Cervids (members of the deer family) living in open country, such as elk and mule deer, rely heavily upon visual displays and vocalizations when communicating information of social significance. In contrast, forest-dwelling white-tailed deer more commonly use glandular secretions and scent-marking, especially in conjunction with antler rubs and ground scrapes, commonly referred to as signposts.
Scent marking and signpost communication is especially effective in dense forest cover, because chemical signals left on objects in the environment remain functional for lengthy periods in the maker’s absence. Typically, especially during the rut, mature bucks make most signposts to advertise their presence. Young males and females are the primary “readers.”
My observations, using fake antler rubs and mock ground scrapes, have revealed that visual attractiveness is also important in determining deer response to rubs and scrapes. In fact, when controlled and manipulated according to study design, the use of artificial signposts permits testing various scenarios that might contribute to seasonal aspects of whitetail signpost formation and visitation.
Unfortunately, the use of artificial deer signposts in deer research has received minimal attention. In fact, other than the work I did, I can find no other scientific publications on the subject.
