Taxman003

On Sunday the family and I went for a walk. I found one scrape and told the boys to watch for any rubs. We didn' t seem to find any.

However, there was a large branch that had fallen over the trail in the winter cut up and piled by a tree. I noticed what definately appeared to be a rub (12 to 18 inches long) on a sapling that would only have been reachable if the deer were to stand on the piled up wood.

It definately isn' t moose or elk because there' s no such thing in Southwestern Ontario and the tree in question was only a sapling.

What do you guys think? Is it possible? Anything else that may have made that rub?

Split-Hoof

If it is indeed a rub, it' s possible that it might be a moose rub. The moose rut is in full swing right now, at least here in my area.

skeeter 7MM

Just because they aren' t traditionally moose or elk in your area doesn' t mean there can' t be know. Case and point last fall while ML hunting for mulies I was setup in a meadow of rolling hills, when much to my dismay out wlked a very nice 45" bull moose...it seemed way out of place but after discussing it with other hunters, farmers in the area and the CO it appears there is a pretty decent pocket of them in the area, the thought was they followed the river down and just ventured east and found a new home, unbothered, unpressured & lots of food. Also next year they are proposing a season for Elk in the same area as a herd has now established to over 100 animals from a herd of 1 bull with 7 cows & 2 calfs some years ago...same scenrio is believed to produce the new location for this elk. (this is less than 1/2 hour from Saskatoon to the SOUTH!).

However I wonder if it was a cut, it isn' t a porcupine if fresh...it could also be a mark from the skidder but it wouldn' t look fresh if done last winter.

Taxman003

OK,

Other guys from Ontario will vouch for me that the chances that it was a moose are extremely remote to the point where it is impossible. Moose are generally a few hundred miles north of my area.

There also isn' t any logging going on in the area, thus the skidder idea is out as well. The land is a tract of forest owned by the Government. The large branch fell off the tree and presumably covered the trail. So, workers with chainsaws sectioned the log and piled it up beside the tree.

The rub is fresh which leads me to believe that it might be a deer. The only real question was if it was possible the deer would climb up on top of the piled logs to make the rub?

It the higher the rub a sign of dominance?

If it wasn' t a deer....what was it?

Mike

mauser06

ive seen deer rubs where the deer took out so much frustration he ripped the tree to shreads and broke it and knocked it down...i seen a few like that.....and there aint no moose in PA......elk...but not in these parts.....deer get frustrated when the velvet itches and also when chasing does ect....ive seen it on the discovery channel and thats what they said....they just get angry and let off some steam right into the tree.....id say it was a deer if it looked like a deer rub.....

Split-Hoof

Taxman - I didn' t realize there were no moose in your area. Exactly how high up is this suspected rub? I have seen rubs made by a buck that most people would mistake for moose rubs, they reached up to about 6 1/2' . Before anyone says it, NO it was not made by a moose, I saw the deer and followed his tracks, eventually coming to the spot where he made the rubs.

I doubt a deer would stand on the brush pile to rub, but who knows? Maybe it was made by a giant whitetail.

jerseyhunter

Look closer for claw marks, Could have been a bear.

kevin1

Were there any tracks , moose or deer ?

Taxman003

I think I need guys from Ontario to help me out on this one!

It' s not a bear either because again, they just aren' t this far south. The rub was only 12 to 18 inches (closer to 12) and was about 6 1/2 to 7 feet off the ground. The rub was in such a position that access would only have been possible by standing in front of the log pile or on them.

It is about 4 ft above a pile of large logs that if the animal was standing on it would likely appear to be a deer.

I will head back out there and snap a few pictues to show you what I am talking about. It will take a while though because I' m on crutches and don' t know when i can get back out there.

Split-Hoof

Taxman - I' m on crutches too (broke my ankle), so I know how you feel! I get my cast off tomorrow, so I get to see how well i can walk. Hope you' re up and walking again by deer season!

Hope you are able to get a pic so we can get a better idea of what you' re talking about. A pic of the log pile would maybe help as well.

It' s not impossible that it' s a deer rub - might be a huge buck with tall tines and sticker points everywhere