StickersNKickers
Camo Up!
I have mostly used Active Scrape or possibly a Tink's scrape product in mine, but never could really tell that they got used much (didn't have a camera on them and never saw them being used while in the stand). I haven't put them out for a couple of years now. I usually started mock scrapes late September and into October I think. If you notice a fresh real scrape, it's probably an ok time to put in a mock scrape. Just remember the licking branch!
Used Trail's End on wicks a few times, but again didn't see much response to them while in the stand. Not sure if they helped, but I guess deer still came around, so didn't totally hurt either.
Used Trail's End on wicks a few times, but again didn't see much response to them while in the stand. Not sure if they helped, but I guess deer still came around, so didn't totally hurt either.
Hocus pocus if you ask me. Mock scrapes.... sure they can work well if you can get them started and get deer to take them over. A dripper.... na.... I don't believe in ANY of the fake scents. For the most part a deer's nose is way too sophisticated for that. You might trick a few young dumb ones that way, but not much more 
Just my 2c.
Just my 2c.
KnuckleDragr
Active Member
Never a bad time to start a scrape, as I've seen deer use them year round. Obviously Sept on through the rut gets much more use. As for products, I've used drippers with not much luck at all. All kinds of different brands of everything over the years.
Honestly, anymore I save my money and just take a leak in them myself each time I change camera cards. Seems to get the same results as some of the high dollar scents out there. Keep in mind that I seek out the giant scrapes that looks like most deer frequent. Not the little ones that pop up randomly during the prerut. If I do make a mock scrape, it is usually about four feet square or bigger.
Honestly, anymore I save my money and just take a leak in them myself each time I change camera cards. Seems to get the same results as some of the high dollar scents out there. Keep in mind that I seek out the giant scrapes that looks like most deer frequent. Not the little ones that pop up randomly during the prerut. If I do make a mock scrape, it is usually about four feet square or bigger.
CurtisWalker
Well-Known Member
I just pee in mine myself and it works awesome. Worked better two years ago with those teenage hormones racing.
The best reaction ive had with scrapes is to transfer licking branches and dirt.
Find a community scrape in late September on two different farms say 2-5 miles away. Wear rubber gloves, clean shovel, clean bucket.
Snip the licking branch, dig up the dirt in the scrape.
Drive to different farm and clip licking branch, dig up the dirt. Zip tie licking branch from first farm and dump new dirt, drive back and repeat at original location.
Bucks/ does will all investigate and work the scrape
The second best reaction I've gotten is simply just to pee in them, it works and is alot easier than moving branches and dirt. It works way better than any dripper ive tried.
I will say that according to my cameras, most scrapes are used during the dark up until the later parts of the rut when bucks are really searching for that last doe
Find a community scrape in late September on two different farms say 2-5 miles away. Wear rubber gloves, clean shovel, clean bucket.
Snip the licking branch, dig up the dirt in the scrape.
Drive to different farm and clip licking branch, dig up the dirt. Zip tie licking branch from first farm and dump new dirt, drive back and repeat at original location.
Bucks/ does will all investigate and work the scrape
The second best reaction I've gotten is simply just to pee in them, it works and is alot easier than moving branches and dirt. It works way better than any dripper ive tried.
I will say that according to my cameras, most scrapes are used during the dark up until the later parts of the rut when bucks are really searching for that last doe
StickersNKickers
Camo Up!
Those are awesome to find! I couldn't believe how big some get when I first saw one that size. Makes you think they have to be the size of a moose!
Do you guys just use a shovel? I've used a shovel or garden hand cultivator in the past. Went to plastic on the cultivator because I read somewhere that the deer could smell the metal that the metal tools would leave behind (no idea if this is true).
Probably works better than the packaged scented dirt!
Sounds like peeing in them is pretty popular. I've been known to pee in them as well. If you have a multiple scrapes to freshen, you could pee in a bottle and then pour a little in each.