Fall 2006

Creating Your Own Scrapes

By JOHN KASUN
Every hunter knows the importance of finding a hot scrape. The only thing better than simply finding a hot scrape is being able to predict where it is going to appear.
Sound impossible? Not really.

Here Mark Wiser, President of MDR Outdoor Group and developer of 24Seven Plus time-released solid big game scents is shown preparing his early scrape. These early scrapes should be prepared from early to mid August. These early scrapes will not have scent applied until one or two weeks before the season. By making the scrape early time is allowed for human scent to disappear and the deer to become familiar with the scrape. Although early scrapes are ideal, scrapes can be made at any time during the season. When making scrapes in season be sure to use gloves and rubber boots to avoid transfer of human scent. Scent should be applied immediately to scrapes made in-season.

It is a misconception that each scrape is used by a single deer. Scrapes are like a community mail box. Deer visit them to check who was there and leave their own sign in the form of scent both on the ground and on the overhanging branches. Overhanging branches are a critical component of scrapes as this is where the deer deposit scent from their pre-orbital and forehead glands.
While hunting natural scrapes can be productive it is often unpredictable. Natural scrapes can be difficult to find and they may occur in areas which are not open to hunting. The ideal situation is to stimulate scrape activity within the area you are hunting and the way to do that is start your own scrapes and encourage the deer to take them over.
Scrapes can be made anytime but the earlier the better. I often make scrapes as early as mid August but do not hesitate to make them anytime during the season prior to and during the rut. The first consideration is location.
Your scrapes should be placed near areas in which you found scrapes last season, near trails or funnels and along the edges of bedding areas. Find a location near an overhanging branch that is about 4 feet off of the ground. If no overhanging branch is available in the area you selected it is acceptable to bend a higher branch over and tie it down so it hangs unobstructed over the scrape. Be sure when tying the branch down that the rope does not interfere with the deerÕs access to the scrape. Thicker overhanging branches seem to produce better results with three quarters of an inch being the maximum.
Clear an area under the overhanging branch about 2 to 3 feet in diameter down to the bare ground clearing it of all grass, leaves or other debris. When making the scrape in-season I lightly apply my favorite scent to the scrape. Personally I like to use the new time release granular scents like the ones made by 24Seven Plus. These time release granular scents can be easily applied like shaking salt from a salt shaker. Due to their time release feature they dispense scent over a five- to seven-day period. While they come in different scents you can also purchase unscented granules and apply your own favorite scent to the container and make you own custom mix.
If I make the scrape ahead of the season I normally do not apply scent until about one week before I intend to hunt the scrape. One of the major advantages to an early scrape is the fact that it has time for all human scent to dissipate. When making a scrape in-season be very cautions and wear rubber boots and gloves so as not to leave human scent in the area.
Although you can made several scrapes within a given areas the number depends upon the size of the area and the number of suitable locations. I check the scrape every three to five days for any signs of activity and reapply scent granules lightly as required. As soon as I see buck activity on the scrape I make a light application of scent to the scrape and apply doe-in-estrus two to five feet from the scrape at several locations. I am trying to simulate the fact that a doe has visited the area and ''hung around.''
From this point I hunt the scrape with the greatest activity. If I have a hot scrape going I do not apply scent to any others in the area because I would just be creating competition for myself. The time for hunting the rut is here so if you have not done it until now try making your own false scrape in an attempt to draw a deer to your location.
For more information on hunting scrapes and time release scent granules check out www.24sevenscents.com.