hooking
n.— «Rubs (in Vermont, they are frequently referred to as “hookings”) and scrapes are signposts for other deer that a buck has passed through or is holding up, nearby, in the area.» —“Examining the three Ps of deer hunting” by Dennis Jensen Rutland Herald (Vermont) Nov. 11, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Chuck in Rutland, Vermont, has heard a phrase several times over the years that left him puzzled. If someone announces it’s late and they’re going to bed, and someone else questions that idea, the retiring one observes, Well, it’s...
A Vermont listener named Amy is looking for a word to denote a particular kind of light. She has an eye condition that makes her photophobic, which means that ordinary light makes her physically uncomfortable. She wants a word that describes that...
Interesting phrase, that: “holding up”. Is this in common use? I had the (possibly mistaken) impression that an animal or person that was hiding in a given area was said to be “holing up”, i.e. finding and lurking in any available holes.