Scrape Questions

[OldNewbie]

Came across this scrape this past weekend. 20yds away was another that was slightly smaller. The other had a couple prints in it.

Some basic questions:
- is there a strong relationship between the size/age of the buck and the size of the scrape.
- are scrapes visited at particular times, mostly at night, depends on the deer/pressure/area
- some have said they ignore scrapes this time of year. I'm thinking these are still active. Anyone agree?
- if you were going to hunt this area, how close would you setup near the scrape

 

[Hollar Hunter]

Could be a scrape but looks more like where somebody hunted. I do it all the time clear a good section of debris away from a base of a tree so if you have to move or turn around you can do so without making a sound...

 

[mayberryrick]

Could be a scrape but looks more like where somebody hunted. I do it all the time clear a good section of debris away from a base of a tree so if you have to move or turn around you can do so without making a sound...

I agree.

 

[Mike Belt]

Generally the bigger the scrape the more bucks that have visited it. Most scraping is done at night. I wouldn't bother hunting over it and that really doesn't look like ascrape. Are there overhanging branches? Instead I'd find trails, funnels, edges, or somewhere in the area (or not) where there is deer movement. I'd venture to guess that less than .5% of bucks killed during hunting season are killed over scrapes.

 

[benellivol]

Find out how he's getting to and from the scrape. Hunt trails leading to there.

I've killed two bucks this year by finding a scrape and then working back down trails into the edges of thickets or creek bottoms.

Deer are coming to them, usually at night. However, you can catch them early in the morning or late in the afternoon getting ready to go to them. I've had better luck at one particular farm patterning them off of their scrape visits than their visits to feeding areas.

 

[BSK]

As others have said, I don't think that's a scrape. Because you said you found another smaller scrape nearby, I bet what is pictured is another hunter's set-up for hunting that smaller scrape.

 

[thejetman]

it looks like you found where I Sat last weekend lol

 

[Woodson223]

A hunter did that

 

[donedeer]

agreed hunter did that to avoid crisp sound of leaves while moving around,done it hundred times myself it helps,lol

 

[stryker]

I agree with others... It looks like where somebody else has hunted,not a scrape.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Not a scrape

 

[bowriter]

Don't think that is a scrape but if it was, I wouold ignore it.

 

[RoseBud27424]

I would like to ask what may be a really stupid question but I just thought about this this evening while hunting. Are bucks the only ones to "start" a scrape then the does follow suit or is there any times when maybe a doe will decide she wants to put down a scrape. Yea i know probably a stupid question but I just gotta ask. Sorry to steal your thread.

 

[Gravel]

I'm with everyone else. Someone hunted there.

If you don't see a licking branch, thats probably not a scrape.

 

[BSK]

I would like to ask what may be a really stupid question but I just thought about this this evening while hunting. Are bucks the only ones to "start" a scrape then the does follow suit or is there any times when maybe a doe will decide she wants to put down a scrape. Yea i know probably a stupid question but I just gotta ask. Sorry to steal your thread.

Not a stupid question at all. Although it is rare, does will start scrapes. However, much misinformation and misinterpretation of scraping activity exists among hunters. Scrapes do not appear to be about estrus does communicating with bucks. They are primarily about bucks communicating with other bucks. They are pheramone "calling cards" and communication devices. Does will investiagate scrapes, but they are used by bucks at a much, much higher rate than does.

 

[Winchester]

I would like to ask what may be a really stupid question but I just thought about this this evening while hunting. Are bucks the only ones to "start" a scrape then the does follow suit or is there any times when maybe a doe will decide she wants to put down a scrape. Yea i know probably a stupid question but I just gotta ask. Sorry to steal your thread.

Not a stupid question at all. Although it is rare, does will start scrapes. However, much misinformation and misinterpretation of scraping activity exists among hunters. Scrapes do not appear to be about estrus does communicating with bucks. They are primarily about bucks communicating with other bucks. They are pheramone "calling cards" and communication devices. Does will investiagate scrapes, but they are used by bucks at a much, much higher rate than does.

I agree but bucks also frequent scrapes at a much higher rate associated with rut timing. Bucks and does will visit and use primarily the licking limb of some scrapes year round, but activity definitely picks up and peaks close to rut timing! Albeit mostly at night!

 

[Football Hunter]

I agree with others... It looks like where somebody else has hunted,not a scrape.

yep

 

[parkerxbowhunter]

I have seen deer clear debris from a spot before they bed down but I agree looks more like where someone hunted.

 

[travle]

Look like someone was hunting there...i found something similar on public land as i was coming up on it i was like man what a big scrape. As i looked closer i seen two freshly smoke cigarette butts....they could have at least picked up their cigarette butts.