Swamp...not sure where you are getting your info but I'll clarify some stuff. It was OUR last day of our hunting trip, not the last day of the season, and there is a lick branch directly over the scrape, you just can't see it in the pic that well. We were up there in mid. November when it is prime time rut in Northern Alberta and there were scrapes & rubs all along the bushline you can't see in this one picture. As for the location, as we were driving back to this location, a buck (maybe the same one) made a scrape along the gravel road ditch as well. I'm pretty aware of scrape activity and typical deer behaviour, and found this interesting to see. Not all bucks are created equal or have the exact patterns as those we read about. Up there it's pretty amazing some of the stuff you will stumble upon that varies from the norm. JDinAB

JD, I looked very closely at the picture. there sure isn't any licking branch thee. I see the twig you're refering to about 7 feet of the ground. That's not a licking branch..it's just a branch. Too high off the ground. Scent from eye and forehead glands is rub onto the overhanging branch and i doubt very much if the deer you think made that is 6 feet at shoulder. Secondly, an adult buck makes dozens of scrapes and there is absolutely no way of telling which scrape he will visit or when. Thirdly, scrapes aren't the deer magnets hunters think they are. The fact is most scrapes are made after dark and bucks usually visit these scent posts in the dark. Fourthly, bucks (young or old) that visit scrapes tend to circle the scrape before moving in to take a closer look. This behavior is one of the major reasons hunters seldom see bucks while watching a scrape that's obviously being visited frequently. How does a buck circle the scrape in your picture without being spotted standing out in a wide open field? He can't. Fiftly, tyhe shape of the "scrape in your pic is neither round not oval, but more like a trench. Just as though something were shuffling, along pawing at the ground and browsing. So do yourself a favor and don't hunt over scrapes. Especially in mid november when you said you were up there, when the rut is in full swing. Bucks don't need to check scrapes when they're pursuing does that are receptive. Scrape hunting is usually only productive during the pre-rut. Theres too many factors working against you here. Once breeding begins scrape activity grinds to a halt, and most scrapes are abandoned. Sorry JD, but thats the way it is.

wow! It looks as though sharing a picture turns into who knows more about deer behavior. I know the facts and have read countless books on typical deer behaviour, rut, scrapes, rubs, etc. Unfortunately I beg to differ on some of your points but agree as well, but I'm not gonna argue. I'd prefer to just share my pictures with those who want to look. Unfortunately I can't actually ask the deer if he really made it and when, but I'll pursue him still. Not directly over the scrape, but as I said "I will be setting up NEAR it next year for sure!". Sign of a buck in the area! Thats how I hunt and have been very succesful...I'm not sure where you are from, but people hunt differently in different parts, and deer behave different as well. I know for a fact a different scrape was MADE not visited during the day, as it wasn't there at 9:00 and was very visible at noon as we drove to our spot. That one was actually on a gravel road with brush hanging over the road. (I only wish I took a pic. of that one) You should tell that deer he shouldn't make one there because people will definately see him on the road when he circles it. Watch next Dec. and I will post many pictures of strange things from my next trip and you can set me straight on those too. JDinAB

JD, cool picture.I have to make a point to swampy, scrapes are extremely common on field edges and they can be any shape or size immaginable.Just my 2 cents.

Hey JD in Alberta I shot a buck out of a very similar scrape like that once during rifle season in PA, and it was certainly visiting the scrape during the day, bad mistake.

I would certainly be pumped finding a scrape like that .If it was in the dirt I would probably think it's a community scrape but being it's in the snow you know whether it's one or more deer .

Let's get him this fall.

nubo

Anyone that hunts a scrape late in the season doesn't have the slightest idea about deer behavior. And probably not only doesn't get many deer, but doesn't see many either. So JD, why don't you show us a pic of you and one of your deer you've taken with your expert knowledge. Sure theres a very slim chance a deer might wander by....but it won't be anything I'd be interested in. So if you want to sit in a tree, overlooking a pawed up piece of ground on the very odd chance somethings going to show up, fill your boots. And bring nubo along. Sounds like he thinks its a grand idea as well. Myself, I'm more interested in seeing deer. And you won't see many here. But go ahead. Have a good time. And bring a book along. You'll have plenty of time to read. Hunting scrapes and rubs is one of the biggest mistakes rookie hunters make. They're not very productive. A buck makes hundreds of scrapes. What makes you think you'll be lucky enough to be at the one he is in broad daylight? Reality check time folks.

I believe swamp went about it in the wrong way, but I completly agree with him on all aspects of deer behavior. Sure you can find scrape hunting fun and see some bucks, usually small bucks, during the pre rut when they are checking them early and late in the day. But hunting them any other time of the season is really hit or miss. Most likely miss. Just my 2 cents.

JD ,
I'm not sure what side of this fence I'm on since far northern bucks are very different from southern Indiana bucks , but that would be a very impressive size for a territorial/marking type of scrape here . The photo doesn't render enough detail to judge accurately , but those branches would be on the small floppy side for licking branches . The ground also doesn't appear to be denuded enough for a T/M scrape either , it looks more like a feeding spot in this shot .

Do you have any more detailed pics to examine ?

JD, great observation regarding the amount of pawing. you're dead right when you say the ground would have been laid much more bare in a scarape than that. The ground is scaped aggresively when a buck does this. This shot in the field is nothing more than a deer casually pawing the ground in search of food. Northern deer are no diffeent than any other.