If you use a scent like BF pre/post rut you can start them anytime of year. deer utilize scrapes year round like sign post. As the rut starts the scrapes get bigger and used more frequently but if started early the deer will know where they are and will check them frequently.

The most important part of making a mock scrape is to be scent free. If you leave a bunch of human scent at the scrape the gig will be up before it gets started.

Good luck.