I have a question

The 2006 hunting season was far and away the best I have ever had. I only hunted with my bow, so I didn’t do any inseason scouting on my hunting property. I didn’t want to leave anymore scent than I had to. I saw multiple bucks on many occations.
I have done a TON of walking/shed hunting/scouting this spring, and have found almost no buck sign in the woods. I am confused. I thought I would find multiple scrapes, rubs, etc. All I can find is one small scrape, and three little rubs. What gives? I’m not complaining, I just thought I would have found more sign.

If the area you are hunting is not a wintering area you will not find a whole lot of sign there after the first bad weather of the winter sets in. I own property between a major wooded area and a river bottoms. All spring, summer and fall I have traffic through my property but as soon as the leaves drop and visibility in the woods becomes easier, the deer move to the big woods and pretty much stay there until the spring again. Maybe that’s your problem too.

If the area you are hunting is not a wintering area you will not find a whole lot of sign there after the first bad weather of the winter sets in. I own property between a major wooded area and a river bottoms. All spring, summer and fall I have traffic through my property but as soon as the leaves drop and visibility in the woods becomes easier, the deer move to the big woods and pretty much stay there until the spring again. Maybe that’s your problem too.

That is pretty common for bucks not to leave sign this time of year. Since there antlers have shed, their testosterone level is down. Most of the time when you will find rubs and scrapes is in the fall. Most of the time it is done to mark territory and make their presence known. In the spring time, most, if not all deer, are on a good steady pattern of feeding and bedding. Once you get into the summer, you will notice a few more scrapes in the area. This is hard to find, but you will find them in bedding areas, and stagging areas before a prime feeding area. I wouldn’t worry too much about this because, obviously you aren’t hunting them right now. Try putting out a trail cam around areas where you know that the deer are traveling, such as funnels or field edges. If activity is found there, go back later to see if you find any sign. Hope this helps P.S. Did you say or didn’t you say, you were able to find sheds?

That is pretty common for bucks not to leave sign this time of year. Since there antlers have shed, their testosterone level is down. Most of the time when you will find rubs and scrapes is in the fall. Most of the time it is done to mark territory and make their presence known. In the spring time, most, if not all deer, are on a good steady pattern of feeding and bedding. Once you get into the summer, you will notice a few more scrapes in the area. This is hard to find, but you will find them in bedding areas, and stagging areas before a prime feeding area. I wouldn’t worry too much about this because, obviously you aren’t hunting them right now. Try putting out a trail cam around areas where you know that the deer are traveling, such as funnels or field edges. If activity is found there, go back later to see if you find any sign. Hope this helps P.S. Did you say or didn’t you say, you were able to find sheds?

another thing that i forgot Those bucks that youve seen may not do most of there scraping and rubbing in your area, but on the other side of the fence Obviously you have seen bucks in the fall, so i would concentrate on those areas where you had seen them before. It really pays off to take 10 minutes to scout after a hunt. If you notice a fresh scrape, depending on the rut phase, you can place a stand a certain distance away and do your best to see who is stompin’ the area

another thing that i forgot Those bucks that youve seen may not do most of there scraping and rubbing in your area, but on the other side of the fence Obviously you have seen bucks in the fall, so i would concentrate on those areas where you had seen them before. It really pays off to take 10 minutes to scout after a hunt. If you notice a fresh scrape, depending on the rut phase, you can place a stand a certain distance away and do your best to see who is stompin’ the area

Same thing here, great sign and activity all spring, summer, fall. Then winter comes and there is nothing. I hunt in a mature woods with not a lot of cover or protection from predators and weather elements. I dont know where they go but they’re gone every december.

Same thing here, great sign and activity all spring, summer, fall. Then winter comes and there is nothing. I hunt in a mature woods with not a lot of cover or protection from predators and weather elements. I dont know where they go but they’re gone every december.

I think I need to clarify my question. I realize I would not find fresh sign. What suprised me was the lack of old sign, from last fall during the hunting season. From what I have read, it is recommended to scout early in the spring, when the snow melts. That way the woods are still like they were last fall. Since I saw so many bucks, last fall I though I would find a lot of old sign. Don’t get me wrong. I would way rather see the bucks, than sign of bucks, I just was thought I would find more evidence of them.

I think I need to clarify my question. I realize I would not find fresh sign. What suprised me was the lack of old sign, from last fall during the hunting season. From what I have read, it is recommended to scout early in the spring, when the snow melts. That way the woods are still like they were last fall. Since I saw so many bucks, last fall I though I would find a lot of old sign. Don’t get me wrong. I would way rather see the bucks, than sign of bucks, I just was thought I would find more evidence of them.

The buck may have used it for a cruesing area chaseing doe.It may not be there core area as in bedding to food as in there main travel route.A buck may live in one area such as his “neighborhood”.Like we live in, but will move some miles when rutting looking for that hot girl.Like a teenager on the sniff for his first girl. You find were there bedding and traveling for food you will find there scrapes and rub lines.

The buck may have used it for a cruesing area chaseing doe.It may not be there core area as in bedding to food as in there main travel route.A buck may live in one area such as his “neighborhood”.Like we live in, but will move some miles when rutting looking for that hot girl.Like a teenager on the sniff for his first girl. You find were there bedding and traveling for food you will find there scrapes and rub lines.