hunt scrapes

Mike, I haven’t had much luck hunting scrapes, what do you suggest? Emory P. from PA

Emory, I hear you man, scrape hunting is dang unpredictable. But here’s something to think about. A University of Georgia study found that three, five or more bucks might scrape like crazy on one ridge or in a creek bottom, while other sets of scrapes only 300 yards or so away might go cold overnight. So you always have to be looking for and hunting the hottest scrapes with the most buck activity right now.

I suggest: If you hunt a set of scrapes for two or three days and don’t see a buck, pull out of there immediately and scout for hotter, fresher scrapes 200 to 500 yards away. The Georgia study also found that when you find the red-hot scrapes, almost every buck large and small that travels through the area will veer over to smell them.

Now most of this buck activity around scrapes will be at night…but not all of it. The best you can do it to find the hottest scrapes, hang a tree stand on that ridge or in that bottom (thicker the cover the better) and sit it in all day during the rut. There’s a decent chance you’ll see a buck cruise through the area in shooting light.