is scrape hunting really worth the time sitting on stand, seeings how most scrapes are done under darkness? has anybody had luck hunting them and whats a good scent to use, and how far should you set your stand from the scrape, maybe i'm hunting to close?

It can indeed be a very productive way to hunt for a particular mature buck IF precautions are taken. Here is a good article about some very effective methods and the best scent/s to use IMO. Check it out?

I arrowed my trophy buck off the scrape a line. I had better luck seeing bucks at the peek of the rut. I have also seen different buck hiting the scrapes. Look at my deer under "ounce in a lifetime buck", he was shot on the scrape line.

I have taken many mature bucks from scrape's, I would stay away from the scents and catch them off gaurd if possible, the best scrape to hunt is one that is near a known doe bedding area on the downwind side. Bucks cruise the downwind sides of the bedding areas wind checking for does, they will viset the scrape line almost every time they pass and check to see if a doe has been there. If you walk aroud by the scrape or put out scent they will probably come by later and smell your scent and not return. I check areas for such scrapes that seem to reappear every year, i hunt the fresh sign the day i find it, find new sign the next day, untill I get my opertunity at a mature buck, or the buck i am after.

I am a little different I guess but I find scrape hunting not the most productive. I treat them as another indicator and just nice to see. It's is my opinion most mature deer visit scrapes during darkness in the rut(at least my areas). I would much rather find his rubline, and set up adjacent to his bedding area on routes to his marking lines. I think in pre rut a scrape could be more effective but at this time I like to setup in the funnels areas in deep transition and rattle.

Like anything it is worth the effort to find out yourself but just don't get tunnel visioned in doing so. I have a problem of to many spots I'd like to be, which isn't a bad problem to have