Ek rubs and scouting

[Crippledsledge64]

Went to check trail cams today and ran across some rubs. Would these be from this year already? Also would you be concerned about pushing elk about by Scouting this close before season?

 

[BRTreedogs]

Awful lot of pitch and dead needles to be from this yr.

 

[jmez]

Not this year.

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[Ross]

This year right now would be whitish versus reddend and weathered last yearhere is one smokin fresh white and bark supple and emanating that magical smell

 

[Crippledsledge64]

Dang it, thanks guys I appreciate it. I was getting excited. Is this still likely to be a good area for this year or does it change from year to year?

 

[Ucsdryder]

Easiest way to tell if it’s from this year is to look at the needles on the ground and on the tree. Green needles are from this year. If there are zero needles or brown it’s from last year. Also, usually the tree will ooze liquid/sap when it’s fresh.

 

[CamoPirate]

I'm new so milage is probably low. Biggest impact I'd feel to scouting the area this close to season would be the smell of your pup.

 

[Ross]

If you see many rubs from very old to more recent could be a rutting ground each year versus if all look the same could be one year and one bull

 

[Swede]

You should be able to find some fresh rubs in a couple of weeks. They start rubbing mid August. It is still too early.

 

[Btucker1384]

Dang it, thanks guys I appreciate it. I was getting excited. Is this still likely to be a good area for this year or does it change from year to year?

I would say it would definitely be worth a check this year anyway.

 

[Swede]

I pay attention to places that have rubs from multiple years. Check and see what is going on there. Is it a convenient bedding area? Are they spaced out on the route to a water hole? If you have any place where elk show up frequently, it can be a good spot to ambush them.

 

[Gerbdog]

I pay attention to places that have rubs from multiple years. Check and see what is going on there. Is it a convenient bedding area? Are they spaced out on the route to a water hole? If you have any place where elk show up frequently, it can be a good spot to ambush them.

Especially this year, I don't know about other states but colorado is pretty stinking dry, watch for rubs and wallows /water

 

[cnelk]

Last year rub. And others nearby from previous years. I’ll be hunting in this area

 

[5MilesBack]

A few years ago I found an evergreen about 4" in diameter that had every green branch stripped from the bottom to about 5 feet up the tree. It was so fresh that the needles on the branches were still pliable and wet. The next day I found the tree uprooted and laying on its side. I shot that bull a couple days later.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I found a couple of places that has rub lines on trees the size of gallon paint cans. I’m wanting to get in there during the rut the next time I drew a tag.

 

[ElkNut1]

I enjoy seeing them but put zero stock in finding elk nearby unless I physically hear or seem them, outside of that they get no special attention, I move on & find them!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[N2TRKYS]

I killed my first elk last October in the area that I found the last rub line. All of the rubs that I’ve found were made in September.

 

[j33]

use your knife to strip a piece of bark, compare that color to the rub color to gauge its freshness

 

[Swede]

The difference between Paul/Elknut and me is based on our hunting technique. If I was calling and covering a lot of territory, I would not spend a lot of time monitoring a rub line either.
I set up a tree stand where I see elk are likely to show up so I can ambush one. I am not chasing them. When I see a line of rubs, I follow it out to a water hole and/or there are active trails coming together and set up there. Also I may set up where there is a large cluster of rubs like in a bedding area, and place my tree stand close by.
What I am doing is gaging bull elk activity by the rubs. I need to see current rubs to get interested, and having past years rubs helps to know it is not just a one or two time occurrence.
Ultimately rubs, like wallows are just helping to show me that elk are likely to come around again soon. Other factors need to be considered.

 

[Coveyleader]

"They Say" finding rubs in July mean nothing.......... You know They..................