I'm getting back into bow hunting after being out of it for 12yrs while I coached my sons in Football. I have 10 acres in norther lower Michigan and each year during gun season, there is a scrape in the same spot however, by the time gun season rolls around, the bucks are no longer rutting. Now that I'll be bow hunting during the rut, should I try and place my stand on the trails used to get to the scrape or, should I place it by a mineral site or my clover food plot and stay completely away from the scrape? Sorry for the newb question but, I'd rather you all think I'm a green horn than to mess up my chances of killing my first deer with my new bow. Thanks in advance for your advice..I do appreciate it.
I would find his bedding area if it is on your hunting property, locate the trail going in to it and hunt it in the afternoon the first few weeks of the season. Hunt the wind and cover your scent more than you ever have. If you can't locate it I would hunt the scrape line the same way only get on stand early in the day and wait for him. Guys if I am wrong please let me know. I have read a lot on this subject lately and this is what I will be doing.
I have luck hunting scrapes mid day late October early November after the does are bedded. They quite checking them for awhile after the first does are ready. I would hunt the scrape mid day and put a camera on it.
I'm between Holland and Grand Rapids but, my property is in White Cloud. Where the North Begins...and the cool waters flow!!!
Huddy, where is the scrape located in terms of cover and how big is it? Do you have does that bed on your property?
Virginia, The scrape is located about 30 yds away from the edge of a 22 acre pond where there is tall grass on the edges of the pond where the deer (does) will often bed down. From where the scrape is, you have to walk down a slight hill to get to the pond. Approximately 70 yds away is a spot where he has another scrape, also about 25-30 yds away from the ponds edge.
