What’s your thoughts about hunting scrapes?
Filed under: Hunting Tactics
I hunt 40 acres of timber adjacent to a 40 acre creek bottom crop field. In order to best play the wind and travel routes, I walk in to the far side via a field-access “road” that is used/bush hogged just enough to remain open. There are always a few+ scrapes along it. I’ve seen conflicting theories about hunting scrapes. What’s your opinion?
~Joe
Joe,
I did my Master’s degree project focused on scrape behavior.
Bucks tend to use scrapes the most about two to three weeks before most does become receptive! I like hunting scrapes during that time of year. I usually hunt scrapes that are located by other habitat features like travel corridors, the edge of bedding areas, etc. I also pick scrapes that are located such that I can approach, hunt, and exit without alerting deer!
Once scrapes show signs of not being used, I don’t hunt scrapes again until the late season – and then only in areas where female fawns grow large enough to reach puberty and bred during the late season.
Enjoy creation,
grant
October 8, 2015
