Ohio Valley Outdoors Magazine

‘Walk the line’ for missing secrets

By Brian Miller

If you’re like many hunters you dream about big bucks and imagine where they would be lurking about. I often think it would be great if I could just watch their every movement for a day. Understand when, how and where they move. This would place me in the driver’s seat to fully understanding this elusive animal. Yet today I still have that dream even after having the opportunity to see many mature bucks. But these days I feel one step closer to understanding big bucks because I have the ability to understand the where, why and how.

Walking the line, which is “rub lines” has offered me more knowledge on buck travel routes than any other aspect. From the point a buck loses his velvet until he drops his antlers in the winter he makes rubs. During the pre-rut this activity reaches an all time high but still months after breeding is over in January he’ll make rubs every day. During the entire hunting season bucks carry their antlers making this specific sign invaluable.
Back in 1999 Greg Miller published “Rub-Line Secrets” and I tore through this book from cover to cover. Even today I pick it up and read chapters again for the 20th time. It goes into depth about every aspect in Miller’s normal easy to read style. If you haven’t read the book, you’re missing out. This book taught me everything on how to unravel rub lines within my hunting area. So that’s exactly what I did. Armed with a clip board and map I headed out to walk, crawl, and cover my entire property. Several trips and a hundred rubs later I was amazed. By connecting the dots on my map I had discovered where every buck traveled the previous year. While writing on the map I indicated size and direction. This information showed me morning or evening routes.

Initially by looking at a rub it was not obvious if a travel route is morning or evening. But stepping back and looking at the big picture on an aerial map reveals the secrets. Finding the bedding or feeding ends and rub directions helped me understand morning and evening routes. Rubs made while traveling towards the bedding are morning routes and rubs made while traveling towards the feeding source are evening.

By looking over individual rubs you can understand which bucks in your area are using which routes. Each buck has unique characteristics and temperaments which makes their rubs different. Some bucks shred trees while others rub them smooth. Also others rub high or low on a tree. Some prefer a specific type of tree or like to break brush. Even others nick the backs of the trees with their tines. All of these differences set rubs apart from each other and will help you narrow down each buck’s travel route.

In the winter months after walking, crawling and covering your entire property you’ll be ready to look at the big picture. This is when you will notice areas with the most rubs indicating the heaviest travel routes. These areas have more rubs because they are areas deer feel comfortable visiting, have a necessity visiting or proximity to preferred bedding/feeding areas. Don’t be fooled by field edge rubs, these are often created under the cover of darkness well after we’ve left the woods.

For years I struggled by sitting on great rub lines yet only watching squirrels. Rub lines only give you part of the key to successful hunting. They tell you where the buck traveled but did not tell you when or why. Often bucks use routes during the cover of darkness or have learned to become mid-day movers. Additionally some rub lines are only used during early or late seasons. Sitting these during the wrong time of the year will also proof unsuccessful.

After several years of studying my hunting areas these travel routes have stayed successful year after year. Unless another hunter or other outside sources changes you should have many years full of successful hunts.

Even after being equipped with the evidence a mature buck is traveling the area my success rate is only marginal. That’s because these creatures keep us guessing. There are other hunters moving throughout the woods, their environment is ever changing, complete bedding area’s (corn fields) are wiped out in one day. We as hunters try to become elusive to the whitetail while they are doing the same. It’s a big chess game that we often lose. But that’s why I love the game. It’s the most challenging game I’ve ever played. It takes years and hundreds of scouting hours to create one successful hunt. I wouldn’t change it for a moment but nothing is as gratifying as standing over a mature buck you’ve just arrowed.

So instead of watching football this winter, head back to the woods equipped with a map and clipboard. Armed with the understanding to walk the line you’ll be able to come one step closer. It will take many hours and often years to unravel the secrets but will be worth it when you’re one step closer.