defcon14, i just try and make one close to but not in - any deer paths if i see very much deer sign in an area close to where i will be hunting, i brake some of the tips off the over hanging branches and sprinkle around some deer scent and then take the heel of my boot and scrape up the ground -with long thin drag marks-, enough to tear into the earth and leaves to get that fresh dirt scent in the air.(also at times i may add some scent to the over hanging branches since i read the deer rub their glands on the branches to leave their scent} then i just happen back by a couple days later to see if there are any deer sign in "my" scrape--sometimes you may see hoof prints where you made the scrape---if so i scrape a little more and add some more scent to it. i my self have never actually watched a scrape either made by myself or a deer so im not sure when they approach it or how often or how many deer may check it out.

i once made a fine scrape and my husband came home and told me of this scrape he had found that day and he was interested in following up on it -until i told him i had made it earleir in the day.
as i said since i dont actually hunt a scrape im not sure what deer or when deer come to it but its fun to do and passes the time.--just don`t spend too much time around your scrape because of leaving too much human scent.