The cause of Rubs...........

[Traveler]

Back around Christams time I was at the buyers selling fur and he told me something I'd never heard before.

He said that rubs on coons was actually casued by the loss of fat.Anybody else know about this ?

[trappnman]

rubs on coons are always accompanied by scratches and/or bites- and tats about all I know about them

[turbines]

Ain't the same as rug rash on knees and elbows?

[sbhooper]

I read once where they will start rubbing when the weather is real bad because they are stacked up in a den tree and peaing on the ones below them. When they get out, they start rubbing because of the itch. Don't know if there is any truth to it or not.

[Steve Gappa]

hooper- I've heard that same story around here a couple of times.

They also say thats where the yellow color is coming from.

I disagree.

Its a weather thing on coon. Cold, long winters- coon stay clear and unrubbed into March. Last year- Jan they were yellow like corn- and in the spring, the color is less $$$ because of what it indicates. In fall, color not as important.

I got 3 yellowish coon to skin this afternoon. all rock coon. And the yellew, is darn near the rock color. So- I'm going to really wash those coon, and see what happens.

[daveplueger]

In my opinion color is mainly the result of gentics and diet, and to a lesser degree weather and living conditions. There are certain sections of my river line that have traditionally produced black and silvers no matter the time of year or weather pattern. The same is also true with the extremely yellow colored coon. This leeds me to believe that color is mainly a result of genetics.

[Steve Gappa]

Dave- I agree its largely genetic- yet I do see the gradual changing of color over a seaosn.

Also, it seems like cetain areas, produce yellower coon- high vs low for instance.

[daveplueger]

I agree Steve. The brightness does deteriate from wear and tear and ultraviolet rays.

[hsif11]

The rubs I'm familar with occur on the neck area. No biting or scrating, I believe this is caused by passing in and out of dening areas. In my area this can start from late Dec on.

[Steve Gappa]

washed those 3 coon today- I can see a difference- they actually look like decent coon with the rock/mud/dust off them.

[scott kimball]

daveplueger said:

I agree Steve. The brightness does deteriorate from wear and tear and ultraviolet rays.

iam not real sure how UV rays can affect a coon when they are predominately nocturnal.then maybe i don"t know what i talk of.HELP.

[mattduncan]

schoolboy have you never seen coon sleeping in the tree during the daytime?

[daveplueger]

I cant count the number of times I have seen coon out in cornfields in the snow of late winter or the number of times I have witnessed coon out in the timber foraging while out Ginseng hunting ALL in broard daylight. Yes coon are predominately nocternal but they are often seen in the daylight hours before dark and after sun up. There is no doubt that the suns rays would have a minimal effect on coon but throw in the reflecting effect of snow cover and it doesnt help a coons pelt any.

[scott kimball]

Dave; just because you are who you are i am going to take your word until i can prove you wrong.LOL i didn't know you where a shang hunter also.where do you do most of your hunting.here are a few pics to hold you over until this fall.

[daveplueger]

Gotta love them roots!!

[trappnman]

there is nothing to prove wrong- matt and duncan are 100% right on coon in the daytime.

[scott kimball]

dave you are showing off now. ;)the most I've ever found was 3.5 lbs. dry and walked my a$$ off for that.but learned to make bed since that walk.(funny how sore feet can make you learn easier methods)

[romans117]

I have seen anumber of coon sleeping in den trees and rocks. They usually have there head tucked to their belly in a big ball. I have not seen more than one in a den.

[scott kimball]

trappnman said:

there is nothing to prove wrong- matt and duncan are 100% right on coon in the daytime.

steve; i am not saying UV rays don'tplay a roll in the color of a coons hide but,as to how much.i believe this number is low.because of the habits of a coon only.

[mattduncan]

schoolboy as far as the habits of coon go sleeping in trees out in the open is a common habit where i'm from i don't know if it's diffrent where you're at but around here if you take a walk through most any hardwood bush once the leaves drop and look up you will see coon sleeping in the trees they are there when the leaves are on also but you just don't see them bob w posted about going out and looking for these coon in the daytime to shoot them so i don't think it just happens here in my little area it's the main method of hunting coon around here i'd take a guess that it's 5-1 coon taken day hunting over night hunting around here they also like to sleep in conifer trees but once again hard to see and most just don't know they are there and as dave also related many time they just stay right in the corn fields all day long they tend to hang around the spots where the planter has missed or the corn has not come up these spot grow up in short weed cover and the coon are right at home here . i tend to see much more shades or red and oarnge in the coon that tend to be taken out of the hardwoods sleeping in the trees than the ones that cone from the ceader swamps and are'nt as exposed to the sunlight . i think if you watch close you'll see coon just don't come out at night and crawl into a den and sleep the day away