Anyone had any luck creating mock scrapes? It’s a little early for that in my neck of the woods but I’m contemplating on giving it a try. Anyone who has tried it, did you use any certain scents? Tarsal glands, store bought scents etc?

Yep. And piss. MILLER LITE.

The deer in my area have been making scrapes since mid November. Had one making them last Saturday but he didint show him self. I plan on doing a mock scrape myself to see what happens there.

I’m right around the corner from you in Ramer and don’t see any of that type activity until Christmas or so

Never made a scrape. Peed in many over the years though. My experience is MOST scrape activity happens at night. I’ve seen and video bucks making scrapes on the edge of foodplots numerous times over the years but the “hot” scrape lines typically get hit at night according to trail camera data. But I will stop and freshen one up if I see one and need to pee.

I came across a fresh scrape in late bow season, Like made that morning fresh. I encountered deer 30 yards past the scrape and just sat up on the ground watching the deer on the opposite ridge. I made one critical mistake when I sat down, I had my back to that scrape. 30 mins later 2 bucks, one shooter was working that scrape like he was clearing a lawn of leaves. We had a stare down for 5 mins and he had me pegged and I couldn’t get a shot. He slowly eased away up the opposite ridge and gave me a good look at him. If you find a hot fresh scrape there very well might be a buck working the area.


Pro tip.... don’t set up with your back to said scrape.

Funny story about scrapes...ol boy in my hunting club years ago was jacked up and excited he had found several scrapes lining a particular food plot and he had been hunting it hard for two weeks!...A couple guys arrived later that night and heard of the other guy bragging about all these scrapes he found. The late arrival to camp spoke up and said, “I hate to tell you this, but I’ve been making scrapes and pissing all in them for the past couple weeks in that plot.” You had to have been there, but the face on the guy who had been excited was hilarious.

Dang! I bet that was hilarious

I use them for pictures on public land where you cant bait. I really think the most important scent involved in making a mock scrape is what you put on the Licking branch above the scrape. Best success I have had is with some sort of Preorbital gland scent on the licking branch above. Then any urine / tarsal scent on the ground.

Ive put cameras on day old scrapes and didnt get a pic of a buck for a week. Also done it and got pics of five in one night. Ive made mock scrapes and peed in a bunch of real ones. In pics, some deer walk righ past them, some deer stop and pee in them. I just cant put my finger on what all if it really means. I know what theyre supposed to be for but the evidence ive collected just dont support it.