Picking up cards from trail cam a couple days ago I got a nice surprise when I found 2 freshly made scrapes!. I have not yet spotted any rubs but then, I've not been looking for any. This is a little early for this area but I have found some a bit sooner but only once if my memory is right. Here is a couple pictures from very near the scrapes.
In my neighborhood, a scrape is where the ground has been dug up/pawed and then scented through the tarsal glands. A rub is where the bark has been removed and scraped off a smaller trees with antlers. Also scented but with glands in the head/neck. scrape is dirt Rub is tree
Oh, thanks, I just always assumed it meant scraping antlers on a tree to rub the velvet off, I am one fact smarter today
They will scrape 365 days a year on main thoroughfares as communication i suppose. I see them all year, but way more frequently starting late october-november.
Good to know!! I was incorrect as I thought a scrape was antlers on the trees...But don't tell me wife, she thinks I am a genius!
They do some rubbing to remove velvet but that is only a small part of the rubbing process. I've never known deer to scrape year around as that is a breeding characteristic. Most of the scraping happens from late September through November but occasionally even later. The latest I've seen a new scrape was early February and the earliest was August 25 but those were both very unusual.
Lots of reds here in South jersey but i hunt one spot that has had 2-3 grays the past couple years. Just saw one of them last night