Sat my stand tonight 11-11-11- on the way in I noticed a rub that was not there yesterday. Last week I found another that had been made within a few days - so after 10-31-11. Do they rub even if the antlers are clean? Out of frustration? Wanna fight something? Thoughts?

Yes.....marking territory [sign post rubs] and even after the rut...does can come into heat late and then if not bred can come in to heat in December. I have seen fresh rubs in late January! Scrapes also.

yes they do i was watching a deer the other day and he pushed a doe out breed her and went in the tree row where i could still see him and made a brand new rub it was cool to see the whole thing happen

Yes. Seen a nice 10 pt rub just yesterday. As stated above... they'll rub through January or so.

I too found fresh rubs up until Jan 1 last season. Didn't hunt after that but probably doing it after Jan 1 also.

The rub from when the velvet comes off until the antlers come off.

I was told this was during the week of peak rut a few years back. It was the only buck fight I've seen in the woods. A bigger deer trounced this old timer about 80 yards away. He then came under my stand and beat the trash out of several saplings in front of me before I snuck an arrow in the boiler room. He was bleeding, beat, with fur hanging everywhere. The taxidermist wanted to use a new cape but I said no way, he stays as he is.
I had him done in a mad, fighting pose, with all battle wounds showing. Perfect to me!
Anyway, I see rubs appear weekly, October through January, and physically saw this guy rubbing during the rut.

 

 

Well, five fresh rubs made sometime midday. They werent there whewn I left at 10:45! DAMN!

Deer will make rubs as long as they have hard antlers, (not in velvet).