[bowrookie]

All during archery I was obsessed with a buck I had seen. I had a marginal shot I could have taken at 40 yards through some brush, and I had my 10y.o. in a ground blind with me. He walked past us and started rubbing a tree, and we watched for 10 minutes. He snorted us, and knew something wasn`t right, but I didn`t feel I spooked him. I found his rub line, and was confident I`d see him again.


Well, I hunted him for 3 weeks leading up to rifle season, and never saw him again. I hunted several other properties, during rifle with various friends. I tagged out yesterday morning, but my 17y.o. has his any deer tag still unused, so tonight was his last shot with school, so I took him to this spot, hoping he`d see it. As we are coming in a see a fresh scape within 50 yards of his rub line.

My question/questions are 1. Is this likely to be his scrape? 2. I was told the dominate buck of the area won`t allow another buck to make a scrape in his area, any truth in that?

I`m just emotionally drained from hunting, and need a break. I don`t know that I`ll try to get him archery this year again. I`m just hoping he made it, because there is a lot of poaching in this area, and it is unusual to see a buck of his nature.

TIA

 

[rangerdvr]

Get ya a trail camera. I don't agree about the scrape piece, lots of scrapes areused by numerous bucks and does. I hope he is still alive for ya to get

 

[buckwacker181]

The scrape is probably from him, but all bucks will make scrapes whether they are dominant or not.

 

[bowrookie]

rangerdvr
Thanks, I`m broke, but I told my son that I wish I had one as we left. I wave a friend that has an old 35mm he said he`d give me, are they worth using?

 

[rangerdvr]

A 35mm is better then nothing, I would suggest setting it up where they will walk straight into the camera. Usually those 35mm's don't have very fast trigger sppeds. If you set it up on a trail at a 90 degrees, you will prolly not get any pics. You could still possibly get a few from some scrapes, maybe. Post season get some corn out and you'll for sure find out if he made it

 

[bowrookie]

buckwacker181

yeah I knew they all made scrapes, but I have a friend who kills huge bucks who says, if you find what he calls their "primary" their main scrape, that he`ll make a mock scape close to it, and he says it`s fool proof that that buck will keep checking his scrape, and he nails em that way. What are your thoughts on that? If you find that to be true, what the best way to go about making a mock?

I`ve only been hunting a few years, so I`m open to all opinions.

 

[bowrookie]

rangerdvr
thanks again, it never dawned on me that I could bait after the season.

 

[Mailman]

I found a primary scrape and set up my camera for a weeks time. I had 7 different bucks ranging from a nice 12 pt to a spike and everything in between. I even had some does use the scrape on camera. They are a good spot to sit to get a buck with gun or bow IMO.

 

[bowrookie]

Mailman

Thanks, I guess I could have been more straight forward with my question. SO a dominate buck doesn`t then, protect for lack of a better word, his scrape from what your camera says. I guess there`s 2 ways to find out if he is visiting it. To get that 35mm from my buddy, or sit up over it.

 

[rangerdvr]

When I have made mock scrapes, it used a heavy stick to rake the leaves away, and try my best to not get any of my scent anywhere near the area. I would take some scent (hot doe) and place it in the scrape. I always keep the tarsal glands off the bucks I kill any will hang one of those close to the scrape. You can get em off road kill too if you haven't killed a buck yet. They also work good dragging em off a string tied to your boot

 

[henry]

Alot of scrapes are made and never revisited too. I have seen bucks trailing doe's stop and make several scrapes in a small area never to visit them again. If its not large and on a normal travel corridor of some kind,,son't get too excited.`The trail cam idea would sure satisfy your curiousity.

:cheers::cheers:

 

[Freakhunter232]

Just depends may be him or may not be. The trailcam idea is a good one.

 

[Mailman]

[rquote=1481947&tid=103622&author=bowrookie]Mailman

Thanks, I guess I could have been more straight forward with my question. SO a dominate buck doesn`t then, protect for lack of a better word, his scrape from what your camera says. I guess there`s 2 ways to find out if he is visiting it. To get that 35mm from my buddy, or sit up over it.[/rquote]

Yep....A big buck will not sit still long enough to guard anything. He is always on the move looking for love where ever he can find it. In between does he will sometimes cruise through his home area and check his and other scrapes for fresh calling cards that the does will leave. When she is ready she will pee in the scrape and leave the area. The first buck that happens by will follow her and service her. First come first served. It might be a little spike or a 12 pointer...she doesn't care which one. Elk are different animals...they will herd up the cows and keep the smaller bulls from their herd. But a lot of times the main bull will be chasing off a smaller bull and a second younger bull will slip in and take care of business while the biggun is off chasing off the other guy.

 

[bowrookie]

Thanks mailman, I was misinformed. The scrapes are more of a community rather than a personal thing.