Category: Deer In Rut

How To Make A Mock Scrape In 3 Easy Steps
What is a mock scrape?

First of all, you may be asking yourself what is a mock scrape, or how to make a mock scrape…..? In the world of “Cervidae” (the scientific name for deer), deer use a scrape to mark their territory and to promote courting activity during mating season. A “scrape” is an area where a male deer (buck) will scrape the ground with his hoof in the shape of a circle and once he has removed all debris he will urinate on the scrape and typically place a large footprint near the center of the circle area that they have scraped away.

Some deer hunters see the value in a mock scrape to kill big deer and in this article, we will teach you how to make a mock scrape. In short, its 3 basic steps:
- Set up a licking branch
- Scrape ground under licking branch
- Set up scent device to keep deer interested in your scrape.
A natural scrape by Whitetail buck will typically be about 30 inches across in diameter. Based on the size of the animal, scrapes can get larger or smaller. As the rut or mating season for deer comes into play (this is typically in the October to November time frame but can vary depending on the region), scrapes become more prominent.

The reason for a natural scrape and the deer habitat is so that a male deer can mark his territory. It lets the female deer know that the buck is available for mating. If the female deer is also interested in mating she will then leave her scent at the scrape site and urinate. When the buck realizes the doe has been in the area, they will look out for one another and eventually mate when the doe is in heat.

Why create a mock scrape?

In terms of creating a mock scrape, this has a few positive impacts on your hunting area. One of which is that a mock scrape can lead another dominant buck to think that there is a buck in the area that he needs to worry about. As a result, he will come by this scrape that you make and also urinate there to deter other deer from coming into his territory. If done properly you can also attract those to the scrape that you make and she will intern urinate at the scrape that you make and attract other bucks to the area that may have not been there before.

Building your mock scrape:

So let’s get down to the details and I will explain how to make a mock scrape. To make a mock scrape you need three things:
1. Mock scrape scent
2. A mock scrape dripper
3. A licking branch.
I have personally had a lot of success with the scrapes called a “golden scrape”. I will link to it on our resources page. I have also used it with the Magnum Scrape Dripper and had really good luck there as well.

1. Finding the right area for your mock scrape

The first thing you need to do is find an area where you think big deer may be transitioning or coming into an area for the rut. There are many places you can put a mock scrape but I would recommend trying to do it on a logging road, heavy game trail, or a shooting lane. You could also put a scrape on the edge of the field but it may experience less activity than the other options above.

2. Creating “the licking branch”

Once you find the area that you like you will need to find a tree nearby one of these areas and cut off a branch from another tree that is 8 to 10 feet in length. Any tree will work but I have had the most success using cedar or evergreen trees. This branch will hang 5 to 6 feet above the area where your scrape will be. You can tie it or screw it to the tree you are using. Depending on the type of tree that you are focused on you may be able to use the tree’s natural branches instead of hanging an artificial branch out over your scrape.

The purpose of this branch, also called “the licking branch” is to allow the buck and sometimes the doe to release hormones and scent from their facial glands that help attract other deer. But that being said the branch needs to be low enough that the deer can reach it with their face if they are looking up or slightly on their hind legs.

3. Setting up your dripper

Once you have this branch in place you will need to set up your set dripper typically above your licking branch where the drip or will drip onto the scrape you’re going to make on the ground below your licking branch. The magnum scrape dripper I mentioned is manufactured to only drip during the daytime. You will need to fill it up and tie it above your scrape, preferably out of reach from the deer.

Once you’ve got that complete, You will need to get a stick or use your shoe to clear a spot on the ground to represent the scrape from the deer. I would recommend approximately 36 to 40 inches across. If possible have the scrape dripper land in the center of your scrap circle.

Depending on the temperature your scrape set the dripper will last about three weeks, but I would recommend checking it after about two weeks just in case.

To Sum It Up…

In my experience, it only takes about 24 hours for deer to start using and checking out the new scrape. If you have a trail camera, I would recommend placing one 10 to 20 feet away to see what type of bucks are in the area you are hunting.

This is a great way to attract deer and one of the only ways to attract bucks without the use of corn and other feed attractants.

If you can afford it and have enough property I’ll recommend putting up 2 to 3 different mock scrapes in various areas around your hunting property to see what you can find. In my experience even 3 to 400 yards apart you will see different bucks at each site.

While you are here, you may want to check out:
Happy hunting, and see you in the woods.
December 18, 2020
When do deer move most?
Deer movement is motivated by many things, especially food until breeding season. I’ve had the discussion a hundred times in my life, and everyone seems to have a different answer. There are lots of variables to this question like region, age of the animal, time of year and food availability. In the below, learn when and why deer move the most! The short answer to when do deer move most is just after sunrise, and just before sunset in relation to hunting possibilities. Deer typically move throughout the evening/night, but you can’t hunt during these times. With that said, you better be ready to get up early, and sit till dark to see the big boys walking around

Much of the year, deer bed to feel safe and secure, and it is during this bedding time that they are also fully digesting their food. When the deer gets hungry again, they go back out to feed. Those movements are typically at sunrise and sunset. There are times when deer move throughout the day, but if there is increased hunting pressure, they will move more in cover than out in the open – exposing themselves to hunters.

Deer have a very unique lifestyle, as they can travel a very large area throughout their life-span. About 70 percent of yearling bucks will disperse from where they are born. Once they set up their home range, it’s usually between 600 to 1000 acres. This area also depends on the quality of the habitat. Like every living organism, deer need food, cover and water. If a habitat meets all those needs, then deer won’t move as much. During the rut, that home range expands. However, there are different factors that make a deer to move from one place to another.

When do deer move most and why?

There are many reasons why an animal leaves its own habitat, below are some factors that can influence deer movements.
- Temperature
Having low temperature or cold fronts are a piece of good news for every hunter because the temperature does speak a lot as to when deer will become active.
- Wind Condition
With the exception of the rut, deer typically lay low in the day time during high wind. Since the wind affects their ability to hear, they often bed longer on windy days.
- The phase of the Moon
Another factor that may affect deer movement is the moon phase. There is evidence that the lunar cycle influence deer activities. During a full moon, some say deer move much more during the night hours, cause of the additional natural light.
- Photoperiodism
Similarly, most animal behavior is influenced by photoperiodism, which is the change in the amount of daylight. As the amount of sunlight being reflected off the moon and to the earth varies with the lunar cycle. Deer’s peak movement occurred, as expected, around dusk in all phases except one. During the new moon, movement rate peaked near dawn and lasted a little longer into the early morning. Also, the deer’s irregular sleeping habits allow them to maintain their energy and have some rest while taking advantage of the darkness. This means that the deer are more active when darkness is present than they are during the day.

Deer also sleep in direct sunlight to stay warm while they move often at night to keep themselves undetected to the predators. They find a warm spot to sleep in when the temperatures reach the frigid lows. Deer often take shelter under coniferous trees like pine trees when temperature drops down and reaches its lowest and the coldest point. The dense trees that have low branches protect deer from feeling cold and even creating a roof that holds heat. This way, they were able to conserve their energy.
- Breeding Time
Another important factor to consider by hunters when it comes to tracking deer movement is the rut. The rut is the mating period for deer, and encompasses all physiological and behavior activities associated with courtship and breeding. When deer are making scrapes and rubs during the active rut time of year, their more active during the day, and all bets are off. If a hot (ready to breed) doe is near by, bucks go crazy.

For a hunter, peak rut is that magical time when even normally super-wary mature bucks briefly drop their guard and expose themselves.
- Barometric pressure
The biggest aspect of weather that greatly affects the deer and other animals movement is the atmospheric pressure, also known as the barometric pressure. Deer have the ability to sense these changes. A barometer is the instrument we measure this with and it refers to the amount of air pressure exerted by air molecules against the earth’s surface. If the air molecules above the earth’s surface are not as dense, the result will be a decrease in barometric pressure. The resulting low-pressure system is known to usher in clouds, rain and/or snow. High pressure on the other hand, tends to be clear or very few clouds, low humidity and fair weather.

Deer’s inner ear works very much the same way a barometer works. In fact, it’s said that ancient man also had the ability to better sense these changes. Animals’ ability to sense the change in barometric pressure is likely Mother Nature’s way of protecting the herd.
- Hunting Pressure
Areas who have been exposed to hunters are more likely to get less deer activity, especially in the day time. As deer season goes on each year, deer get more and more nocturnal, and it becomes harder and harder to see deer during active shooting light.

What are the best times of the day to hunt a deer?

You may be wondering, what is the best time to see a deer since according to study and observations, most research shows the deer killed around 10:00 – 11:30 A.M.

When do deer move most for a Hunt!

Morning Hunt

One of the best time to hunt a deer is the first hour in the morning when deer are about to go back to their bedding areas, especially for those deer who were feeding throughout the night, this period could be one of those times where you can spot deer walking around and following the trails going to bedding.
- Afternoon Hunt
This is the time of the day when deer are about to get out of their beds and go on their way to look for food. Deer are very active during the night time since they keep themselves guarded against the predators and hunting during the day. Taking into all accounts all kinds of big game, the afternoon hunts will usually be somewhat more predictable than the morning hunts. This is largely because anything that occurred under the cover of the darkness has been long forgotten by the animals.
- Morning vs evening hunts
If you are to compare evening to morning, there are things that you can only get in the morning on a hunt, and vice versa for evening hunts. Unlike the evening, deer often filter back into the bedding areas during the early morning hours before the daylight. if you can afford to buy a game camera that you can use in tracking the movements of the deer it will surely help you decide what strategy you should have in tracking down the deer walking in their own trails.

Another thing is that you can move quietly during the day time because you can see the place you are moving in. You can even get into your position quietly unguarded and not noticed. However, during the evening most deer are currently in search for food. Their movement is often very predictable. This is especially during the early part of the bow season and in the late part of the season when their primary focus is food. Unlike in early mornings, they move all at once and their evening movements are often coordinated and very visible as they move down the trails, heading to a place somewhere where they can fill their empty bellies.
- Midday
During this time, deer often stay in their beddings and conserve their energy so they can use it in the later part of the day wherein predators are even more active like them. For some hunters, midday hunting is considered as the best time to look for a mature buck. Often times, deer just like to stretch their legs a bit from time to time. They will move yards away from their bedding area and they always do this routine every day. Also, most of the deer love to drink/water during this time.

A deer’s daily routine isn’t exactly as clear-cut as a human. Deer don’t exactly work off a planner, minute-by-minute. Still, their activities unconsciously fall under a certain pattern. Unlike our routines that are dictated by the concept of schedules and time, theirs is a routine driven by instinct and needs. This outline should help you understand when deer move most and how you can capitalize on that movement.

While you are here, you may want to check out:
Happy hunting!
September 5, 2020
Best time to hunt deer?
A deer’s daily routine isn’t exactly as clear-cut as a human. Unlike our routines that are dictated by the concept of schedules and time, theirs is a routine driven by instinct and needs. Most hunters make their hunting trip in the morning before sunrise. But is this really the best time to hunt a deer?

What is the best time to hunt deer?

The height of legal deer activity happens just after daylight, and just before dark. Morning and evening hunts each have their own pros and cons. Deer are more active during the night time because that’s when they are supposed to get food. Sadly, some states prohibit hunting during night time. The limited light source could also take a toll on your accuracy and precision. Morning hunts give you the good lighting, and it also coincides with your own sleeping schedule. The bad news is deer can be headed to bed as we are getting up.

Many other factors also come into play about the best times to hunt. For you to be a successful hunter, it is important for you to take into consideration each and every single one of them: from their daily activity, their eating habits, their biological condition, the weather, the season, and, heck, even the shape of the moon. All of these things could greatly influence deer behavior. Learning how to analyze all of these and utilize them to your advantage could give you more chances of bringing home the bacon. Well, in this case the venison.

Daily Routine

In order to understand the best time to hunt deer, we need to know their daily routine. Deer don’t exactly follow a timed schedule for their daily routine. Still, their activities unconsciously fall under a certain pattern. This general guideline is usually what hunters go by, to figure out the most viable time of day to catch their prey off guard.

Unlike humans, deer don’t start their day when the sun rises. It’s actually quite the opposite. They’ll only wake up when the sun is already setting, which could be anywhere from 3 pm to 6 pm. This is the reason why many people mistake them for a nocturnal animal. In reality, deer are neither diurnal nor nocturnal. They are considered as crepuscular animals for they are primarily more active during the dusk and dawn. They do this to avoid other animal predators that are active during the peak hours of the day or night.

After waking up in the evening, their biggest priority would be food. This is when they would start to venture their way towards available food sources. Keep in mind that, just like people, they’re also extra cranky during breakfast. This means they would also be more alert and aggressive when eating.

As the night deepens, the deer would start to become more active. They either then start to go around and graze the woods and other food sources or go back to their bedding sites. But since they’re not really nocturnal animals, they don’t have the best night vision. Unfortunately, neither do you. So unless you have other techniques to accurately locate your target without relying on visual signals, you might want to re-evaluate your plan of using this to your advantage. We don’t encourage night hunting unless you are in a rare area that allows some type of night action. It can cause injury, not death to the deer and potentially kill someone that is mistaken for a deer.

A couple of hours later, they would head out again to eat. Eating their last meal for the day would often result to them feeling very sluggish and lethargic. Subsequently, they would go back to their bedding sites in the morning (6 am to 10 am).

But that’s not all! Just like how some humans crave a midnight snack in the middle of their slumber, deer usually wake up in the middle of the day (11 am to 1 pm) to go for a nibble. Afterwards, they would go back to sleep during 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm to prepare for the big night ahead.

However, keep in mind that although this guideline is already pretty accurate, there are still certain elements that might completely throw all these off kilter.

Season

The current season is also another factor that plays a vital role in determining a deer’s behavior. The condition of their environment and their habitat would obviously affect their actions throughout the whole period.

Their activity during the early spring depends on how well they fared the previous winter. If they barely made it, they would be more cerseless. Their daily routine would start much earlier than expected and their slumber would have to come much later. Their peak hours would be sometime between early morning to late afternoon. Once the initial exuberance subsides, they would then start to prioritize resources and would stick to areas with the most abundant food sources. There is often very little to no movement during the day but a lot during bedtime to find other bedding sites.

In the summer, deer are often in a slump due to the hot weather. This means that they’ll be more active when the sun’s not up and burning. However, some fawns become agitated during bedtime due to the intense heat. This triggers them to wonder around during the late afternoon or early evening.

Now, their activity during the fall is a bit complex compared to the other seasons. In the early fall, they like to eat sumptuously. They’d be willing to go through extreme lengths just to find a bountiful food resource. Most hunters usually strike in the middle of this season, when the deer have finally settled down into some kind of routine. At this point, the deer would go through three cycles of eating and resting in just one day: one during the dusk, one during the dawn, and one during noon. Another reason why this season is more complicated than others is because it is also the rut or the breeding season. This is when the bucks become more erratic and restless because their hormones are at a height to potentially attract does and create new fawns. Their movements and activities become less and less predictable during this period. Expect some unusual activity even during the day.

Eventually, the rut will end and winter would set in. The cold weather may prompt deer to be active during mid-afternoon to take advantage of the heat during those times. Deer also prefer grazing an open field during this time.

Other factors

On top of all that, several aspects determine the best time to hunt deer such as temperature, weather, availability of resources, and moon position could also affect your chance of getting a trophy buck.

Temperature

Along with knowing the best time to hunt deer, temperature and weather also come into play. If you’re wondering which temperature is better: hot or cold, the answer is the latter, cool climate is much more ideal for deer since too much heat would just cause them to sleep more during daytime.

Nevertheless, a dormant temperature, even if it’s high or low, is bad news if you want your prey to be active during your hunt. A sudden change in temperature is what a deer needs to snap out of a slump. You need to watch out for a 10 to 15-degree drop or rise in the temperature for it is a signal that your quarries are probably going to be up and about in no time.

Weather

A little rain never killed a hunter, but it might get him his kill. As stated earlier, a sudden change in temperature gets the buck moving. And what changes the temperature more effectively than a changing weather? Most animals have very keen senses, enabling them to sense an upcoming weather event. An unexpected rainfall or snowfall would definitely get a deer on its feet.

Availability of Resources

Just like any other living being, deer also value survival. So if your location isn’t exactly ideal, then you’re also probably going to go home empty-handed. Try and scout for areas with quality food and water sources and optimal bedding settings. Any places with an abundance on those things are probably a good place to start hunting.

Phase of the Moon

Many dismiss this one as nothing but a superstition. But is it? Believe it or not, the current phase of the moon can greatly influence the feeding activity of the deer. They are more likely to eat more and seek beddings earlier during a full moon while they are more likely to spend more time in their beddings during the new moon. This is due to the fact that, as mentioned earlier, deer don’t have an adequate night vision, that’s why they try to utilize the bright light of the moon to their advantage as much as they can.

Hunting Pressure

Areas that received the brunt of previous hunting season would be less likely to experience that much daylight activity on the current season. There’ll be more chances of you getting your catch in an area that’s still not yet discovered by other hunters. Asides from the fact that there would be lesser competition, the animals there would probably not be as guarded and on edge.

There’s no such thing as a silver bullet when it comes to hunting. Being able to make a 300 yard kill shot isn’t the only thing that it takes to become a good hunter. A good hunter is someone who truly knows and understands its game. You can sit in front of your computer for several hours, searching for an article that could help you do so. But, in reality, the only way to do that is to go outside, and observe. You won’t be able to find deer from the comforts of your own bedroom! Go forth, and take a shot.

While you are here, you may want to check out:
February 25, 2019