Scrape hunting opinions

[dirt_a_KISS]

This past weekend, while out hunting i did a little bit of scouting(it was windy too). While walking i found a potential spot for me. Their were two or three scrapes with licking branches all around them. Each one had trails come out of them like an intersection. With this knowledge i had a plan to hunt it with the "J" hook method. How successful is scrape hunting and is their any action at the scrape during shooting hours?

[bryabbio]

I hunt maybe 10 yrs from the trails nd scrapes. You dont want to put pressure on it. also Hunt it down wind. Scrape hunt for me is mainly an afternoon-evening hunt. I usual get in my stand for an afternoon hunt at 1130-1145 nd leave the area minutes before sun down. I also use a drag behind me if I scrape hunt. Key thing is scent in that area nd no pressure on that scrape area. I hope this works. good luck dirt-a-Kiss.

[bryabbio]

Sorry as for action yes there is does check it, as do bucks checking for dominance in the area. U could ne successful hunting scrape lines.

[phade]

Scrape hunting is a subset of hunting imo...sort of like those who target beds, or hunt only from the ground. Lots ot debate and style in the technique.

J-hook method has merit.

In general, I look for lightly worn paths down wind of the predominant wind direction at the scrape. If I can peg the general bedding area, then you know that much more, and you'll feel confident that you are on the money. Sometimes sets are 10 yards off, but more times I am set up 20-40 yards, and as far as 50-60 off if I believe the lightly worn path is that buck's traffic pattern to scent check the area.

I would hunt it with a weather front has come in and forced bucks to bed, or bed longer than normal with a heavy rain/and or wind. I tend to see better daytime scrape action in misty weather, or rain, or right after a rain. It's arguable, but some believe that they are more likely to hit the scrape then as it needs refreshing. This is that situation where when you wake up, the rain is so noisy on the roof, you hit the alarm, and roll over...NOT. You should get up, get set, and tough out the rain until it stops...and that's when those bucks will move in.

I need to take a leap of faith in that this scrape is in the interior...and that you have a primary or community scrape area on your hands. Are there food sources in the immediate area? Apples? Acorns? Paired with nearby bedding? If so, that's a home run set for daytime activity. Not all scrapes are created equal.

Shoot what makes you happy...but don't be afraid to pass up a 1.5 here. You could have a younger buck in a satelite bed hitting that scrape earlier than the mature buck in the area who visits it.

Edited October 17, 2012 by phade

[dirt_a_KISS]

Well let me put it this way, there are two major bucks i want sadly i can only get one during gun and one during bow. The scrape is located on a tree line that a foot away from fields. The deer seem to travel through there from there bedding area or down the hill. The food sources are apples, acorns and corn. I will be using antler ice though, so hopefully that stuff will attract the deer towards me when visiting the scrapes.

[phade]

Well let me put it this way, there are two major bucks i want sadly i can only get one during gun and one during bow. The scrape is located on a tree line that a foot away from fields. The deer seem to travel through there from there bedding area or down the hill. The food sources are apples, acorns and corn. I will be using antler ice though, so hopefully that stuff will attract the deer towards me when visiting the scrapes.

I don't want to dissuade you because I can't see the exact spot, but if the scrape is on the edge of fields, and there is no real cover...you may be p!ss!ng in the wind.

Most scrapes on the edge of fields are going to be nighttime visits. If there are indeed edge scrapes...there's a primary or community scrape somewhere...find it and hunt that. Chances are that is closer to the bed...and that's where you want to be.

Unless that field offers cover....you may want to look more.

[dirt_a_KISS]

Oh the scrape is on the inside of the woods next to a field with deer trail comeing in and out and fresh scat. Does that help?

[phade]

Oh the scrape is on the inside of the woods next to a field with deer trail comeing in and out and fresh scat. Does that help?

What is the field? Is it open? Does it have cover enough to allow deer to travel without concern of putting themselves in danger? If that answer is no, then it's likely not a spot with significant sign posting going on during shooting hours.

There's a general belief that 85-90% of scrape activity is nighttime...while that may be true to a degree...it's a misleading stat. Find the community or primary scrape in cover, and you'll have daytime visits. You'd have to get real lucky or be hunting a very unpressured land to have a buck visit a scrape on the edge of a green field during hunting hours. Not saying it is impossible, but not exactly the high odds I am looking for. If there are extenuating circumstances, such as that field being THE food source, or a standing corn field...then that changes things.

Think about it...if you were a mature buck, would you make yourself vulnerable in such a spot during daylight?

If this is slightly in the woods...you mentioned a foot inside it...is there a perpendicular trail to the main one, or one that runs along the edge of the woods (parallelling the field)?

For the most part, mature bucks are not going to be taking the same exact travel paths as the does/young bucks at this time of year. You should see a faint trail in that area...find it and think about where it comes from, and why it is there.

Edited October 18, 2012 by phade

[dirt_a_KISS]

its cornerd on three sides of the field. Hard woods on two sides with pines on the other side of the field. Then there are trails running parrel with in the field. On the inside there is a creek hundred yards away then trail leading from that towards the scrape

[tughillhunter]

Phade is hitting the nail on the head. most field edge scrapes are night time hits. I think, if you can set up about 40 yards inside the scrape line, you will have great oppurtunity, then again, i dont know the terrain. mowed grass, high goldenrod, cut corn field? if you figure out the bedding area and direction of travel, you got it made.

[dirt_a_KISS]

alright thanks, yeah they seem to move along the creek and the ridge top(old logging road) so never hurts to try it, thanks.

[arrow nocker]

is it too late to make a mock scrape?

[phade]

is it too late to make a mock scrape?

No.

Here is what I prefer doing...everyone has their preference.

I like to go to a park where hunting is not allowed, but is big enough for deer to roam. You can almost always find a ton of scrapes. I go there with a couple gallon zip lock baggies, latex gloves, a pair of snips and a spade that are not handled bare handed.

I like to find scrapes in close proximity at the park rather than just one...because you can kill it by removing the overhead branch. So, while wearing the gloves, snip two-three branches that they are using and place them in one baggie. Next, take a spade full of bare scrape dirt and it goes into the other.

At your hunting spot, set up a mock near another interior scrape...about 10 yards, or if I know for a fact I have the general bedding area and the feeding area down...I'll set up two or three scrapes along the trail.

Two or thre scrapes along that trail can slow down the buck in the a.m. and make him hit his bed later as he stops at each scrape. A single scrape can make him stop for the shot, too.

I don't do this every year because I go back and forth over mock scrape effectiveness. If I have more than one target buck on different parcels, I am more apt to try it.

[arrow nocker]

thats is exactly the way i was intending.Haha.except i havn't had time to find another scrap area.I havn't even found a scrape on the parcel i just got permission to hunt.but i found some rubs and a line of rubs that goes back a few years.right between bedding in a corridor with tons of oaks along it.I am going to mock scrape it up along that trail and make my own action.Just got to get some scrape dirt.LOL.Might apt for some stuff from the store far a starter.

[phade]

thats is exactly the way i was intending.Haha.except i havn't had time to find another scrap area.I havn't even found a scrape on the parcel i just got permission to hunt.but i found some rubs and a line of rubs that goes back a few years.right between bedding in a corridor with tons of oaks along it.I am going to mock scrape it up along that trail and make my own action.Just got to get some scrape dirt.LOL.Might apt for some stuff from the store far a starter.

Ask a friend for one from theirs...and then you can do the same.

I've got a few friends we used to do this with, until we found the public land scrape spot that pops up every year.

[arrow nocker]

Should make a scrape dirt trading thread.LOL.

I know some scrape spots in happy valley.But i don't have the time to go there.

I got some Hot Scrape today and made one in a different area.Didn't have time to hike all the way back to my run i want to scrape up.I know my neighbor tract hunter said he ain't seen any opened yet either.