Scrape Question

[jlmustain]

I've read a lot about placing more importance on scrape lines than on a lone scrape. Today while still hunting, I found a trail with a line of over 10 scrapes. The land I hunt is in Normandy (near the Coffee County and Bedford County line). I've also heard that there's a time when the scrapes don't matter as much. The only camera I had was stolen or I'd put it up. What's y'all's advice on whether or not to hunt that scrape line?

 

[MMHunter]

I probably wouldn't hunt it unless there is other sign around there. I look for does and food and that's where I find bucks this time of year.

 

[Shed Hunter]

A terrain funnel where it comes from or leads to is the spot to be IMO. Do not buy into the ignoring scrapes thing. The deer put them there for a reason. They may not hit them, but they use scrapes to communicate and that is why those scrape lines are often in areas that are already ideal for hunting--that is where the deer travel and they want others to see the scrape.

 

[jlmustain]

I can't decide if I'd call this trail a funnel or not. I've seen them travel parallel to it, but it's certainly easier to walk the trail.

 

[jlmustain]

Anyone else wan to weigh in? I'm considering going out to hunt near them in the morning to see if they're being freshened after this rain.

 

[Mike Belt]

There is a difference in a scrapeline and a line of scrapes. In my opinion a scrapeline is done by an individual buck whereas a line of scrapes is done by multiple bucks crossing that "line" and adding scrapes as they do so. Probability is that if the scrapes in a scrapeline are fresh then that buck is not on does. If he isn't then he's looking. If he's looking he's on his feet, hopefully during daylight. Also a scrapeline will denote his line of travel doing so. That same buck could possibly be killed somewhere else and be a mile away from the nearest scrape. Anything is possible. But, if you have does in the nearby area of that scrapeline and particularly if it's located in a funnel type area you're upping your odds of seeing him. Hang downwind and be prepared to flip to the other side as the wind dictates.

 

[ImThere]

If the scrapes are clean, no leaves hunt them now. Why not? Take Mike's advice hang down wind and see for yourself. My buddy killed one working a scrape saturday morning

 

[Mike Belt]

Scrapes are no different than any other deer sign except you know is buck activated. Hunt it while it's hot.

 

[BSK]

Scrapes are no different than any other deer sign except you know is buck activated. Hunt it while it's hot.

This.

I don't specifically hunt scrapes or scrape-lines, but I definitely hunt areas with the hottest, most concentrated buck sign, and fresh scrapes are great buck sign.

 

[Mike Belt]

Typically, a buck is in an area he frequents and makes scrapes. I don't know if there's a "primary" scrape versus a "secondary type" scrape but there are some that are made and never re-touched while others are kept open. The rut starts and all the scrapes appear to go dead. The buck/s that worked them could be miles away chasing does during the rut. Hunting based on those scrapes in the area could be futile unless you have enough does in the surrounding area to keep those bucks at home. Even then it's possible they aren't present. The bucks that originally made those scrapes probably relocated into those areas after they moved out of their summer ranges. They moved into those areas for a reason and that's probably because that's where they wanted to spend their winter. They extend those Fall areas during the rut (sometimes by miles) but after it's over and most seeking and chasing has ended they may very well move back into the same areas for the duration. So, if hunting in and around those areas doesn't pan out during the rut they may be an option once all the hoopla is over.

 

[Hunt 365]

Hunt them! Less total deer, but recent evidence that buck has been in the area. That's his "man cave"