The first time I stumbled onto an active white-tailed deer scrape line, I felt I had struck gold. The deer had laid out a series of scrapes over a half mile, and by the number of tracks and emitted odors, it was “go time.”

A whitetail scrape is a calling card or signpost for all other deer to know that this area is claimed. Mature bucks do several things while creating a scrape, and all relate to glands and scent. A deer starts by rubbing its forehead, preorbital, and nasal glands on the branch overhanging an area. The buck then rips the ground under the branch with its front hooves. The buck will urinate in the scrape and paw it into the ground. It is a beautiful mess.

Creating and maintaining a scrape allows a buck to make his presence known by dispensing scent throughout his area, warning all others to stay away. The buck will spend a couple of minutes tending to or freshening up a scrape before moving on to the next. The scapes get checked regularly as the rut heats up.

As a hunter, watching the action of a scrape line can be exciting. The hunter can take advantage of this animal behavior by getting directly into the action. They can take over an existing scrape with a different urine scent or make a new scrape in that area.

This move will directly challenge the buck and make him spend more time in this area as he works to preserve his claim. With different scents in the scrape, bucks want to know their rivals and often return to see who has left their calling card.

There are options to make a mock scrape or set it up to challenge a buck in its existing scrape. The best option is setting up a Wildlife Research Center Super Charged Scrape Dripper. The dripper will operate for seven to 12 days with a 4-ounce bottle of Golden Scrape and can draw bucks out during daylight hours. Its Scent Reflex Technology will generate action fast.

The drippers are designed to shut down during rain or bad weather to save valuable scent for best detection. A dripper will keep a scrape active and working.

Edges of tree lots, waterways or the edges of fields where deer actively move or feed are great locations. Think like a deer and set up where you will intercept the most deer possible.

Use a trail camera to monitor the mock scrape and change scent bottles as they run dry.

Active Scrape and Golden Scrape scents should be used pre-rut and into the primary rut to establish presence and dominance. Think of it as playing a mind game with big bucks.

There are two types of drippers, the Magnum and the Super Charged, to fine-tune your approach to hunting.

When that big buck shows up to check out the scrape, as it is oblivious to your presence, it will be challenging to ignore scrapes in the future.

This behavior can certainly help you be more successful on your next hunt.

For more information on Wildlife Research Center scents, lures, and dispensers, go to https://wildlife.com.

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