Although bucks are more interested in feeding than breeding during the earlier part of the season, that doesn't mean they don't start to exhibit some breeding rites behavior. The #1 buck sign at this time of year is fresh rubbings on the sides of smaller trees. Most of your scouting and hunting efforts at this time of year should be concentrated around finding these fresh new rubs. Remember, when ever you see a fresh rub, especially when it is more than one rub, a buck had to spend a considerable amount of time at that spot in order to make that rub on that tree. He will probably return to this area to rub this tree again along with some additional trees in that immediate area.
Bucks are also still in "bachelor groups" of 3 to as many as 7 males right now. So, when you see lots of rubs in the vicinity, it's a good bet they were probably made by more than one buck. By the way, the sexual hormone testosterone rises in a buck throughout the fall, as the peak breeding season approaches. Eventually, these bachelor groups will break up, since they will no longer be able to tolerate each other. This testosterone hormone is responsible for triggering the rubbing activity. Rubs are the key buck sign to concentrate your efforts on throughout most of September and October. As bucks travel to and from bedding areas to feeding areas, and back again, they will rub various trees along the way. The further we move into the fall, the more pronounced this rubbing behavior will become. Locate an "active rub line" and you're sure to be in for some hot deer hunting action.