Bucks first rub trees to remove velvet, but later do so out of aggression or frustration. In doing so, they leave clues behind for hunters. (Shutterstock photo)
October 01, 2025
By Josh Honeycutt
Deer season is here, and rubs are now as commonplace as cotton candy at the county fair, shining like beacons in the forest. This sign that deer leave behind is an integral part of piecing together a buck’s core area. However, as a hunter, you must know how to decipher the rubs on the lands you hunt, whether public or private.
RUB REASONS
Bucks rub trees with the bases of their antlers. Sometimes they’ll rub head-on, with the tree trunk between either side of their rack. Other times they’ll turn their head sideways, running their antlers perpendicular to the...
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