While out pulling chips this morning I found what I thought was a scrape. I say that I thought it was a scrape because I thought it was a pretty poor effort to the point I would not say for sure that it was indeed a scrape. It had the overhead branch was in an area that is a travel corridor. Wasn't but 12" in diameter and only partially scrapped away. Part of the other reason I wasn't sure is because I have not had bucks around this summer or fall, last 2 weeks have been nothing but does and fawns. On the chip I did get a pictures of a young 8 point buck I would say 2-3 years old. Do bucks get better or more aggressive in making scrapes as they mature? or is it more a lack of other bucks? Or is it just early in the scrape building process?
The deer could have started it then stopped for whatever reason. I have found scrapes like this on our place and as time went on they got bigger the more they were used.
Most fresh scrapes around this time of year are small and not pawed out a lot. As it gets later into the season and more towards the rut the bucks will dig them out more and they will get bigger. What you found is more than likely a scrape. Some bucks will make small scrapes while some will make them bigger it depends on the deer's personality. There are a few 1.5yo bucks that will make them but usually not too often, they usually just work them. 2.5 year old bucks and older will make scrapes often. All bucks will hit scrapes to check them out. I had a camera out for 4 days on a small 12"-12" scrape and I got 5 different bucks coming to it, one being a nice 3yo and the rest 1yos. All of the pics were at night (of course ) Hope this helps!
I started a mock scrape with Tink's Power Scrape, 3 weeks ago. There was a good overhanging branch on the edge of an alfalfa field, and it was actually off a small point where two alfalfa fields met. So it was a good location where there's normally a lot of deer traffic. So now I'll get to my point. I didn't tear up the ground at all, and when I checked my camera that I had over it, it didn't appear as though the ground was tore up hardly at all after 2 weeks. One thing that was obvious though, was the over hanging branch was twisted-up. When I looked at the pics, I had 13 different bucks at that mock scrape, ranging from 1.5 - 3.5 yrs old. Once again you wouldn't have known it from looking at the ground. One thing you'll notice when a buck goes up to a scrape, they will always work the overhanging branch, but only sometimes work up the ground. I've witnessed this many times over the years. It also appears, as its get a bit later in the next few weeks, they will get more aggressive and tear-up the ground more. So it most likely was a scrape you found, but the ground doesn't necessarily always have to be torn-up. I always like to say a scrape to a deer, is like a dog to a fire hydrant. There aren't too many dogs that pass a hydrant and don't want to stop to leave their mark. Same thing goes with the deer. Some scrapes may get made and never get touched again, but its all about location. If it's in the right place, than every buck that passes will most likely want to at least leave his mark. Either just on the licking branch or both the licking branch and urinating under it. Keep in mind, he may not always paw the ground. Anyway, I hope this helps, and good luck this season!
I peed on the scrape this morning. What a difference a week makes. All summer I have been concerned about a lack of bucks on trail cam, this week 2 nights in a row just before dark a buck comes to the plot. I know where he comes from and his route, too bad he is a 3 year old 8 point.
Scrapes often start off small and get bigger towards the rut when more deer start visiting it. Think of a scrape like a guestbook, the more deer in the area the bigger and more torn up it gets. You have does in the area...where do you think bucks go when they start getting horny? To wherever the does are. So if you have does in the late summer and early fall, you're in a good spot for bucks.
I understand that the bucks come to the does, it does get frustrating to check chips every week and go thru 100's of pics of nothing but does and fawns. I usually don't hunt till the end of October so as it gets closer to time a guy gets antsy. I have had scrapes before and the ones that I have had on my land in the past were wide open and evident from the first time I saw them
