Found 3 scrapes today

I found 3 scrapes about an hour ago, fresh, been worked today. I have never seen scrapes this early in Indiana. Anybody else seeing the same thing?

Ya I have seen a few and yes I think it's a little early to, but goes to show you when you think you have them figured they do something that makes you scratch your head, Thats why I love hunting. BH

I found one last time back at my hunting area as well.

Deer use scrapes year round not just during the pre-rut and the rut. During those two times of the season they do become easier to find because there are more of them to be found. However, some "social" scrapes can be found year round.

Joe wrote:

I found one last time back at my hunting area as well.

Deer use scrapes year round not just during the pre-rut and the rut. During those two times of the season they do become easier to find because there are more of them to be found. However, some "social" scrapes can be found year round.

I have never heard that before. I have to say it makes sense though. I know a couple years ago out shed hunting, I saw a fresh scrape at the end of Febuary.

The ones I found today were within 10 yards of each other, and in a spot where a scrape has "shown up" the last 3 years in a row but closer to november. There were also at least a dozen rubs within 100 yard area, 3 of them were as big as my leg. Hard to believe I am not hunting there tomorrow, but the other side of the property on White River is where I will be having breakfast with a 170 class buck in the morning. I HOPE been watching the same buck 3 years.

twodog wrote:

I will be having breakfast with a 170 class buck in the morning. I HOPE been watching the same buck 3 years.

Now that sounds like a great way to start the day if you ask me! Keep us up to date on that hunt.

good luck getting him

Good luck tomorrow!

We saw a few small scrapes on some field edges the other day also.

Seen a couple

You will typically find those early scrapes under primary licking branches. A number of deer may use these throughout the year. I have a camera on one I found two weeks ago on my new property. The licking branch looked like it had several years worth of use on it and it was right in the middle of a heavily used pinch point. These are great spots to set a camera and get a good inventory of what you have.

You hear people from time to time saying that early scrapes are made by dominant bucks, but I dont really buy in to that theory. It doesnt seem to be the nature of a big old mature buck. I think these early scrapes are more than likely to be done by smaller less dominate bucks. Regardless of the owner, I have found that these early scrapes tend to be worked throughout the season rather than a hit and run that you see later on.

Just my $.02

Well he didnt show today. Was a great hunt though. Back at it in the morning. I did talk to a guy that hunts the neighboring farm and he saw the big boy within couple hundred yards of my stand two weeks ago.


I like all the info on here, love learning new things about scrapes and all. Makes alot of sense what you guys have said.

twodog wrote:

Well he didnt show today. Was a great hunt though. Back at it in the morning. I did talk to a guy that hunts the neighboring farm and he saw the big boy within couple hundred yards of my stand two weeks ago.


I like all the info on here, love learning new things about scrapes and all. Makes alot of sense what you guys have said.

We are glad you are apart of the site.... make sure you share it with your friends. Good luck getting that monster.

found a scrape here too,it was 18" or so arround and had the doe prints in the middle. i thought it was a little early too for scrapes mbut sounds like it's goin' arround.

I have not been out in a week or so. Need to get my camera today so maybe I will look around a little and see what I can find.