RE: Minn question
I'd say it's definately worthe it. The last year or two I've started to come to the opinion that it can be just as productive during the phase just before the rut. During this time they're still a little predictable and if you can find a scrape line they'll still be on it reliably whereas during the peak of the rut they can end up just running around the woods a bit more helter skelter. Trail cams have shown some fairly consisten action on the scrape spots until the peak and then if they do hit these scrapes it's VERY unpredictable as to when. Definately will be hitting that time period much harder this year.