Mock scrapes

[ghost]

Been watching videos with people making mock scrapes for white tails. Is this a legitimate way to bring bucks in. I am going to be hunting out of a tree stand and ground blinds. I am not hunting a agricultural area it is timber. Last season I put out a trail cam and had a couple of decent bucks on cam. It seems like they cycled through about every 4to 5 days and would be around for about 2 days. I am setting up about 30 yards from two trails joining. Any advice would be appreciated as I am fairly inexperienced at the whitetail world.

[wideopenthrottle]

even if they stick around they will still cycle during the day...they will feed at night and move up high just before light usually but will go later after already light once the does are in heat...they work their way up to bedding areas where wind will alert them and maybe get some sun if cold or shade if still hot....they work their way back down to feeding areas after dark unless they are following does.....that is about everything I've learned about white tails...heheh

[Harvest the Land]

Google Troy Pottenger. Guy is a friggin' giant whitetail killing machine. He's the king of mock scrapes and really has got it down to a science. He's out of North Idaho and hunts the mountains all the way up to the BC border, so similar terrain and not too far south either. He's been on a bunch of podcasts explaining how he does it and has a great youtube channel.

I literally just began making mock scrapes late last fall and have not been able to get into my spots to check cameras (if they haven't melted yet) where I made mock scrapes following Troy's method, because of all the fires; so I have no idea if the mock scrapes are being used or not.

Pretend you're a sponge and soak up everything he has to say about them it will give you a good starting point. Its important to find a solid licking branch at the ideal height before you start making any scrape - its all about the licking branch and he swears by using Buck Fever Synthetics forhead gland scent (hard to find in Canada and kind of expensive to import)

Good luck

[ghost]

I will check him out thanks. Do you look for a branch that is naturally hanging or put one there?

[Harvest the Land]

I will check him out thanks. Do you look for a branch that is naturally hanging or put one there?

Ideally if you can find a natural already being used licking branch in place, then thats the best option. But if thats not an option, cutting a really good looking branch and tying it on works really well too - just have to scuff it up good so it looks like its been really well used by other bucks

[Harvest the Land]

Forgot to mention, you definitely want to be wearing laytex gloves to block your scent whenever handling the licking branch to scuff it up good with your knife.

Here are some great podcasts he was on explaining his methods. You might want to get out a note pad and take notes because the amount of info is kind of overwhelming:

https://www.themeateater.com/listen/wired-to-hunt/ep-374-big-woods-big-scrapes-big-bucks-with-troy-pottenger

https://eastmeetswesthunt.libsyn.com/ep-097-chasing-giant-mountain-bucks-with-troy-pottenger

https://elkshape.com/blogs/podcast/elkshape-podcast-ep-92-troy-pottenger-public-land-mountain-whitetails

https://podbay.fm/p/the-southern-outdoorsmen-hunting-podcast/e/1592215200

[ghost]

Awesome thanks going to do some homework this weekend

[Sitkaspruce]

I have been using them for years

I am not a "glove etc" guy. I use my hands and leather boots and....my piss.

My best scrapes are the ones I piss in.

I start in mid October and start about 500 yards away from my hunting spot and build a scrape line. Look for natural spots with a branch or old scrapes. Scrape up the ground and piss in it, never worry about marking the licking/rubbing branch. I let others do that. I usually put one every ~200 yards and continue past the hunting spot. I carry a container of my piss as well from that morning. I put a camera on a few to see what is around as they can give you an idea if there is a shooter hitting the line.

I have found that Tinks gel spray also works and will add that to the odd scrape.

I think most people overthink hunting deer and with whitetails, most of what you read is written for high pressure hunted bucks, which are hunted all season by lots of people. I would bet most the bucks I hunt rarely see another hunter, never mind get hunted. Simple it down and don't overthink it and enjoy hunting them.

Cheers

SS

[Imdone]

SS. Cool.

Do you get pics of Buck sniffing or pissing or tagging the above licking branch where you left your own piss?