Hunting Forum

I hear some people begin doing scrapes and all at the beginning of the hunting season. Some people say it's to early to be doing that. That it should be done manely during or close to rut. What do you think. Does it hurt to start doing that early or not?

Depends on where you are located. Here in IL, I'd lay off the estrus scents until beginning of November. It isn't typical that a doe will come into heat this early, although not unheard of. Again, depends on where you are located. Farther north, you might get some does this early.

I start making mock scrapes immediately though. IMO, they have more to do with territory than anything else. If a big buck thinks another buck is moving into and marking up his territory, you can bet he will be around to re-mark those scrapes or at least check them out to see if he can spy the intruder.

I've always heard that using estrous scents too early can actually spook the deer. It ain't natural to them.

And I agree with ILbowhunter1 on the scrapes. They use these for communication and marking their territory.

Same goes for rattling antlers. I've got proof of that hanging on my office wall. Rattled him in on the first day of the season (six years ago today) by tickling the old antlers together. You just want to start out a little more gently this early and save the aggressive rattling for early rut when they really start battling it out for the ladies. They do start working on the pecking order long before the rut starts with some lighter sparring.

Good luck all! Planning on heading out Saturday morning here.

The deer know what's normal, and anything that doesn't fit into their established patterns could work against you. If I find scrapes, then I'll start using them, otherwise, I'll wait until they start showing up. The same with estrous scents, when I see bucks chasing does, then I'll start using estrous scent. Nothing wrong with using regular doe or buck P, or something like Evercalm (which is deer herd in a stick), since those are normal deer smells.

there's communication scrapes too early on , so don't get confused on early ones . They are already tearing up their traditional spot for weeks now were I hunt . Just saying who is who . Won't play with a mock scrape till the third week in PA.Still early , but I use a dripper that goes for three weeks .