Scrape Question

[WingNut]

Hey All,

I was checking my trail cams last night and found 3 fresh scrapes. But the were all within 30 yards of each other (total) in kind of a circular motion or half moon shape. Anyone have an opinion on one buck.. two... I do have a good 7 seven walking around somewhere. I only have him on camera.

[StripedBuck]

This sounds like it's the Bucks primary scrape territory. Active scrapes could be visited by different Bucks and or Does. Is there a licking branch above any of those scrapes?

Also be absolutely scent free while in that area...Try and get a cam on those other scrapes...Best of luck!

[PREDATE]

I would spray some buck pee on one of them and bring out the territorial instincts of the buck. He might just want to stick around to confront the intruder and claim his turf. Be careful when aproaching the area, the buck might bed downwind of it to scent check the visitors.

[phade]

Where are they located? Edge or in cover?

If in cover, I wouldn't be screwing around with mocks, cams, etc.

I'd be hunting it smartly, and right now.

What do you want? A picture, or the head on the wall?

[WingNut]

There were licking branches on two of the three that I could notice. I don't know if I'm keen on messing with them directly v/s making a mock scrape close by. I'll be out there Friday. I'll relocate a camera and see what happens.

[WingNut]

They are all on the edge, but not very far from cover either but not suspect bedding cover.

[phade]

Edge cover and not bedding = a long shot to hunt then. Buck could be bedding a mile away...

With that many scrapes, I wouldn't bother with mocking or messing with it. Hang the cam on the best one, and look for time. If you get hits on the cusp of darkness (within an hour of sunrise or sunset), then I would start looking very closely at your bedding options within the immediate vicinity (say within a 100 or a few hundred yards). Chances are he's in there.

[Danny]

on the edge they are probably nightime scrapes

[WingNut]

Makes sense! All my trail came went from all day to between 6pm to midnight. I only have one pic of the 7 pt at 4:20 am. It slowed down and I moved the cam, unfortunately it was where the scrapes are. Go figure.

[ants]

Same buck

[WingNut]

Ants,

Are you telling.me or asking if its the same.Buck? I don't know I haven't seen him yet. Only pictures of one 7 pt.

[DeerLogic]

I can say that most early scrapes are the smaller bucks. Not to say that a big buck will not make a scrape early, but majority are the youngsters. Check out our app man you can start patterning these bucks on your property. Along with the rutting activity around.