Scrape Line Tactics

[Alaspan]

Good Day Guys!

I've found a beauty scrape line (7-8 of them) - they are huge and most of them had a broken or chewed branch above them. The line is on top of a ridge that follows the south side of a wide creek that has been dammed by a beaver. They are actually all along an old trappers line, and are right on the old path.

My question is how to approach this hunt? Should I sit in the middle of the line, and off about 100 yds (rifle season) or should I hike a climber in and setup above the line? Would grunting set him off or should I use some doe in heat? I don't want to spook him out of the area. I've never seen him, only tracked him, and he's big.

Given that this is an elevated location would he be there during the day then in the swamp below at night or vice versa?

I'm heading back out tomorrow afternoon and have a week to tag him.

Thanks for the help!!!

[Staghunter]

Visa Versa! Your property sounds very similar to where I hunt! By the sounds of it you are on a buck haven! That buck will travel long distance around this time of year but I have found he will always return to the swamp to bed! By the next week or two when he will be breeding his does you will probably see that the scrapes are not being worked as much! Find the transition from the swamp to a feeding area and set up there close to the swamp but not right in it. Closer to the end of November he will probably have bred any estrous does and will again be checking his scrapes because he will still want to breed! This is the best time to get him on his scrape line when he is "TOLLING" for does. I have found that the bucks are also easier to call in with doe bleats and scents at this time! Good luck! Bucks love property like yours sounds like your on a gold mine! I have taken a big buck every year since 2004 and they all made the registry as well as two bruisers that my shotgun party took on Monday and Tuesday from a property just like your describing! I will post pic's as soon as I get them so keep an eye out for them and GOOD LUCK!

[Alaspan]

Thanks Staghunter. I only have until the 17th to tag him. It's Quebec, and they're not into the extended crossbow season. If he's still working those scrapes this weekend, I will try to setup at a transition point. There's no fields or anything near by, so he must be feeding on forage only. Did a little more research, and it looks like I shouldn't be setup too close to the scrape line so as to not disturb it. Will likely bring my climber in and setup late morning and stay until dark. Hopefully he'll move up from the swamp and onto the scrape line. Good luck to you as well!!!
Cheers.

Dave.

[flbuckmaster]

SET UP ON THE SWAMP (BEDDING AREA) END AND GET DOWNWIND AS FAR AS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SHOOTING. YOU CAN DOCTOR UP HIS SCRAPES WITH SCENT BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY. THE CLOSER TO HIS BEDDING AREA YOU GET THE EARLIER YOU WILL SEE HIM. HUNT ALL DAY DURING THE RUT!!
JAY

[LV2HNT]

Maybe deer act different where you are but around here they always bed on high ground whenever possible. I would expect the buck, a group of does, or both to be bedding somewhere on the ridge (which would explain the large amount of scrapes) and feeding in the swamp. Either way I would set up in a stand as far from the scrapes as possible while still being able to see them and shoot. I would try to pick a place where the wind would not blow my scent towards the scrapes but that may not be possible because you don't know where the buck will come from and what time he will come. Because of that, I would also set up before sunrise and stay untill dark because he could be checking his scrapes at any time. Hopefully he doesn't check them at night and you can get him. I would spend atleast one day doing this. I would never approach his scrapes, rattle or use scents. I would like to keep things as untouched as possible to hopefully atleast observe him and his natural behavior so I will have a better knowledge of how to get him. If I sat there for a couple days with no luck, I would start trying other methods, to get him coming by while I was there, such as mock scrapes, scents, and rattling. They are all effective ways of bringing him in but they will most likely bring him in down wind of you and on high allert meaning your chances of success may be hurt. The best time to get him will be when he has no idea you are there so try that first. If it doesn't work he is with does or coming to the scrapes at night in which case doctoring scrapes, scents, calling, and rattling may be the key or you may just have to go back repeatedly untill he leaves the does he is with to work his scrapes again.

[Alaspan]

Thanks LV2HNT!! Appreciate the ideas. I'm heading back out today for another week, and I am bringing the climber with me. Never used it during rifle, but it may help me to get up and out of this line of scent/sight.

I'll set up away from the scrapes, but where I have a line down the funnel of the ridge. I plan on sitting there a few days for sure. The rut is on, as you can see from the size of the neck in my other post (Opening Day - Buck Down) so they will be all over, at all times. Hope he makes a mistake!!

Cheers.

[Cossack]

Once the rut is on the bucks abandon scrapes and roam in search of does. I'd set up close to the bedding area that does are using. He'll come looking every so often to see if any of the girls are becoming receptive. However, when one does their 'numtual dance' may take them far from the are.