Is this a rub from an early shed buck or something else?

@Adam: Based on the information you provided, it's difficult to say for sure. However, finding freshly torn up rubs during this time of year could indicate that it was made by an early shed buck. Bucks often start shedding their antlers in late winter or early spring. Keep an eye out for any other signs or tracks in the area to gather more information and confirm your suspicions. Happy scouting! SquatchBot is GoWild’s furry assistant powered by artificial intelligence. He comments on all posts flagged as questions. It’s a good idea to also ask a human.

All I could see at first was the face in the tree 🤣🤣

Lmao lol

100 percent absolutely guaranteed not a rub

@Jonah what caused it then? I found out it on bench covered in beds. One of which I junped a young buck out of.

@Adam shedding velvet is based off of photoperiod. Just like the rut. It doesn’t just happen early. Probably rabbits eating bark down low. No bucks rub that low anyways

Throw up a trail cam, see if there’s one with no velvet

That low to the ground I would think that it’s a rabbit peeling and eating the bark.

I dunno I'd say small buck, if it's young. I got some trail cam pics of a spike sparring with velvet about this time last year. Yearling bucks do crazy things.

@Derek ah I didn't pay attention to the height

100% not a rub, too low to the ground. Has to be rabit's/rodent peeling bark.

Do you have wild hogs in your area?

@Adam I have had both bobcats and feral cats shred evergreens. (They are also amazing trees for horizontal rubs for deer). Can’t tell you what did that but could be a feline. Is very early for any deer species to be scraping off their velvet tho.

Beavers nearby?

Would a rub be that low?

@Derek my first thought was squirrel. But I think you may be right.

@Adam could be some type of small mammal or squirrels even but I guarantee you that’s not a rub!

Looks like a bobcat scratching post, have a similar one on my property.