Could you pass me on some advice since me and my buddy aren't having much luck? Here's the situation...

The rut has not started here and probably won't for another week or two. So now is logically the pre-rut and the bucks are laying down scrapes but does aren't in heat yet. I have set my buddy up on a scrape line that runs parrallel 30 yards in the woods to a large pasture with cows in it. The obviously nice buck (due to good rubs) has about 5 scrapes and 5 rubs along an obvious trail. The problem is that my buddy has hunted up there about 2 mornings and five evenings and not seen a deer yet and is getting discouraged. We know the buck is still coming in there because he is keeping his scrapes fresh and has made a couple more rubs. The trail goes both ways into some pretty thick woods so it wouls be extremely hard to move the stand further up the trail either way. Obviously the buck is coming by his scrapes at night as most bucks do. Would you guys tough it out at this stand location since this full moon is passing and they may be more active during light now? Should we try some scent buck or doe since its pre-rut? Hang the scent or put it in his scrapes?? We want to take advantage of where hes frequenting now since likely when the does come in heat his pattern will change to fit where all the does are at. Help a brotha out! thanks

Whole lot!

Here's a tip for you ,this work's great espeacially when the buck is nocturnal at this time and the doe's have yet to come into heat .I use a dripper ,because they only drip during the day as the daylight rises ,I use Wildlife Research #307 because it's a curiosity scent ,but as the rut come's into swin change to Mega Tarsal scent it's a territorial Intrusion scent ,this Will change the buck's nocturnal behaviour and he'll start to change his habbit's and want to catch up with the culprit ,meaning he'll start frequenting the area during the daylight hour's,since the intruder appear's to only working the scrape during daylight hour's . This will work ,so give it a try and just be patient.I wish you lot's of luck ,and keep me informed on how it work's ,but start it now ,because it'll take a week or so to really show result's .

nubo

I would hunt the nearest stand location that was either a funnel/travel corridor, or one that was near a bedding area. If you use scent I would hang it, don't leave it for him to smell when you aren't there. Unless it is really into the rut and the scrapes smell like someone spilled a bottle of deer P all over, I never really focus on them. I like having them around, but stick to travel corridors during the chase phase, when the bucks are looking but the does ain't quite ready.

If we were to try the dripper... Should we hang it above one of the buck's scrapes or make our own mock scrape? Also, no one around here rattles because we don't have a lot of big bucks, so guys are scared that rattling won't work...should we try that or could that really mess up the area. It's like I said, we are getting impatient because we know his pattern will change with the rut and then he'll be Lord knows where and someone else may kill him on another farm.

I'd use his scrape ,but you can also put a mock scrape near his scrape ,either should stir him up. But as the buck's come into pre rut ,I'd use the doe bleat and then follow up with some soft buck grunt's ,believe me this really does get the buck's attention .I used some doe scent and then doe bleated a couple of time's ,and then soft buck grunted and i had 4 buck's come in ,in 1 day ,so this method really does work .I think by using this method give's you an advantage over the other hunter's .

nubo

Set up 20 -30 yrds off DOWN WIND of scrape. the buck WILL ALLWAYS
APROACH from down wind. ALWAYS!!! He aint no dummy if he is worth shootin!

1st off, just a tip....beware about judging buck size my scrapes. Unless you have seen this buck making the scrapes along this rub line, dont count on it being mature. A spike can make a monstrosity of a scrape while at the same time, a mature 10 point can make a very small scrape. Just dont be shocked if you see only young bucks. But of course, all the best to ya.

Now, the next thing I would say is to tough it out as the moon phases go by. Tonight is a 3/4 moon basically so there is still some good lighting for the deer at night. Just wait it our, be patient, be quiet, and be still. I do agree with nubo's advice though. Challenge him with a mock scrape or a dripper during daytime hours. Make him think there is an intruder buck coming during the day. He will undoubtedly check it out. GOOD LUCK!

I would definately try the dripper, grunting & bleating, and YES rattling. I've had very good success with this. Your last rattle (and possibly most effective) will be about 15 min. before last shooting light or 15 min. after first morning light. The idea is to get him to come in just before hegets comfortable in his bedding area. He might decide to "investigate" one more time before he settles in, and that will be his last. What ever you decide to do, as long as he is still showing signs he's around then STICK IT OUT. Seven times out, before the rut, is not enough to move.

Put a camera on a mock scrape in the area. Most are done at night though. One excellent time to catch one in daylight is when it stops raining just at daybreak. They have an urge to freshen up all there scrapes that were washed out. Here's a pick of one at my mock scrape with dripper.

The dripper is the way to go, I put a camera out to see what time he was showing. He showed up every day between 3-4 I was there ane I let him walk.