Brian Grossman is director of communications with the National Deer Association, and in the 2-minute Facebook video below, he explains why not all whitetail scrapes are worth hunting.
Avid deer hunters understand that whitetail bucks will create lots of scrapes during mid to late October and into November, but the vast majority of these scrapes won’t be visited by bucks during legal hunting time. Before placing a treestand overlooking a fresh scrape, take Grossman’s advice and consider how a particular scrape fits into the entire deer movement puzzle.
The key is whether a scrape is near thick bedding cover likely used by bucks. As a rule, the closer a scrape is to bedding cover, the greater the chances it will be visited by a buck during legal hunting time. Scrapes made on field edges, open pastures and similar areas will look promising while you’re scouting, but it’s almost certain these scrapes will be visited only after dark.
One more observation: Experience has taught me that once breeding begins — in the upper Midwest, this means early to mid November — bucks spend less time visiting scrapes and more time locked down with a doe-in-heat. Once he’s done breeding her, he will quickly find another hot doe and then stay with her. In other words, for me at least, scrape hunting is a more dependable method in October than November.
P.S. Be sure to click to enter fullscreen and turn up the volume for best viewing.
