Bucks still hitting scrapes in PA & OH

Gave it one last try over Ohio this Saturday. Saw a couple freshly opened scrapes. One was rather small, just a few digs across the frozen ground, the other was an established scrape that was reopened and still fresh. Then last night I took the dog for a walk behind the house and the one scrape that had been there all fall was freshly reopened as well. Lots of deer sign in general back there. There were 3 trees where the ground in a circle 10-15 feet from the base of the tree was completely tore up. But that was it. It was one of the most bizarre looking things. I have never seen such highly defined areas where the deer had pawed thru the snow. Obviously they were looking for acorns, but I could have swore there were more than just those 3 trees that produced this fall.

 

I didn't see any scrapes opened up since the snow last weekend on my property. I think all of the bucks are dead.

 

I hunted Saturday morning here in Missouri and there were a couple scrapes that I saw that were opened back up. Found a fresher rub too.

 

Two weeks ago, I watched a 6, a 3 and a doe all use a scrape.

 

They haven't hit my scrapes since mid November but I've seen a few new rubs appear

 

I haven't been out myself as I'm waiting for late season archery here, but I did watch a decent 8 pointer chase a doe around a field the other evening. Hopefully that kind of behavior keeps up for a week or two.

For some strange reason, I'm looking forward to freezing half to death in a treestand right now....

 

That sounds like Michigan, it always seem that way. You have to let them walk to let them grow and not many people do that.

 

I have seen a few new rubs pop up and the scrapes that were open in Nov are starting to open as of last week. I may give it a try soon in my area the bucks start popping up around the end of Dec.

 

I found a few new pretty good sized rubs last week while rabbit hunting. Been a strange year.

 

Haven't saw a scrape here opened up In forever. They'd have dig through 2.5 feet of snow to do It.

 

I saw a scrape about a week and a half ago that was freshened up. Kind of caught me off guard when I saw it. Definetly been a weird year.

 

I agree. From what I read before season started, the rut would be late and prolonged with the secondary rut coming in much later than usual.

 

I've found several fresh looking scrapes, hopefully i can make it happen here as the days dwindle down.

 

I haven't seen any scrape activity in over a month in my area. I haven't seen many buck recently either.