when to start hunting scrapes and rubs?

[exocet]

I really don't bother, I use them as indicators of activity and how fresh sign is. I look more for funnels going too and from. ambush points. If scrapes and rubs are around cool, if not, no big deal, once rut starts, bucks travel out of their lil comfy zone , so I tend not to focus on the scrapes and rubs. Just my thing, of course others may differ.

[Splaker]

Read a great book last year... It focussed on topography, funnels, etc... the author pretty much believes rubs/scrapes are a waste of time... they won't return to that scrape during daylight.

[MikePal]

Read a great book last year... It focussed on topography, funnels, etc... the author pretty much believes rubs/scrapes are a waste of time... they won't return to that scrape during daylight.

Yea that is pretty much the feeling these days. I think results of trail cams trained on these spots have shown they aren't what old hunters used to think they were. Indicates that there are deer around, but not much else.

[unclefester]

Early rub lines...hunt them!

Ken.

[hunter10]

Ken, are you scouting for the early rub lines or know of them from previous years on the land. I am a bit apprehensive to walk through the bush adding pressure

[unclefester]

Scouting can be done during mid day while the deer are bedded.

Rub lines are great because they can tell where the buck is walking a certain area and when. Whereas a scrape is only telling you that a deer has been there and depending on the scrape (border or breeding scrape) he might not be back.

Rubs tell the tale like this..lets say you find a rub line on a trail coming from a field back into the bedding area. The rubs are on the side closest to the field, in my mind the buck who made the rubs in this ongoing fashion was probably going back to bed in the morning. Conversely if the rubs on a trail coming from the bedding area are on the side of the trees predominantly walking away they most likely were made in the evening while traveling to the field to feed.

So, if your targeting a buck in the early season and you find a rub line hunt it.


Ken.

[twostroke]

when would ye start makin mock scrapes....??

[Ravenhunter]

I would start now. But not to hunt over.

[unclefester]

I have opened up mock scrapes in Sept. wile the bucks are in velvet.
The mock scrapes I hunt over are started near the end of Oct. on a main trail preferably at a crossroad.
When opening up a mock scrape be careful about your sent.
Rubber boots and make sure you spray them down with scent eliminator, use a branch to scrape away the leaves and open up the ground. And #1 make sure there is a licking branch.Pick a spot that is 25 yards up wind from a tree that will hold your stand with clear shooting lanes. Preferably in a funnel or pinch point that limits animals from scenting you down wind,a pond, deep ravine, a rock outcropping ...Usually a buck will sent check his scrapes from down wind without ever actually visiting the scrape.So if you tip the odds of him having to come "to" the scrape instead scent checking from behind your stand you might be in business!

The great thing about a mock scrape is that it can be placed in the best area for you!

Ken.

[dubzee]

Iwas moving a stand and checking an old salt lick today.Found 2 scrapes in the bush today and 2 outside the bush, at least the boys are around