Deer Hunting Tips: Don’t Ignore Rubs During the Rut—or Secondary Rut

If you’ve been following along you know that Bestul and I filmed these hunting video tips during the rut when he hosted me on a bowhunt in mid-November. And so, the point Scott is making here–that although bucks do largely abandoned rubs and scrapes during peak breeding, fresh sign remains important because it tells you that a buck is still visiting your area and not off chasing does a mile away–will be most useful to you next November. That said, it can still apply right now, as mature bucks especially are still covering ground looking for unbred does that are coming into a second estrous cycle, as well as fawn and yearling does that often come into estrous late.

If a freshly hashed-up sapling shows up on the downwind edge of a good late-season doe feeding or bedding area now, you need to get on it.