Why would a buck work a scrape....and NOT urinate in it?
Is he not ready to mate (sounds unlikely)?
Trying to assert some sort of dominance issue by removing another buck's scent?
Other?
I've seen several work scrapes.....and even seen (what HAD to be "subordinate" bucks do so in the presence of a more dominant animal) multiple bucks use the exact same scrape in the presence of others.
Why would they work every other aspect of the scrape (licking branch......pawing of ground..) and NOT piss in it?
Thanks.
Now.. I am no expert on the subject of scrapes and I believe that little is also known of their exact importances to a specific animal or the entire herd.
However.. Their are several factors to examine first Jeff. Timing of the year.. location of the scrape are two of the biggest.
But I will say.. only specific scrapes are made by a specific animal. The other 98% are made and kept by many. Most of all with larger community scrapes.
The question of urinating on the scrape may simply be.. because their was no need for the buck to refreshen the scrape. A buck is territorial by nature.. and must constantly freshen and re-freshen his territorial boundaries (so to speak). It is my estimation based on the little evidence you brought forth that the buck had no need to re-freshen that particular scrape.
So much attention is given to the whitetail by researchers.. but very little is known of the communication that exists between them through an individuals odor.