I don't know if this really has anything to do with what you're asking, but from what I've read, a dominant buck usually makes his scrapes in rather out of the way/obscure area's. In essence, where the lesser bucks wouldn't be traveling.

OK, I'm not real bright but I thought deer had a gland in the hoof that emits some kind of scent. No?

Now.. I am no expert on the subject of scrapes and I believe that little is also known of their exact importances to a specific animal or the entire herd.

However.. Their are several factors to examine first Jeff. Timing of the year.. location of the scrape are two of the biggest.

But I will say.. only specific scrapes are made by a specific animal. The other 98% are made and kept by many. Most of all with larger community scrapes.

The question of urinating on the scrape may simply be.. because their was no need for the buck to refreshen the scrape. A buck is territorial by nature.. and must constantly freshen and re-freshen his territorial boundaries (so to speak). It is my estimation based on the little evidence you brought forth that the buck had no need to re-freshen that particular scrape.

So much attention is given to the whitetail by researchers.. but very little is known of the communication that exists between them through an individuals odor.

Jeff once I get that book to you it has greg millers personal opinion on this very subject.
It might surprise you that is for sure.


T

Actually, most of the scrapers I have found have never been peed in from what I could tell. No wet spot or strong odor to them. I think there are different types of scrapes. Territory markers and breeding scrapes, with most being territory markers.

I've found pee in them (really fresh.....still kinda "puddled").....just never seen one actually do it (and the one I found pee in is the same one I watched the 4 separate bucks work the same morning).

I don't know what to think about 'em.....lol[&:]

Because they are all out of piss??? LMAO I don't know.

I think you should apply for millions in government grants to study this mystery.We have to get to the bottom of this.

Maybe he just doesnt have to pee??[8D]

Because they simply dont need to. I believe the most potent smell a deer leaves in a scrape is from the orbital gland (located on forehead) that makes contact with the licking branch (usually the first thing a deer inspects at a scrape site). Its also possible that the smell from the metatarsals have saturated the inside glands between the hooves and been worked into the dirt, thus having the same affect as physically urinited in the scrape...