You're likely right ont he first assertion.....but I've always felt that the "dominant" buck was sort of (at any given time) a result of who was actually present. I could be wrong, for sure. What I mean is......as long as THE dominant buck for an area isn't around.....whoever's present is gonna assume that role.

I'm not saying the two I witnessed work the scrape (in the presence of the older buck) would have done so in the presence of THE dominant buck for the area (I don't believe they would have).....but if my theory is correct.....it would seem "odd", to me, that they'd chance it even then (in the presence of the older buck).