NOVEMBER 2018 • NEBRASKAland 25
JP Wachter of Lincoln firearm hunts
from a ladder stand at Oak Glen Wildlife
Management Area in Seward County
Rubs, Scrapes,
Young and Old
In research noted by Quality Deer
Management Association, areas with mature
bucks featured 10 times as many rubs as
areas with yearling bucks. Yearling bucks
lack the scent-marking characteristics
of mature bucks. These mature bucks,
according to research from the University of
Georgia, can make 1,000 to 1,200 rubs per
year. Other research states that an average
whitetail makes between 300 and 400 per
year. Bottom line: they rub a lot.
In addition, mature bucks will begin
making scrapes two months before does
are bred, up to 85 percent of all scrapes,
while yearling bucks made only 15 percent
as many scrapes and none more than one
week before the first doe was bred.
Schelbitzki said has great
benefit. "Big bucks are on the
move during this time to see if
does are in estrus. They'll also
be territorial, so calls can be
effective because bucks want
other bucks out of their area."
Yet Schelbitzki also cautions
that all deer differ. "There are
no set patterns during the rut,"
he said. "Deer will start their
rut behaviors at various times,
and while some may cover
miles during this time, others
will barely move out of their
back door. It just depends on
what he has there for does."
To adjust to this randomness,
Schelbitzki suggested to try an
all-day event. "It's a mental
drain," he said, "but it's one
way to change up your pattern.
The more time you're in the
stand, the more deer you'll see."
The most fascinating aspect
of deer rut research is that the
information is ever-changing.
Yet there are always two
constants: If you are not seeing
deer, you will always wonder if
you were there at the right time,
yet you will always know when
that right time is – it's when
you can go. ■
