Man--I get jealous of guys that talk about hunting scrape lines. I've never seen one here--not to amount to anything at least. If you can find a "line" of 3 or so you have really found something. Then it's usually the smaller bucks that are doing it out of instinct. My theory is our buck to doe ratio is so screwed up (and has been for years and years) that the bucks don't bother with scrape lines or rub lines--they have so many does to tend they don't have time for that stuff. We generally have a rub or scrape just here and there, and the scrapes don't usually get tended to on a regular basis. Our rut comes way later than most too--late December or early Jan--I guess it's because of the lack of cold weather. I've seen fresh scrapes in the woods in March. It's getting better, with the 4-point or better rule being in effect the last several years, but getting folks to hold to that rule is a different story. People in these parts shoot deer to eat, and antlers don't even make good soup, so they don't always pay attention to how many points they have.

Just like shooting a bow, there are general rules that apply to pretty much everyone, but then you have to adapt to your particular situation. I've talked to guys that think stalking is THE way to hunt, but I find out that they can walk through the woods without worrying about noise. I don't know of anyone that hunts that way here, even with a rifle.

Chad