To Create A Successful Mock Scrape

For decades now “scrapes” made by whitetails have been the subject of near-compulsive analysis. They’re regularly discussed by researchers in leading universities, at the coffee shop in the wee AM hours of opening day and over many ‘a hunting camp card tables. But to the average huntin’ human, what purpose do these earth-pawed communication sign posts really serve?

            Let us begin with a brief overview of autumn deer biology (subject to debate by many deer “experts” worldwide). Every fall the change in daylight and colder nights stimulate whitetail breeding behavior. The does begin their estrous cycles and bucks begin their rutting behaviors. Right around early to mid October, the first does (often the mature does that have been bred before - more “in tune” with their bodies and cycles) show signs of a “heat”, as they enter their first estrous cycle. This coincides with some of the first “rubs” (made by bucks rubbing their antlers on trees) made by bucks showing signs of their first phase of rutting behavior. This is usually several weeks AFTER the velvet on their antlers has been shed. Like many other mammals, similar to humans and cows, does will continue to come-into-heat roughly 28 days after their first heat until they’re bred, often as late as January in New England.

           In most areas in the northeast the first and second weeks in November represent the times when most does are bred. Thinking logically you can add or subtract approximately a month to give you October and December's potential peak heat/breeding times in your area. Most outdoorsmen and women that spend time in the woods in early October and early December will find evidence of whitetail breeding behavior – rubs, scrapes, scents/deposits in deer beds, etc. - that is analogous to that found plus/minus the second week in November. And yes, moon phases and weather play significant roles in deer activity. But does’ cycles and breeding will occur regardless of weather or natural occurrences. Deer movement and activity might be lessened, but it doesn’t mean rutting activity comes to a halt! We’ll touch on more of this when we get into setting up a mock scrape.

       Like many other behaviors there is no better way to understand deer behavior and scrapes than to look at a few picture scenarios and understand how deer actually “visit” scrapes. Observe how this 2 ½ year old Vermont buck comes in to check out this scrape setup…

This buck is alert but focused on the scrape and continues in its direction.  When at the scrape his attention is directed toward the scent dripper hanging from above and the saturated soil below. 

Though he’s relatively young and inexperienced, he’s full of hormones and knows and feels he’s supposed to love the sweet scent of active deer breeding behaviors.  It has been my experience that this is probably the #1 reason that 2 ½ year old bucks are the most frequently found deer at mocks scrapes.  It should be noted that this setup was created after putting up a trail camera 15 feet from the scrape and a treestand about 60 yards back from the scrape - just to the left of center in that patch of hemlocks.  The potential for human scent in the area was high, but with time the human scent dissipates and the dripper continues to drip for the week that I choose to leave it at this location.  

Here’s another scenario at the same scrape during the same week and a half stretch.  This second 2 ½ year old buck is just hanging around the scrape soaking up the sweet aroma, as if he’s waiting for something to happen.  Note the scent dripper just poking into the picture at the top...

A leaf impaled on the tip of his right antler...

So how is a scrape like the one above set up and in what kind of area?  There are LOTS of factors to consider here – wind direction, topography, the times you’ll actually have to hunt, etc.  Because our world nowadays has many of us working and living on tight schedules, I actually get out a calendar and put my finger on a day – or several – that I intend to hunt, regardless of weather (deer are always somewhere in any weather, you should plan on finding them in any weather!).  My goal is to have a mock scrape created approximately 3 - 5 days prior to the day I plan on hunting that stand.  This allows time for my scent to dissipate and allows time for deer to become comfortable with the setup and use it several times prior to me being there just before daylight on the day I plan to hunt.

There are several scenarios to consider when creating a mock scrape.  If hunting a new area you can locate a deer run/trail that is frequently used, allows for easy access by you and provides you with a respectable place to sit (or a tree to climb).  I often use field edges, saddles in ridges, hardwood benches or any “bottle neck” situation that forces deer to move through a particular location.  Because you’ll need a branch to hang your scent dripper from, be on the look out for a sapling with an overhanging branch that will suspend your dripper (many natural scrapes have overhanging branches anyway, sometimes called “licking branches”… an entire book by itself!). 

Another option is to locate a place where you’ve encountered scrapes before.  It has been my experience that the best mock scrape setup by far is to either use an existing, already-active scrape (a scrape currently in use by deer) or create a mock scrape adjacent to an existing active scrape, maybe 50 yards away or so.  By doing this you’re sweetening/enhancing an already active area and increasing the likelihood that you’ll encounter a buck using the area.

OK, the scrape itself.  I use a “scent dripper” that is basically a glass bottle in an insulated sheath.  It is tied to a branch about 6 feet above the scrape.  As the dripper is warmed (by the sun or increasing daytime temperatures) the air inside expands and pushes the scent out and into the earth that has been cleared beneath the dripper, either by you or a buck depending on whether you choose to use an already-made scrape or not.  Technically, this is supposed to condition bucks to visit scrapes during daytime hours.  When you consider autumn temps and storm fronts however, nights could be warmer than days and your dripper could drip more at night.

As far as suggesting a dripper goes, I use a dripper and scents from The Wildlife Research Center.  They’ve been around for awhile and I’ve taken several bucks using their scents.  Because I create all of my mock scrapes during the rut I use “Active Scrape” as the scent in the dripper; it’s more of a universal, all-deer scent.  Some people I know prefer to use “estrous doe” urine in their drip bottles… to each their own.  There are MANY such estrous doe scents on the market.  Deer are curious and will visit many types of scents whether in drippers or on scent wicks hanging from branches.

            After filling the dripper with about an ounce of the selected scent and tying it from a branch about 6 feet above the scrape, I leave the area alone for several days before I plan on hunting there.  Again, deer will acclimate to the scrape better and be allowed to use it several times before I am around.  I leave the dripper up for about a week and then take it down.  On average I might make two or three mock scrapes in one area in a season and leave them up for about a week each; one in October (archery season), one in November and another in the first part of December.

As I eluded to earlier, I try to hunt the windows before and after the time when I think the does will be in estrous.  My favorite time to put a mock scrape out is just prior to the second week of November and be there for Vermont’s opening day of rifle season.  At this time the bucks are running mad for does.  And for the bucks that aren’t with does they’ll be searching far and wide for any scent of a doe that hasn’t been found.  This can be an exciting time to sit near a mock scrape. 

This doesn’t mean that one can’t make a mock scrape at any time during autumn.  Bucks are always looking for hints of doe scent and are curious in general.  And as one might expect, different times of year call for different scents.  Clearly in October the rut isn’t in full swing.  I’ll go easy on the scent distribution, maybe only put half the amount of scent in the dripper and leave it up for only 3 days, not a full week.  Or maybe use a “curiosity scent” instead of a more rut-like, estrous scent.  At times I like to enhance the dripper’s aroma.  I might use active scrape in the dripper for several days, but when I arrive to hunt I’ll put several scent wicks saturated with estrous scent off to one side of the scrape by 30 yards or so.  Distance is all relative though, and depends on your setup and topography.  

Exceptions to everything you’ve just read?  Rule #1:  In the world of deer exceptions are the norm!  Is every deer that comes to a scrape a buck?  That’s a big NOPE!  I’ve found that in general scrapes act primarily as communication between different deer in a population… does as well!  The scenario below is that of a doe that could not leave this mock scrape alone.  Maybe looking for companionship? 

Like all other factors in the world of the whitetail, a does’ estrous cycles can also be unpredictable.  Toward the end of the season, and if buck sign is sporadic and they’re running unpredictable, I might leave the dripper up for two weeks in mid-November to catch a buck looking for one of these irregular does.  Bucks can venture far and wide while in the rut and visit new areas searching for does.  You might even catch a buck visiting your mock scrape that you’ve never seen in the area before.

       Other hints for a mock scrape setup?  Many mature bucks will not visit the scrape directly, they’ll circle downwind as far as 80 yards to catch any scent that blows from the scrape.  Knowing this, situate your stand accordingly as far as how far away from the scrape you choose to sit.  This definitely influences your behavior considering the season – archery or rifle – and the distance in which you can comfortably shoot.  I prefer a treestand setup because a deer’s senses are on full alert around scrapes; they aren’t necessarily spooky or ready to run, but just very aware of what is present in THEIR woods.  A treestand helps to get me off the ground and potentially out of their sight and smell.  However, a well placed ground blind can also be effective because many deer coming to a mock scrape are often so taken with the scent that they will be unaware of any human presence – especially a rut-crazed buck focused on finding a doe.  The scent of estrous doe scent can drive them nuts! 

If possible it also helps to have two potential stand locations around any mock scrape setup due to changing winds throughout autumn.  One stand might be perfect for southwestern winds in October, while another stand is better suited for a straight-out-of-the-north wind in mid-December.  Definitely be aware of the wind patterns for the area you plan on hunting!

Do you have a trail camera or access to one?  One of my favorite mock scrape attributes is a trail camera aiming at the scrape.  Not only can you get an inventory of the bucks in a particular area, but you can also get some awesome photos.  And though success is a relative word, I’ve never made an unsuccessful mock scrape… there has always been some sort of activity at some time of year.  Some other tidbits?  I have never used rubber gloves (not that you shouldn’t) when making a mock scrape.  I’m very conscious about my scent, but there is no substitute for common sense.  Avoid touching too many things and use a stick to scrape the leaves away from the ground; don’t step directly in the area you clear away for your scent.  Think, “If I were a deer coming into this scrape, what around would I smell when I got here?”.

Lastly, I hope this little blurb sparked some scrape-makin’ interest in you!  Get out there and scent up some pawed earth next fall, and if you want any more details or have any comments… post one!    -VP

*** To see some mature bucks visiting mock scrapes click HERE!