There is a monster around here help me get him! (early scrapes?)

[norman1wv]

I haven't been back to the "rubs" or the knoll since my original post. I haven't seen the 8 pointer lately either. Im going to pull up a topo map and see where the hollow tops out at and find a way in to this area from the head of this valley. This is where I think my best bet would be as he gets off his bed. I don't think he beds in the abandoned cornfields, but rather higher up on the mountain in the midst of some maple and pine groves. This area reminds me of some pics I seen of northern California. Its a very very secluded area of an old growth forest. It has never had hunting pressure for I know the last 40 years. Its a real gem with a real gem of an animal, my gut tells me so. I will limit my presence to maybe the outskirts for a while. At this point I would just be happy to see it. Maybe one day I will have a nice picture to share of this mystery animal.

 

[MtnOyster]

This was my main point. All the bucks that I see are still in velvet, but Im seeing many fresh rubs on trees. Could there be a mutant deer that is already making the rubs. Something is and Id love to lay eyes on it. Whatever it may be.

hard to believe you have a deer rubbing trees 2 weeks ago, maybe you have something else doing what looks like tree rubs from deer, maybe black bear I dunno im just throwing it out there.


With 10 days left to go for our opener here all the deer im seeing and the hunters I talk to aren't seeing nothing out of velvet yet.

 

[norman1wv]

Yes its hard to believe. I haven't seen anything the past week. No does, nothing. The 8 pointer that I had down to a schedule has totally abandoned his normal routes and times to something other than what I can observe. There is something fishy going on for sure. I don't know what could be making rubs like what I found. I was hoping to see something but never have. A mystery for sure. My question still stands. What would make rubs besides a mutant deer?.... trailcam would show it if I had one. At this point im lucky to pay my electric bill much less invest in a camera, yea it sucks.
At this point, it could be a bear, elk, muskrats, or even someone up there with a hatchet playing around, but from my experience it looks identical to what a whitetail would do. I have been looking at rubs for over 30 years, never have I saw any this early in the year, nor as many in one spot.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

if possible could you post a birds eye view of the place from like google maps.... i might be able to help,i am from them there wv hills too

 

[Sodbuster]

MtnOyster
hard to believe you have a deer rubbing trees 2 weeks ago, maybe you have something else doing what looks like tree rubs from deer, maybe black bear I dunno im just throwing it out there.


With 10 days left to go for our opener here all the deer im seeing and the hunters I talk to aren't seeing nothing out of velvet yet.

Agreed, Sept 15 is the Missouri opener and I have never seen a buck in velvet after season started, BUT a friend of mine hit one with his pickup two weeks ago and he was hard horned and velvetless.

 

[norman1wv]

Here is sat view of the area...View attachment 78610

 

[aclawrence]

Do you have wild hogs in your area? They will also tear up trees just like a deer rub but they will rub down closer to the ground. Idk good luck though.


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[Odell]

Can you post a picture of the rubs?

 

[MtnOyster]

Rubs shouldn't surprise anyone right now but this thread started 8/01/18...…………...first of August?????as hot as it's been this year until now???

 

[MadDawg]

Ya big hogs will rub just as high as a deer.

 

[norman1wv]

Could be hogs. We have pretty much everything around here. I have a good "topo" map of the area.. New thread started see: "Help with this topo"