Well, it's possible that my upcoming hunting season took a turn for the worse. Up until this year, I've only gun hunted and for the past 5 yrs, I've had a scrape in the exact same spot on my property. Well, I'm going to be bow hunting this season and this weekend I put up my ladder stand on my property. As I was climbing down from tying my string to raise and lower my bow, my Father in law yells out, " OH NO"!! Startled, I turn and look and he tells me, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize that was his licking branch, I just cut it off"!!!! My heart sank. Inside I'm so ticked off but, I know he didn't do it on purpose. He was trying to open up a shooting lane for me. UGGGHHH!! The question I have is, do you think now that the branch he used to rub his head on, chew etc..is gone, he will no longer make a scrape in that spot? There is no guarantee that he would have anyway but, that scrape has been in the exact same spot for the last 5 yrs so, I was going to be ready for him this year. What are my chances?
In my opinion the only epic fail would be focusing on that one ladder stand over a scrape. Just relax move around and hunt new spots on your land. First time in is always your best chance of killing an animal so hunt a lot of first time sits. Your season would suck if you just sat in that stand all season anyway, be mobile and be more deadly.
If you're that worried about it, I've heard of guys creating licking branches in order to draw bucks closer. They just tied or strapped a branch to the tree.
like stated before just replace the branch. But i would also start working his scrape early to draw him there. good luck
Man you had me going to, I thought someone was going to fall or your bow broke or something terrible. I would think if he has been going the same route for 5 yrs and single branch would not take him off his route.
