I have been hunting a farm for atleast 10 yrs there are certain trees that scrapes show up at every year. there is nothing special about these trees that I can see.these scrapes are in the same spot every year give or take maybe a foot.after 10 yrs it is not the same deer an with all the rain an snow from year to year they cant smell it.there are many trees around these scrapes.why dont they just go 5-8 feet to the right or left.this is amazing to me.what could be the draw to this presise area.mind you its year after year give or take a foot.I can understand rubs they may like the feel of a certain tree.tell me what you know there has to be a reason.thanks ED
Good question Ed. Over here though I had a huge scrape last year and none this year under some overhanging branches. I also had scrapes in other areas I haven't seen them yet. The dominant two bucks are different from last year however (the big boy last year got shot during gun season by my neighbor's brother) so we have new bucks this year. Maybe that's the secret, same buck or different buck.
BTW, nice shooting with you and your boys Sunday. We'll have to do more of that.
i have a few places on my farm that they always hit..now this year is the first year in 20 yrs.we planted 70 acres of beans and i have some bottom land that never got touched being used alot,and more deer than i have ever seen..so far this year my visual ratio is 7 bucks to 1 doe.im seeing scrapes in the same spots as always,but on the field edges if there is a low hanging branch it has a scrape.now this is my observation on scrapes.all the scrapes on the field edges are being hit by young bucks,now the woods that i have has a huge ridge and the scrapes on it are more territorial scrapes made by more mature deer...i maybe wrong but this is what i have witnessed..good luck i love hunting those scrapes in the woods after a good rain,gets those big boys up and cleaning out scrapes......
ttt
i see the same thing.
Those scrapes that are used every year are laid down in the same areas because they are the best place for the most does to come in contact with them. It is not the tree as much as it is the location of where the tree is. Licking branches on scrapes are often used year round, so they can smell them and they know where they are at.
Also it has been said that deer cannot reason. This may be true but they absolutely can remember. Just like your dog can. They don't forget where those prime scrapes are.
Licking branches are key to locating scrapes. When scouting field or clearing edges, look for trees with low hanging branches four to six feet high. Also notice how the limbs are twisted or broken above scrapes.. Many of these trees will be used annually by different bucks.
I think Jon nailed it. The key is the branch overhead. Cut off that branch and the scrape won't likely be back.
I think it's mostly to do with the overhanging branch. Every scrape has them. As Jon said the licking branch which they "mouth" but also rub their orbital glands on. That may have the most significance and the scent may hang on a long time.
More than one buck will use those scrapes as well, so they're like a gathering spot, mostly on age old trails.
Some on our farm are yearly, others may go "silent" for a season, but will open up again.
Gotta love the scrape and the rub. Guaranteed buck sign.
thanks, I get what your saying.makes sense
I have a scrape about 100yds behind my house show up every year under the same tree. This year I remembered to put a camera up. Wouldn't you know that night I had a scrape show up and I got him on film!! In the 8 nights since then I have had a 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 6, 5, 4, and a 3 point work it. It's definitely in a travel corridor.
I'd say Keith has found a good place to hunt. :archer2:
Maybe the bucks just know which street corner to stand on to find the girls. I think certain areas just tend to get more traffic, so the bucks naturally work those locations, or so it seems on my place.
I put a camera on a scrape and have dozens of pics of bucks all at night. RC
I've always wondered why Gene and Barry and Roger Rothhaar used to have so much success hunting over scrapes, but now it seems almost nobody does this. I wonder if back in those days there was something different that was happening with the deer herds that made it successful. Maybe it was lower deer numbers? Less pressure? Someday I'd like to ask their thoughts on this.
Location in relation to Doe travel, Presents of a licking branch, and amount of ground moisture