The whitetail rut was just about to begin, and I was going to throw everything at them that I had in my bag of tricks. I had read articles before about hunters creating fake scrapes to attract mature bucks to within bow range. I had never tried it before, but if it worked for others, it would work for me. At least that’s what I thought. I went out and created a mock scrape the best I knew how.
I hunted that mock scrape for days without any activity. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I thought I did everything right, but looking back, I see my mistakes. I did not consider the human scent I left behind, I did not use whitetail scents correctly, I did not create a licking branch, and I definitely over-hunted the stand. This was more than 20 years ago. Since then, I have learned a lot more about creating and using mock scrapes to my advantage, and have been able to harvest bucks I otherwise would not have been able to without the benefit of a mock scrape.
All deer hunters know that scrape hunting is often productive when it comes to killing big bucks. Many hunters have taken scrape hunting a step further by creating mock scrapes. Mock scrapes are best in pre-rut hunts, and work throughout the rut as bucks search out “hot” does.
When deciding if it is worth the effort to make a fake scrape it’s good to know whether the area already has big bucks. Scrape hunting is most productive when there are older bucks in the area. When a buck makes a scrape, he is telling other deer that this is his neck of the woods and to stay out.
When a hunter finds a single scrape, or a scrape line, the hunter has a potential area worth hunting. Not all scrapes are active. To find out if the scrape is active, cover it with leaves and come back in a few days to see if it has been worked. If the scrape is being worked, place a stand downwind. Most bucks will not go directly to the scrape; instead, they use the wind to check the scrape.
Bucks do not have to visually check the scrape, but instead rely on the scent left behind, unlike rubs where the visual sight is the attractor. Knowing this will help you when making mock scrapes.
So you have found an active scrape, but you haven’t seen any bucks working it. That’s probably because they come at dark. In order to have a chance at the buck in the area, you have to make him believe another buck has moved in and is now running the show. This can be done in one of two ways. First, you can work his scrape as if you were another buck, or you can build your own scrape.
When making a mock scrape, you need to be careful to leave it as odor-free as possible. Wearing rubber boots and gloves are a must. Look over the area carefully to see where deer are making scrapes. You want to make one in a similar area. Once you have found a good location, make sure there’s a licking branch about three feet above the ground. To begin, use your boot to show fresh dirt. All you’re trying to accomplish is to remove the top layer of debris, as it does not have to be deep. This should appear as a circle or an oval when complete.
As I mentioned earlier, scent is what attracts deer to a scrape. You’ll need some sort of scent to squeeze into the scrape. Many companies sell formulas specially made for mock scrapes. Cover the area well with the scent of your choice. I recommend using Bucks and Beards’ Smokin Hot Estrus in a scrape drip or Buck Shotz Scrape re-hydrating gel from Bucks and Beards Scents. Allow the odor to penetrate the earth on its own. There’s no need to work it in.
The next task is preparing the licking branch. All that needs to be done is to twist the branch in several directions until a very small part can be removed. Once this is done, leave the scrape alone for a couple of days. Come back and check it. If there is deer activity, freshen the scrape and hang a stand downwind. It will only be a matter of time before you see the buck checking the area for doe.
There’s still another way to trick a buck and making his anger level rise when he believes that another buck has intruded in his territory. It involves the use of two different existing active scrapes that are at least one mile apart from one another. Keeping the distance this far between scrapes will almost guarantee that you’re not stealing from the same buck.
Take the same scent-free precautions as you would when making a mock scrape. With a small garden trowel, remove dirt from one of the scrapes to a depth of about six inches, and place it into a plastic bag. Find a second scrape to repeat the process. Dump the dirt from the first scrape into the area of the second scrape where you just removed the dirt. Pat it down firmly with your rubber gloves. Now go back to the first scrape and add the dirt from the second scrape. This should be enough to get the bucks working the scrapes again.
Whether you create a mock scrape or attempt to trick a buck by moving scrapes around, there’s no guarantee either will work. However, many deer have been killed by hunters, including myself, who have put these tactics to work. Take note of what you see during your activity around scrapes. Use this knowledge in the future to help determine the best choices for you when making a mock scrape. It might be all you need to be a step closer to the big buck in your area.
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