ORIGINAL: Hoyt_Viper
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)
That is exactly why I believe that scrapes have less to do with breeding then most people believe.
I believe they are more like the bulletin board or water cooler at work. A place to leave messages and keep in touch.
Also bucks live in bacholer groups so your scrape is most likely near a prefered bedding area of a group of bucks.