What is the significance of them being worked this early in the season. Is this strictly territorial? Im guessing its so far off of their mating time (rut, pre-rut, etc.) that its a buck near his core area marking territory. I found this scrape a good ways away from any trails, but not far from a keystaging area where I last saw a 3-4 yr buck last year.

I dont find it likely that its a community scrape since the area is dense and not an area where deer travel to and from any sources (bed, food, water)