what marked this tree

[45/70]

[Doc]

Not knowing what time of year this was done, and whether or not bucks still had their antlers, I would expect that it was a buck rub. But I offer up the possibility that it may be a bear just as an alternative theory.

[45/70]

I am having a lot of trouble with this post ?

I don't think this was done by a buck. What due you guys think.

[greensider]

the hight shoud tell you what it was a bear would mark a tree much higher than a buck

[Doc]

Yup ..... That is pretty low for a bear.

[45/70]

That's what I think Doc.

It looks like bite marks on the tree as well. Its kinda low on the tree but the bear could have been sitting down when he or she did this. And deer don't pick a pine tree to rub

All that much.

[45/70]

I hope some more guys give there vote on this.

Could of been a small bear or a cat of some kind. ? It sure was meant to be a sign post and in your face. Here I am. Right along a wood road.

Edited August 25, 2015 by 45/70

[Doc]

Do you have any idea what month the picture was taken.

[45/70]

I found this mark right after deer season. Its a place that I don't check on much during deer season. But I due Now.

Its quite a walk from the house on the old farm to this place.

And that yr I was seeing a lot of bears about every 6 weeks they would be by two tear down my bird feeders.

Here's one sitting on my feeder.

Edited August 25, 2015 by 45/70

[growalot]

I say buck the two long digs just look like antler points would have made them. I say this because the bark is gone but the inner tree is still smooth...a bears claw would more than likely left a line down the inner bark as well.

[Curmudgeon]

Bear claw marks I have seen leave parallel lines.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Hard to tell from the angle of the picture, but is it accurate that the highest part of the marks are about a foot above the top of the gun barrel?

Edited August 25, 2015 by Culvercreek hunt club

[Four Season Whitetail's]

I would say buck myself. If it was a bear and you follow the scratch that starts the mark coming down there is only 1 scratch. Meaning if he say stretched out and put his paw on the tree to pull down then he only used 1 claw coming down. 1 out of 5?  Kinda weird i would say.

[grampy]

I would say the brow tines of a buck. He pushes his forehead into the tree, makes the punctures with the brow's then moves his head and neck up or down then repeat all over again. Have seen them do this many times. And have seen a lot of pine trees and hemlocks tore up by bucks.

 

When a bear marks it's territory, it will reach up as high as it can to show how big he is. When another bear finds the mark, if he is bigger he will mark higher than the first bear as a sort of challenge. Or if he does not measure up, he may mark as well but will move along and not stay in the area.  

[The_Field_Ager]

looks similar to large Bucks we have in our woods

[G-Man]

Buck, around here pine,fir,spruce are prefer rub trees as they are very aromatic, cherry is another favorite. Any bear sign I've seen is much higher and you can see every claw mark in parallel, they don't slash trees from different directions

[45/70]

You guys are making a lot of good points G-man they do like spruce for sure but we don't have many of them. Mostly around here they like

Young white birch shumack Young hard wood saplings

[G-Man]

Birch would.make sence as its sap is sweet smelling and sticky, as is sumac. Hardwood saplings can be but they do have prefer species

[Bow Addict]

I've seen tons of rubs on pines,firs and spruce trees! Btw,you sure get an early snowfall in your area!   

Edited August 25, 2015 by Bow Addict

[45/70]

We have had 3' of snow in early Oct. My power was out for a week and a half. Cuz.all the leaves

Were still on the trees.

[Fletch]

Buck

[chiefbkt]

I will say it's a buck rub.  I would think if it were a bear it wouldn't look so clean.  It would take an awful lot of pressure from a bear to make that mark so nicely, at least in my opinion. 

Edited August 29, 2015 by chiefbkt

[ants]

 I say buck rub…the two heavy rakes in the middle look like they were made by big brow tines. Not sure if a bear would just leave the two cuts with its whole claw.The small branch in the photo to the left looks like a buck raked it as he was working the trunk.

 

[DirtTime]

There's snow on the ground, What tracks were in the snow?

[Cbarber4]

Look at the top right of the tree there is a old mark the same but smaller. I have a willow tree that has the same splits my tree guy told me soft wood in really cold temps the sap will freeze expanding and making the bark split. If the marks are lumped out around them I would think that's what happened