Last year I ran across a scrape that should have been in a field and stream magazine. Perfectly cleared out (5 ft in diameter) with a licking branch about 4-5 ft off the ground. I went back to set up a stand in the general location and found it, being worked already this year. This year the licking branch was almost chewed through and another branch close by was chewed on as well. The strange thing was there were deer droppings all over it. I had never seen this on a scrape, but it just wasnt one set of droppings, but looked like he had been visiting the scrape, chewing on the branch and dropping at the same time. Looked maybe like 3-4 different visits by the feshness of the droppings.

Is this common, and does this look more like a territorial scrape than anything? Obvously there isnt any mating this early in the year, so I m thinking this is his way of saying stay clear....its my area.

Its 30-40 yrds from his known bedding area, and 300 yrds in deep in the woods. Its not what ive seen before....any insights?

I did set a trail cam near the scrape to see what Im missing but wont get the film until late next week. Im avoiding any human scent in or around the area as much as possible.

Im looking forward to what your trail cam finds, seems a little odd or out of date to me

Of course, what do i know

deer poop in the scrapes all the time. more likely its a community scrape which are active all year round. does have been known to make scrapes too.

Put a cam on the scrape, just make sure you have it up and angling down to have the "lightning" effect. I have better luck that way and hadn't had bucks spooked like I did when I had my flash cams and IR cams on the ground at knee level. I am not saying all, but I have had in the last 2 years 3 good bucks get spooked by the IR cams from the red glow. Then I didn't get another pic of them the whole season nor did I see them once thru out. Fortunately I know they are still running because the farmer tells me how big these bucks he sees.
I have 14 cams. I check mine once a week if not, definitely by the end of the 2nd week. If the smell me its fine because they are not sensing danger with me walking in the woods or the landowners 4 wheelers. So them knowing my scent now will be fine come fall & they aren't alarmed as much. I see deer all the time when I am walking in and checking the cams, heck they have even followed me to watch. Sometimes they stand & watch to see what I am up too then mosey on or carry on to where they were heading. But my farmer/landowner is in the woods daily so human scent/activity is nothing new to them.

I have seen scapes like this in the past. I found one last year. I think the experts would call it a primary scrape. I'm sure it is visited by many deer. It's the only type of scrape I will hunt. I'm not suprised to hear that it's being used this time of year. I've seen deer poop in a lot of scrapes. Good luck hunting it.
oh, I think these "primary" scrapes get so big because a lot of deer use them.
BTW show us those pics!

Right on Magic!! This is the only type of scrape that I usually hunt as well. I always find a ton of poop at these type of scrapes as well also.

I wish I knew more about scrapes....

I've been lucky enought o see a few deer work them (including 4 work the same scrape within 1.5 hours of each other in the same morning). But....that same morning....the best buck I saw never went to the scrape (he waltzed by within 15 yds of it....but didn't work it). He likely (looking back) scent-checked the field....but decided against coming into it.

The others I've seen worked were more solitary....and only worked by a particular buck.

I "thinK" the only way I'd hunt a scrape again......is to see a really good buck working a particular scrape.....and go back to it. OR....if I had a LOT of good bucks in my woods...the "community" scrape route might be the ticket.

I have so few shooters where I hunt, though......that I like my odds in different areas, better.

These threads are always interesting, though.

I dont usually hunt scrapes myself I prefer Rubs. Usually you can pattern a buck by his rub line and
which direction he is usually coming or going from by the side that is indeed rubbed on.
The only time if I do would be end of Oct and 1st week of November as this is the only time I have witnessed
same bucks using them over and over. A very small window from my experiences.

T

I have hunted scrapes in the past with minimal luck. I learned to scrape hunt in Mercer Wi. on public land and always seemed to have the deer scraping in early morning before first light or after sundown. The only deer I have ever killed over a scrape was my first 8 point. The scrape was made by none other than me and scented with scrape juice or whatever it's called.
Since then I have a spot that has a scrape on it every year but I never see buck activity when it's light out. The same stand has a community rub 30 yards from the stand that will get multiple drivebys when it's light out so I hunt over the rub and have taken a couple of decent bucks.
Personally I would never waste my time setting up over scrapes, I know people that have had success with it but I haven't unless I was the one scraping

I am trying not to get a visual of you squatting.

That was back before the blood pressure medication and lack of excercise helped me gain 50 pounds so I was much more limber