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Just signed up on this site, just curious about mock scrapes.. any luck with them, best times to start trying, how big of an area, best scents to use? Any thing would be helpful.
Mock scrapes work well, but scent is not as important as the branch.
Dominant buck urine, and tarsal gland. Couple weeks before you want to hunt it. Refresh at least every other day, in the morning. A few days before your hunting starts add doe pee, and then estrus pee the days of the hunt.
Done correctly scrape get the attention of everyone. The bucks paw at them and add to them, the does potty dance and pee on them. And grunt !!
It is as if you opened up a new singles club and everyone in the neighborhood has to check it out. The bucks put this on their daily route.
We have talked about mock scrapes here many times before, and alot of hunters have agreed that scent is not the dominant factor over successful mock scrapes, but rather the branch, and where you put the scrape/s. Matter of fact, I wouldn't take any advice from above, no offense, but take more a natural route and let your branch alone be the attractant. They will take to it and their scent will start a trend. Going in and out to freshen a scrape with unfamiliar deer scent is not necessary at all, and you'll more than likely educate them.
So this time of the year should I start with a scrape line on a wood line type situation?
Scrape lines or a single scrape alone this time of year are best in close proximity to bedding. Making a scrape line on the edge of a field will most likely be a night time situation, unless the deer were already hitting it daytime. If so, then I would most definitely hang a stand with intentions of shooting to it.
I will add this to. The best single scrapes I have found through the years have been close to bedding, and that is anytime of the year, spring, summer, fall, winter. The best scrape lines I have found, have been in between 2 or more doe bedding areas in the rut, and obviously these are buck travel routes going back and forth, and most of the time they are in the woods, and on the edge of thick, or just inside the thick edge of cover. I am talking daylight movement for mature deer too. If mature bucks feel safe to travel in daylight, common sense would explain all deer will travel daylight. Hope this helps, good luck!
" From: Nocturnal 05-Sep-19 We have talked about mock scrapes here many times before, and alot of hunters have agreed that scent is not the dominant factor over successful mock scrapes, but rather the branch, and where you put the scrape/s. Matter of fact, I wouldn't take any advice from above, no offense, but take more a natural route and let your branch alone be the attractant. They will take to it and their scent will start a trend. Going in and out to freshen a scrape with unfamiliar deer scent is not necessary at all, and you'll more than likely educate them. "
The mount on the wall behind me proves otherwise, but you are free to misunderstand as you wish. BTW there was no branch. I have found natural scrapes out in the flats and swamps with no trees involved. Go figure !
Interesting, and I didnt mean to offend you either. I still stand by my knowledge of observation. And to the guys who know me well through the years on here know I give out good information that line up with others. Your method isnt bad, but in alot of of situations, like pressured places, such as public lands, deer will not take well to your intrusion. Private land may be different, and even still I would go with a natural presentation. The deer will respond better, and still take to it.
I prefer to hunt over their natural locations, but some times that is not in the cards. You find them where they make them. Land of others or unhuntable spot here. no way anyone is going to bowhunt the big guy in the deep swamp out back, gotta draw him to me. Gun season, different story, then I need a good float device that swims the brush masses under his carcass :)
heart attack waiting to happen, you will read about me some year !
I made 4 mock scrapes in very close proximity to bedding 3 weeks ago. I pulled the cards on Labor day. Three of the four are getting hit on a regular basis. But one that is near my favorite bedding area is getting pounded by many different bucks. I won't post pics as these are on public land. I'm sure my mock scrapes on our land are getting hit good also. But I'm staying out of there until I hunt. But like Noc said. Mock scrapes near bedding are the ticket. I also feel that a lot of people make the mistake of checking their cameras on their mock scrapes way to often. Let them soak and check them when you are there to hunt or well in advance.
I use no deer scent in my mocks. The licking branch is key. But I pee in the scrape and it really seems to work.
Tell us about your magical hallucinogenic branch ...
The above guys have much more experiethan I do and have solid advice.
The one season I had the most fun I made mock scrapes by using my own scent.
Just food for thought.
I did try to select the right locations based sign.
Tweed, how did your mock scrapes work, and what did you learn?
Rut sounds like you are into bucks. Good go hear, and utilizing the mock scrape with success! ;) Not surprised!
Doorknob; I am sure you have had results with your process, and I wasn't knocking on you. The logic makes sense, it just sounds like a process, and the constant intrusion is extremely iffy. Certain situations can accept that kind of tactic, but most situations call for a more subtle approach. Simple camera checks, like Rut said can be damaging, and that is just human scent alone.
I agree that scrapes near bedding can be really good especially after rain. I put cameras on field scrapes which I use for inventory. Never had mature bucks hitting field scrapes in daylight. I always hunt natural scrapes. It seems like once I find a heavily used scrape most are good every year. Have only used mock scrapes a couple times and never had luck.
I haven’t had good luck starting my own scrapes. I did hunt a field edge scrape line and had three different bucks come in and check it early one morning.
Last year, I was hunting over HOT sign. A very fresh and well used scrape line on public. I took a break at 10 am and when I got back in at noon it had been torn up while I was gone. I knew I shouldn’t have taken that break but it was brutally cold that weekend.
It seemed to work as a curiosity spot for them. I didn't have a camera set up so I only observed while in stand. I created it within wizzing distance of a rub. This is public land and I'm no expert so not sure if that was a real rub or a mock also.
Drop Tine's Link
Anyone use the Hodag Licking Stick? I think I might try it and see if it does what the videos show.
"Doorknob; I am sure you have had results with your process, and I wasn't knocking on you. The logic makes sense, it just sounds like a process, and the constant intrusion is extremely iffy. Certain situations can accept that kind of tactic, but most situations call for a more subtle approach. Simple camera checks, like Rut said can be damaging, and that is just human scent alone. "
It is hard to be complete in each post. I'll add this. Add man made scrapes out at the margin/periphery, and then hunt along likely routes between there and the sanctuary/bedding. The idea is to draw them out past you before it gets too late. Your scent never goes in the deep, and cams are not required for this tactic.
I hunt all big woods now and most good scrapes have branch, but years ago I hunted some marshland where great scrapes were located on slighly higher areas of marsh grass near streams or dikes. For mature bucks I don't want to leave scent so no mock scrapes and cameras only for fun summer inventory curiosity. Stands set Sep, start hunt about Oct 25 or with early cold front.
packing and leaving tomorrow,,, for the newbee,,, here is my advice,,, play around with mock scrapes, most of us have,, part of the learning curve,,,, want to kill bucks? learn their bedding areas, and set up accordingly, you will be better off,,,, good luck this season
Drop Tine - I too have watched that Hodag infomercial and thought...pretty cool. Then I though, hell, I can try something similar and see what happens. And I plan too...
A buddy of mine used a small tree and stuck it in his food plot after watching a Drury video. He had action with no scent and a licking branch - a scrape soon followed. Although he didn't kill anything off his experiment, I suspect he'll be doing it again!!
I’m going to make something like it and give it a try. I’m curious what type of scent they use. I was thinking something like ever calm. I’m sure once they start using it you don’t need the scent any further with the deer rubbing and licking the stick.
There is something I don't recall seeing mentioned above, and it applies to mock scrapes. And I believe it is critical to having success. I usually make mock scrapes every year, and I do so near a number of different stands. And I always employ the over hanging branch theory, usually 4 - 5 ' off the ground. (If there is no branch I wire one in place.) But, I never just make one mock scrape, I always do at least three (seems to be the best number) in a small cluster and each within shooting distance of my stand. Three seems to be a greater attractant than just one and I have had success using this practice. Also, when getting to my stand I always scrape away the leaves and debris which may have gathered in my scrapes...freshen up the dirt so to speak...do so with new scratch marks in the soil and then apply a liquid scent...I just pee on them and it seems to work fine.
Just for you guys and this thread I made a useless one, less than 50 yards from the house and hung a cam on it.
I wonder how long it will take? any bets?
yesterday (next day) I checked the cam one large deer but couldn't see the head. re-positioned cam and trimmed some branches, but too freaking wet today. I'll check it some day
Checked today during a lul in the rain. just a spiker and ants, but they are pawing the ground and beating up the branch. Freakin rain eh? as wet as any wet spring right now. standing water all over the place.
I hung a grapevine the 5th of July on a travel corridor. To dat, I have a 1/2 dozen bucks using it and a scrape started underneath.
unfortunately this site isn't very friendly to videos so I will continue with the snapshots.
Trapper- did you scent the vine or do anything other than hang it?
I bent a sapling down and dug up the ground around it. I took a leak on the branch and the ground below. 2 nice bucks and a ton of doe and fawns investigating almost daily.
Dang reg .....watchu been drinking for your wizz to draw like that?
apple juice. like nugent's 'secret'
Years ago, when the foundation for our house was dug, I went by the next day to check it out. This was in late spring...every dirt pile was covered in hoof prints. From the basement to the top of the piles. Got me thinking...I can smell freshly turned earth...a deer's nose must light up.
Since that time, every scrape I've found that's been unattended for awhile, I churn the bejeezes out of the soil...really tear it up. Invariably, the next day it's back in business.
So in playing with mock scrapes my main criteria is to do just that...I'm convinced that earth smell draws them in. Licking branch doesn't hurt either.
Just another tool in the box...and it's fun. I like being proactive rather than just sit. Sometimes it works, others not so much.
Definitely Rallison, good point missed.
Now there is a concept. the local deer know the soils and when it gets disturbed they smell that.
Just recently made a few mock scrapes and now that it rained should i go back and refresh them?? they've been out for less than 24 hours
Careful about leaving your human scent around scrapes. Rubber boots and gloves for me when I’m making a scrape.
i did where rubber boots but does rain take all that scent away?
Rain sure does help. My wife thinks I’m nuts, but when it rains, I head out to scout and set up and trim shooting lanes. It definitely helps with scent.
Tweed, The only scent I use is Peein in the mock scrape that I have dug up. On Occasion I will bring Vines from other properties that maybe 10-15 miles away to show bucks that there is a new guy in town.
Rallison, Very good point on the fresh dirt. Back in the early 80s when I was a long line Fox Trapper, the deer were my number 1 enemy. I would put in a great dirt hole set and before a fox could get to it a deer would have snapped it off. I had to start making sets out in the middle of fields but the deer would still find some of them that very night. GRRRR.!!
Anyone experiment with hemp rope placed at a scrape location. John and Jason from Grandpa Ray's have used these with pretty good success. Just wondering.
Konk1, Seems to me that the vine works better. But just like trapping, location location location trumps all.
Trapper +1.. To answer about rain, it is clear to me, that heavy rains do not wash rain away, if you have witnessed a dog trail a deer post storm, it is an eye opener. It takes days, and it boils down to if deer accept it or not. Most times it's better to start things early and let the cards fall in place naturally, instead of forcing it, like most hunters do. I have crossed mature bucks that accept human intrusion. They never leave, they feel safe. Then there are bucks that get whiff of me and it takes me 2 weeks to find em again. As a hunter. I think it's best to be cautiously aggressive. I am not a person that goes in and trims lanes because its raining or refreshes a scrape because of it either. More times than not. You'll get burned if an older class deer is your target. If killing a younger buck is your target too. Than you'll get away with more.