

I have had good luck hunting rub lines as they do tell you where the deer has been walking especially if it crosses a funnel. With all things staying the same (food, cover, water) he will usually walk the same area/time next year so you will know where to start scouting 2 weeks before the rut. This has been my past experience but every one has different ideas.

Best way to hunt a rub line is with rub line slime.

its a rub on every tree within 20 ft. propably 10 trees just feet apart,

I hunted a rub line until I stumbled upon a damn cluster rub 30 trees . I took black tape and put one strip around each until I figured out exactly how and where he was traveling . It was an amazing 2 month hunt killed the 130 10 point using code blue

Threads are so much better with pictures........

I dont know. I seem to have good luck on rubs just like these.

Always the same type. In a low area along a drainage..and when they are like that I know a big uns spending alot of time in there.
Like Matt said..I like areas just like in this pic...pretty close to bedding area.

On a cold pre rut am catching him coming to bed a little late or moving between bedding , or an afternoon catching him coming out if the rubs seem to be more on the side towards the bed.

When they are on a straight line, big and deep and there are as many as in that pic...hes coming along that trail alot.
I hang on alot of trails like that for am hunts. especially with acorns on the ground in there.

Why hunt his rubs when you can hunt his bed?

I dont like hunting rub lines. What I do like to find are big sign post rubs. These two rubs get rubbed year after year. I have killed 3 mature bucks within seeing distance of these rubs over the last 5 years.