Bringing Deer In Close With Mock Scrapes

Attracting deer with scents has changed a lot in the last few decades. The only option 20 or 30 years ago was dropping deer pee on the ground and hoping for the best. As time passed, hunters have started to do more things to increase the odds of deer coming within bow range of their treestand or ground blind. Below are a few tactics the professionals use to increase the odds of success this fall. 

One thing many bowhunters do if they are hunting on private property is build a scrape tree. Many years ago, hunters typically would build a mock scrape in an area there was already a scrape line. These days more hunters are building scrape trees. They put a cedar post in the ground, nail a branch to it and build a mock scrape under it. The branch is used to create a licking branch. The beauty of building a scrape tree instead of using a tree that is already in the woods is you are not confined to a certain place in the woods.   You can decide the best tree to put a treestand on and then build a scrape tree in the perfect spot for a shot opportunity. When building a scrape tree, you can put it in a place that offers the perfect wind direction.  You can put it at the perfect distance from a treestand and build it out of whatever type of post you want. Most hunters use a cedar post or a treated fence post. Many deer hunters prefer cedar posts because deer love to rub on cedar.

I typically use a post hole digger and bury the post in the ground months before season starts. As soon as the post is in the ground and the licking branch is nailed into place, I build a mock scrape and starting putting scent out. This gets the deer accustomed to using the scrape tree months before season starts.

Many hunters use a scent dripper or hang a rope from the tree branch and dip it in deer scent to attract deer. Once deer start using a scrape tree on a consistent basis, it becomes part of their routine and they will actually freshen up the scrape and licking branch for the hunter. The less human odor that deer smell in the area the better, so using a scent dripper or a rope is a great way to keep the mock scrape fresh without having to disturb the area on a regular basis. 

Once season starts, a great way to increase the odds of bringing in a buck is by using a scent vaporizer. One of the most popular brands on the market is Wyndscent. Their units vaporize heated scent. The heated deer urine or calming scent travels a great distance in the wind. In fact, independent testing has shown bloodhounds can smell the scent hundreds of yards away. Hunters often place the Wyndscent unit near where they want to shoot and use a remote to disperse scent or they set it on a timed interval. 

Regardless of whether bowhunters build a mock scrape, hunt near a real scrape, build a scrape tree or a Wyndscent unit, one thing is for certain: one of the easiest ways to get a buck to stop within bow range is to hunt over a scrape of some type. Take the extra time this fall to build and hunt over a scrape and your odds of success will likely increase!