Found Some Scrapes

[vonreed]

I was scouting some new territory today and I found at least 5 major scrapes and a couple rubs. They're located pretty much in the middle of a deep woods and is on top of a big ridgeline. They're all within 300 yards total. My question is. What time of the day would you all say would be the best time of the day to intercept the buck? or 2 maybe. These are some major scrapes and not just boundary scrapes on a field edge or something small. Thanks

[TroutBum4wt]

Vonreed,

If there's a saddle of low spot along the ridgeline, I would try setting up there first. With the temps getting lower, I would think such a location could be productive anytime of day, morning, midday, or evening. Did you find any large hoof prints? Will you bow or gun hunt, or both at this location? Looks like you have a great hunting spot. Good luck!

[vonreed]

Hey Trout, Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if anyone had an opinion at all, lol. There's no tracks at all. Just scrapes, and I didn't want to get too close to them. It's all rocks and leaves and trees. There's a couple real little saddles on the ridge, but they're not real definitive. I went back today with a scout camera and seen a few does and a bunch of turkeys. I'm trying not to stomp all over the place and scare the mature deer off. Thanks again.

[pvspmo]

vonreed,

What type of ground surrounds the woods... any crops or fields with a pond? I would look for some kind of natural funnel to or from this area and try and get there early-thirty if you are going to bow hunt.

If you are going to gun hunt, I always like to be in my stand when everybody else is getting down... especially on or near government land. When everybody else gets cold and hungry and starts heading back to camp for breakfast/lunch, you never know what they are going to kick up.

Let us know what the scout camera turns up. Good luck!

[Terry Beeson]

...What time of the day would you all say would be the best time of the day to intercept the buck?

Uh... the best time would be the time that the buck is coming through...

OK... OK... more seriously... Bucks will go through a "transition" in the next couple of weeks. Going from concentration on eating acorns to making rubs and scrapes to picking up drunk does in a local bar...

They will be running rub lines and checking scrapes, but it will be difficult at best to determine when. Seems they change their schedules around now due to several factors - weather, moon, eating habits, fighting off other bucks, and a few does teasing him and trying to rook him into a relationship that will change once she has him trapped resulting in his not being able to drink beer with other bucks, being chewed out for even LOOKING at another doe, and re-arranging his buck pad with new furniture, flowery wallpaper, and frilly bedroom furnishings and ultimately cost him his gonads, home, car, bank account, and half his income over the rest of his life...

Oh... back to the question...

One thing to consider is proximity of these lines to feeding and bedding areas. This could give you some indication of when you might see them. Get a good topo map or aerial photo. GoogleEarth is a good hunting tool... The best bet for intercepting these bucks would be to get in your stand early and prepare for a long drawn out wait. Even then, they may be nocturnal and you won't see them at all. However, my best guess would be early morning or late afternoon.

[Seth]

When the rut starts kicking in, those bucks will be on the move all day long. The best thing to do is to hunt the whole day. It's tough to do too, unless you have consistent action all day or just sleep half of the time like me.

[vonreed]

Well, just to let you guys know the answer to my question. They're there pretty much at anyone's guess. I put a camera up 3 days ago and 3 different bucks(all small) passing by on the ridge at all different times. So I guess no time is better than another.