I know i asked a few of you guys this already, In your experience, do bucks open scrapes back up (and create new ones) when the rut is over and dying down?
I'm not sure I would describe it as the rut being "over" but rather a different phase of it. I have seen bucks start new scrapes or re-open them around the week of Thanksgiving. I like hunting that time of Nov. You can catch a big boy cruising for the last estrus doe's. I don't hunt the scrapes though...I prefer to sit over pinch points which see some traffic.
I've seen scrapes reopened and made anew all the way through December here in MN. As was proven on this board, scrapes can pay off big time, but more often than not, many scrapes are one hit wonders. I would put even less stock in them producing in the post rut than I did in early November. My post rut strategy has always been to switch back to the food sources, scrapes or not.
Dont forget that is shotgun season. I have bowhunted gun season quite a bit and still havent figured out a way to kill a big buck with a bow that week. Seems like they are either at a full run or bedded up tight.
In 2003 I was hunting the morning after Thanksgiving. Around 10:30 a very tall and heavy 10 pointer walked a field edge about 100 yards away. I watched him through my binoculars as he hit every single scrape he came across. Never saw the buck again though.
In my experience scrape activity has gone stagnit (sp?) after the rut. Also, buck activity around them has been almost non existant. But I don't really know what I'm doing anyways
Post Rut has been a ***** for me!! I know the bucks are suppose to be checking scrapes at that time again but for the life of me I can't and don't think I have ever spotted a shooter buck In that time. In a few more weeks that time will be here again and I hope like heck I can make It a 1st If I'm still without by then. It would be a huge accomplishment for me to take a buck In the post rut being It's something I've never been able to do In the many times I've tried.
