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Scrapes
Sept 30, 2007 20:59:47 GMT -5
Post by brettgerhart on Sept 30, 2007 20:59:47 GMT -5
I may be ignorant on scrapes so I am asking this question to get my answer and edumacation..... There are two scrapes 15 yards from my tree in my back yard that I hunt. My friend and I agreed they are about three days old and by a deer hence the footprints in them. 1. Is this odd behavior? If so, at what stage of the "chasing/rut" phase does it happen?
2. Are there different meanings to scrapes at different times of the chasing/rutting stages?
Thanks in advance!
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Scrapes
Sept 30, 2007 21:12:37 GMT -5
Post by busco on Sept 30, 2007 21:12:37 GMT -5
I have one scrape on the property I hunt that is there year around I think it is just a common trail. but freswh scrapes we ave had some cooler nights lately, more deer dead on the road!! maye some of them are starting to feel their oats??? the 9 point Crutchfield killed this year I think he said it just made or freshend a scrape.. i think the bucks are starting to break out of their bachelor groups and starting to divide and claim teritory. any body else agree
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Scrapes
Sept 30, 2007 21:23:58 GMT -5
Post by busco on Sept 30, 2007 21:23:58 GMT -5
Remeber accordind to the seminar on whitetail behavior we were at the phases of the rut start soon........ some probably earlier or later than others... a
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Post by nybuckstalker on Oct 1, 2007 5:19:04 GMT -5
I’m no deer biologist, but I have my own handle on what you have seen. Just as a dog lifts his leg on anything vertical to mark his territory, a buck marks his. Only, deer don’t lift their legs, they “scrape” the earth to make a visual sign and then pee in it. I believe the scraping was a way to speed up the process of locating the scent marking. Otherwise, deer would spend a lot more time “searching for the source” when first catching a wiff of another buck or does urine. Scrapes are unique to deer. A buck wont come check the tires on your truck nor the base of a pole but he sure will check out a two-four foot circle of torn up soil to see who’s been pissing in his hood. Just as bucks spar early on, then full out fight in the rut, I believe they scrape well prior to the rut and more frequently up to and during the rut. Bucks are always ready to breed so I don’t believe a scrape in September means anything different than a scrape in early November. I know I can’t relate all animal behavior together but here is another observation. Just as a Chihuahua lifts his leg on the same pole as a German Shepherd, I believe a four pointer will scrape next to or over larger bucks. Sure, that four pointer will drop tail once he sees that monster, but he will have the balls to piss in his hood. I hope that conveys my opinion. I don’t think your observation is odd at all.
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Post by brandon on Oct 1, 2007 8:42:38 GMT -5
There are territorial scrapes (where you just see one), then there are breeding scrapes (which is a line of 3 or more on a trail.... bucks will check these scrapes for doe activity (the does will pee and poo on them) and each buck will mark over it every time he checks it. These are usually under holly trees or trees with low hanging branches. They use the scent gland on there eye to mark the branches above the scrape(s), paw the ground in it, and pee across the glands on the back of there legs. Thats the short version, I could write 5 pages on scrapes!
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Scrapes
Oct 1, 2007 16:25:09 GMT -5
Post by duckbuster on Oct 1, 2007 16:25:09 GMT -5
ducks'n bucks pretty much sumed it up
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Scrapes
Oct 1, 2007 18:49:36 GMT -5
Post by brettgerhart on Oct 1, 2007 18:49:36 GMT -5
Makes sense guys! THanks! THey are under holly trees and there are two right beside each other. I have in my head some strategies to get that certain buck in. Any suggestions before I make up my mind and do it. Mock scrapes, re-scent with buck or doe? What do ya think?
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Scrapes
Oct 1, 2007 19:32:37 GMT -5
Post by Hardcorehunter on Oct 1, 2007 19:32:37 GMT -5
I read a study recently that observed reactions of bucks to scrapes. One they put buck urine, another doe urine, another apple juice (I think) and the last human urine. They did this hundreds of times. The conclusion was all the bucks frequented the scrapes equally. Even the human urine. They said this was because of the curiosity factor. The bucks were investigating all scents. I say piss in it. Or add whatever might raise curiosity.
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Scrapes
Oct 1, 2007 21:22:53 GMT -5
Post by brandon on Oct 1, 2007 21:22:53 GMT -5
Ive never expirmented w/ mock scrapes and never wanted to mess or even get to close to a scrape line. I wouldnt set up right on top of them, but far enough to get a shot (20 yrds or so) then hunt it when the wind is right if you can tell what direction the buck may come from. Sometimes it sucks b/c a lot of bucks check scrapes at night, but nothing gets my blood pumpong like finding a heavy used scrape line while scouting. A good one you can even notice the year after, and they may use it every year if there comfortable. I hunt scrape lines when i can find them. Put and trail cam that covers the trail before the rut and see whats visiting them. good luck!
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Post by BBD on Oct 2, 2007 6:00:18 GMT -5
BUCKS WILL ALSO USE THESE SCRAPES TO CHECK AND SEE HOW ANY OTHER BUCKS ARE IN AN AREA THAT THEY WANT TO CLAIM AS THEIR AREA, AS WELL AS CHECKING THE DOE NUMBERS IN THE AREA.IF YOU PUT A CAMERA ON THE SCRAPE(S) YOU WILL NOTICE SEVERAL DIFFERENT BUCKS COMING TO IT AND MARKING IT WITH THEIR SCENT. i ALWAY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE YOUNG BUCKS GET ITCHY AS THE WEATHER BEGAN TO COOL OFF, BUT AFTER A LITTLE STUDY OF MY OWN NOTICED ALL DIFFERENT AGED BUCKS AS WELL AS DOES COMING THROUGH THE AREA, SOME STOP TO CHECK THE SCRAPE, AND SOME WALKED RIGHT PAST IT AS IF THEY ALREADY KNEW ALL THE DEER NUMBERS IN THAT AREA.
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Scrapes
Oct 2, 2007 13:05:05 GMT -5
Post by osprey on Oct 2, 2007 13:05:05 GMT -5
I always pee in scrapes, and sika wallows as well. Just a competing urine to them, they get mad as hell and tear it up if it's primarily the big boy's scrapes. One year on a trip in Illinois buddy and I peed in one big scrape every night on our way out of the woods - every morning after it was raked and about 6" wider. If I can't kill 'em I'll at least make 'em madder than heck!
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Scrapes
Oct 2, 2007 14:40:53 GMT -5
Post by brandon on Oct 2, 2007 14:40:53 GMT -5
I thought the object was NO human scent in the woods? To each his own I guess. Haha!
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Scrapes
Oct 2, 2007 16:52:14 GMT -5
Post by davep on Oct 2, 2007 16:52:14 GMT -5
I always pee in scrapes, and sika wallows as well. Just a competing urine to them, they get mad as hell and tear it up if it's primarily the big boy's scrapes. One year on a trip in Illinois buddy and I peed in one big scrape every night on our way out of the woods - every morning after it was raked and about 6" wider. If I can't kill 'em I'll at least make 'em madder than heck! 20 years ago, I was trapping on a piece of DuPont property (yes, THOSE DuPonts!) on the upper shore. Since it was made VERY clear that there was no way I was EVER going to hunt there, (no one hunted there) I began to pee on EVERY scrape I came across. Now these bucks were never hunted and still very spooky. About 1/4 the scrapes were abandoned, 1/4 about the same, and about 1/2 tore all to hell! Made me rethink everything I "knew" about whitetails, hunting,etc
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Scrapes
Oct 2, 2007 21:24:21 GMT -5
Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Oct 2, 2007 21:24:21 GMT -5
You got to trap there but not hunt? Why did they care?
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Scrapes
Oct 3, 2007 18:51:59 GMT -5
Post by Hardcorehunter on Oct 3, 2007 18:51:59 GMT -5
I know a guy, that twenty years ago hunted dupont property, (I don't think he had written permission if you know what I mean) Shot a monster eight point in velvet. He said it was the smaller of the group.
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