Signpost Rubs, Scrapes and Overmarking

Signpost Rubs, Mock Scrapes, and Overmarking

By: Travis John Melochick

In order to kind of bring us up to date, we can all agree that we are out of the "dark ages" thinking in bowhunting that one buck makes and/or uses one scrape and rub. Trail cameras have been a huge step in the industry regarding gaining insight as to what goes on in the woods when it comes to deer making sign. You will often see multiple bucks using the same scrapes and rubbing on the same trees as others. This was a big surprise to many as the evidence from trail cameras proved this theory correct. Well my focus here is to bring out information on how to utilize scents to make mock scrapes or to overmark already existing scrapes, as well as how to identify and effectively use signpost rubs to your advantage.

While scouting, whether in or out of season, there are two main pieces to the puzzle that I am trying to find; a sign post rub or a community scrape. But what exactly is a sign post rub? Why is it more significant in comparison to other rubs? A sign post rub is a rub that is continuously hit by numerous bucks throughout the year as well as year after year. Often it will even have a scrape accompanying nearby it as I have found in most cases in the area I hunt. These rubs are usually large in size and, at least in the areas I have hunted and scouted, are most commonly found on pine trees. I have no explanation for what they seem to prefer pine trees, although this may vary depending on the area.

What I can tell you about a sign post rub is that it is usually utilized by at least two dominant bucks in the area. Now that does not mean it is exclusively used by them because I have had lots of smaller bucks use them as well. However, in the four years that I’ve been monitoring these sites, two mature bucks have always been witnessed visiting them. As per my understanding, these signpost rubs are sort of a boundary line between dominant buck areas. It’s a way for bucks to leave a communication of, “this is my area back off.”

Bucks will make rounds of these rubs from on a somewhat regular pattern. Normally, I’ve noticed them revisiting a specific spot every three or four days depending on how big the buck’s area may be. Both dominant bucks will rub the tree and leave forehead gland scent on it to make sure the other is aware of their presence and that "hey, yeah I’m still here".

When you do discover one of these areas it is like gold. From the first week of the season, a hunter scouting the area should have a trail camera fixed on that spot. Now to add a little spice to the situation you can use a little scent to get some reaction and even create a pattern for these bucks to revisit the site. My personal preference is to utilize Smokey's Deer lures (http://smokeysdeerlure.com/), particularly the forehead gland lure. Just a few drops on the rub will do and I’ll come back two weeks later and refresh it and check the camera to see if I can develop pattern of the bucks using it.

Now most of the season activity will be at night but as the season progresses daylight activity will become more prevalent. Once you start seeing daytime activity that’s your cue to set up in that area!

So now that we've covered signpost rubs, let’s elaborate on monitoring active scrapes, creating mock scrapes, and overmarking. When I’m out scouting, especially in the early part of the archery season, I come across an abundance of small scrapes roughly the size of a hub cap. These scrapes do little to tell you info except direction of travel, which is still important. The scrape I’m interested in is going to be around the size of a dinner table. The soil will be black, and you will be able to smell it while you are downwind of it. Just like a signpost rub, when you find a scrape like I’ve described, treat it like gold. Set up a trail camera on that baby immediately.

If I find a large scrape in the early part of October and I like to set up a Magnum Scrape Dripper from Wildlife research. The dripper will come with a bottle of active scrape. Set it up on a limb above the scrape roughly about 7 feet above above the ground. Do not let the scent drip on the licking branch; this cannot be emphasized enough.

Now as far as the licking branch goes, I use Smokey’s pre-orbital gland lure. Two drops on the licking branch will suffice again be sure not to drop any in the scrape. As for the scrape itself, I may add some of smokeys interdigital gland lure on the edges of it. The active scrape in the dripper will usually last 2-3 weeks so just as it runs out and activity picks up on my camera, I will start to use smokeys tarsal gland lure and rutting buck lure in the scrape itself. Monitor your cams and take notes of time of day when activity is mostly occurring, direction of travel, and temperature. Through all this you’ll find a pattern which will help you decide the best locations for setting up your tree stands.

As far as mock scrapes go, it is the same procedure for working and monitoring it, only you simply create the scrape yourself. Find an area with smaller scrapes and make your own. I’ve used this method with great success not only just in getting pictures but in harvesting several bucks over and en route to these destinations. And of course, while you are out there utilizing all these scents and attractants over these areas you should be doing your best to eliminate and control your human scent as much as possible.

If you follow these guidelines, I assure you that you’ll have a lot of action on your cameras. Action on your cameras gives you the data needed to give you a strong grasp of where the deer are, where they move to, and what time of day they are on the move. With that information, if you play the wind and your cards right, you will increase your chances in harvesting a deer. I myself this previous season have counted ten different bucks using that scrape. As with hunting though nothing is ever a guarantee. I did not harvest a buck over it, but I did have the dominant buck using the scrape come by chasing a doe at 30 yards with no shot opportunity. That is a small victory as I was able to set up on him due to making note of his travel times and his direction of travel.

I am by no means an expert nor am I a professional. I’m just a guy whose stumbled across some sound methods through a lot of personal trial and error. More error than I care to admit but if we never fail, we never learn! I hope this can give you guys a little short cut to success rather than learning the hard way, as I did.