So i was hunting today, slowing walking this ridge. I look over and 50 yards away was a really nice 8 point. appox 16 in spread and tall tines with his g2's being about 8 inches. he was out of shooting range and spooked. I found a primary scrape about 65 yd from where he was, im assuming its his. about 8 feet wide and 10 feet long. Its in a patch of young trees, no more than 15 feet tall. this limits me to ground blind hunting him. will he still be visiting this scrape during the rut? or have i spooked him good? i would like to get a chance at this deer but don't know what to do. Whether i should hunt the trails leading to the ridge, or set up near his scrape. The ruts starting so he will be harder to pattern i suppose. here is a map showing how its laid out.

red lines- deer trails on ridge
green dot- where i spooked him
black dot- scrape (whole area around (approx 80 yd diameter saplings)
brown dot- approx where he was (when he spooked he went down the trail and hopped over the next ridge.)

so where do you think i should set up my blind? is it to late to set a blind up here?

You don't have to be on top of the scrapes, or even be able to see them, to hunt them. The deer has to have a trail or general direction he approaches from. Find a good tree and keep the wind in your favor.

You don't have to be on top of the scrapes, or even be able to see them, to hunt them. The deer has to have a trail or general direction he approaches from. Find a good tree and keep the wind in your favor.

Hunt the trails in and out of the scrapes but if the rut is starting - I like to hunt trails into the doe beds and fields and hardwood edges downwind of these beds. Bucks will patrol these areas sniffing out the hot does. Some of the best spots to hunt IMO if you an get in there without pushing anything and can stay on stand without getting winded.

I walk a long ways in order to circle around these spots so I can get in undetected.