Ok here is the situation. I have found a fresh scrape/rub line. Last week he had 3 scrapes and 2 big rubs in about 75 yards. Now, there is another scrape and another big rub. So he's obviously frequenting the area. It's about 20 yards deep in the timber bordering a long pasture. Plans are right now to get within sight of several of the scrapes and add some scent, was thinking about ACTIVE SCRAPE to throw in the scrapes. I am only going to hunt this place in the evenings at least for the first few days, soI won't spook him out of there going in in the morning, since there will likely be deer in the pasture that I'd spook. What do you think of the strategy. I have never hunted a scrape line before. Any better ideas gladly accepted.

If he is frequenting the area there is no need for active scrape lure unless you really want to. The does in the area will do that naturally for you. I've muddled around a little bit in scrapes before (that I wasn't going to hunt) and the bucks quit using them. Any scent you leave around can only hurt. Not worth the risk if you feel confident he's happy in this environment. Definately hunt it though. Place your stand a good shooting distance away from one of the scrapes so if he comes in, he'll stop and present a good shot.

Hunting scrapes is a good idea during the pre rut,, if the rut is in full swing your best chance of connecting is to hunt the does,, what I mean is,, the bucks will be travaling the feeding and bedding areas looking for receptive does, and he won't be very predictiable, Find trails leading from bedding areas to feeding areas, there should be some in close proxcimity to the scrapes you found,, place a stand on the back side of the rubs, a buck will rub on the tree in the direction he is going. Also try putting some doe estrus scent in the scrape,, and use some doe bleats.. Good luck I hope you get Em..

Daryl

your area sounds alot like mine. The inside corners of that pasture could be good spots. Look where the woods bottle neck and get there.

it is definetly the pre-rut right now. Our rut up here is usually at its peak the last few days of november and the first few days of december. For some reason the rut in north carolina begins on the coast and ends in the mountains where i am at. They rut down there in mid-october, but here we have a really late rut on the mountain. The bucks here have just now within the last couple weeks split up and beagn laying down sign. But it is exciting to get on this buck, and he's obviously a pretty good one judging by the rubs. I think I may take your advice on not using the scent, since he is frequenting the area. Would ya'll hunt maybe 3-4 evenings and if no luck seeing him, risk going in early one morning???

I'd hunt both. Get there early and give it time to settle down. They will probably be close to the feed fields. and come back thru early.

dont forget that they will circle their scrapes, so you might want to set back off of that scrape and try to catch him when he comes circling around for a sniff.