Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Scrape Activity

I found scrapes and rubs on my lease in central Alabama for the first time this year. There were three scrapes and two rubs in a 10 yard diameter on a trail leaving a food plot. The area had deer crap all over it, so I guessed that this was a community scrape area. I put a cellular trail camera overlooking the scrapes about 8 feet up a tree midday on Saturday. Before I could get back to my truck (within 10 minutes), two does were on camera. That night, I had numerous small bucks, spikes, does, and fawns on the camera (maybe 15 different deer total). I thought that I had found a hot spot. The numbers dropped each day. I haven't had a deer on camera in 48 hours. You would think that I would have more activity going to the food plot with the temperatures dropping. I am the only person on a 400 acre lease, so there should be no human presence there. Guesses as to what caused the inactivity?

Temps making this drastic a change move them into feeding patterns moreso than anything else before rut. They need energy when temps drop and they're probably on acorns. Give them a day or two. They'll really pick up scrape activity very soon.

I am in central Alabama and checked cameras last night. slowest week for pics in 3 months. That doesn't answer you question but I was shocked at how few pics. Checked 4 cameras. All of them were way off.

Crocker, where do you hunt? I am off Highway 10 in Montevallo.

They usually leave the scrapes alone when the rut really starts heating up

Shouldn't be in that stage until this time next month.

When you see crap in a scrape, it's going on. That's what I've seen a doe in estrus do. Usually, early scrapes are young deer, but that crap changes everything. A buck can breed all year, it's a doe in heat that controls when. If they get spooked by camera or you leave scent on it they often stay back away from it.

There was crap all around the scrape area but not really in the scrapes. My best guess is that I left scent behind. You would think that would have spooked them out of the area right away. But, each deer might have came through once and then said to hell with this stinking place. I don't know. I can't ever figure the damn things out.

Jefferson county

It won't. Don't overanalyze it. They already want to be there and are active. Not like you're going to go back and tromp around more but they'll continue to visit and work the line.

I found two new scrapes last week. Almost stepped in one because I wasn't expecting it. Put up cameras nearby, hacked away trees near one to get good camera view. Had photos for mulitple days of bucks visiting. They'll keep coming back until they start chasin' whup and get other things on their mind.

I have urinated in a fresh scrape before and they continue to work the scrape. I doubt you boogered the place up.

If you left scent the rain will wash it away. That's why I tried to check mine just before a rain.

^^^ What he said. Same with hanging or checking cameras, cutting trails or whatever. Go just before a rain if possible.