Rub and Scrape timing (whitetail)

B

buckchaser

CGN Regular
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Location
Ottawa
I read/hear about others in similar northern latitudes who see rubs beginning in late September and scraping in early October. Obviously, this early season sign can help zero in on early season patterns. Bowhunting the "big woods" is a very low percentage game to begin with - anything to help tilt the scales a bit.

I hunt public land and focus on about 700 acres, but have scouted ~ 5000 acres in the area. Every year I see the same thing. Minimal (next to zero) scraping until late October and rubs about the same. Once the pre-rut hits in late October the woods explode with scrapes/rubs. My summer and early season scouting covers everything from the oak ridges to the nastiest swamps so I'm pretty confident there aren't any overlooked areas where these early rubs/scrapes could be.

I run 12 trail cameras and have regular buck sightings on camera September - mid October so I know they are regularly or semi-regularly using the area.

Any other Ontario hunters with observations/insight? The area I hunt is unbroken "big woods" in eastern/central Ontario.
 
I usually start seeing scrapes by this coming weekend. I should start getting more buck activity on camera by next week, peaking around the 2nd & 3rd weeks of November.
 
I bow hunt and travel the bush quite often. Usually i start seeing small rubs and scrapes this time of year on the old logging roads. I have been out this weekend and did not notice any. Weather was perfect to hunt. Cooler temps and shorter days should get the old boys moving.
 
Where I hunt in northern Alberta the rubs and scrapes become progressively intense. They start around the 10th of November and continues for another 3 weeks. The peak of rubs and scrapes are just prior and after the peak breeding period, which is November 18 to 22. It's after November 22nd that the bucks travel into a frenzy to find a doe that hasn't been bred.........hence, bucks traveling in the middle of the day, in the middle of a clearing/field.
 
I'm in Ottawa as well. I saw scrapes at my woodlot that this past weekend that were not there the week before. Unfortunately, the bucks were nocturnal last weekend because of the clear(ish) skies and a near full moon. I've got an old scrapper with a ratchet rack as number one on the hit list for this year. I've got him on camera for five years now! He's got to be tired of lifting hoof over hoof in deep snow. I want to spare him a harsh winter and bring him indoors.
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Was at the camp east of Peterborough all last week. We have 10 rubs that we found. Two spots have 3 rubs together. This is on 104 acres. Only 3 scrapes thou.
 
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