Today I did some scouting in an area of my hunting lease that no one hunts. The area is split by an old grown up logging road and could be characterized as a mature pine thicket. I counted 15 scrapes along the road (right on the edge of the road and the thicket) in a 250 yard span and a few rubs here and there.

Two of the scrapes obviously had existed for a long time and were much fresher and larger than the others. They were only 4 feet apart. It appeared that these two scrapes had licking branches above them. One of them had fresh hoof marks.

I have always hunted funnels and food sources and don't know much about hunting scrapes. Would you think the bucks are crossing the road in different places or actually moving along the road? I have heard that scrape hunting is difficult because they are usually checked at night.

Anyone have advice on scrape hunting and pitfalls to watch out for? Thank you.

I've never been one to hunt 'hot sign', rubs and
scrapes. Like yourself,I choose to hunt funnels
which are usually easier to get to and from without
disturbing the area with human scent.

From my experience most scrapelines on the edge of
a field or along a open road were made and will
be visited the majority of the time at night. Also,
when bucks do visit or check a scrape they will
most likely 'wind' it from a safe distance on the
downwind side. I've taken some pics with my Cam-
trakker by setting it up 30-50 yards on the down
wind side of heavily used scapes or scrapelines.
You mentioned that two of the scrapes had licking
branches, what about the others? If the licking
branches are broke, that scrape will go dead in
a hurry.

Over the years I've occasionaly had stands located
near scrapes. While hunting, during daylight hours,
I've only seen a couple small bucks actually 'visit'
the scrape. I know every year we hear of a few bucks
getting taken while hunting over a 'hot scrape', but
IMO that is certainly the exception and not the rule.
If it were that easy, everyone would harvest a buck
by hanging a stand over a scrape.


TB

kgKoon-- I've had great success huntin scrapes the last 5 yrs.
I've seen nice size buck all 5 years huntin near a scrape.
it sounds like those 2 large fresh scrapes with lickin branches are the ones to hunt over.

the best time to hunt these scrapes is between 10:00 and 2:00.
that's the time I've seen those bucks at the scrapes the last 5 years.
I'd hunt about 25-30 yds down wind of the scrape(although the ones I've seen have come to the scrape with the wind to their back, or either in a cross wind.) if there's a thicket close by, then hunt close enough to that thicket so you can get a shot in there. like
Two Beards said, they will stand back away from the scrape and eyeball and wind the scrape instead of comin to it. good luck

daytona 500 winner- Ward Burton
go Cat-22

Scrapes that are out in the open along a road or a field more
than likely are visited at night. See if you can find a couple
primary scrapes in the general area back in the woods. If you
do, set up downwind and you are in business. Most will get visited
year after year.

Thank you all for your replies. Some of you have mentioned an open road. I don't consider this road open; it is grown up in places and trees have fallen across it. It is not much different than the surrounding thicket, only a little more open. I will probably try to hunt the two large scrapes with fresh sign. They appear to be scrapes that are used every year. These two scrapes are in a small draw so it will be easy to set up above them. I'm looking forward to trying something different than what I normally do!