Early scrapes!

[Don Stokes]

A cold front passed through north MS over the last couple of days, giving us 3" of much-needed rain, and dropping the nighttime temperatures from the mid 70's to 60 last night.

Today I went judo roving and deer scouting, shooting my way around the edge of a secluded soybean field on my Uncle's land, which adjoins mine. I found two fresh scrapes, made within the last 24 hours. They were pretty vigorous, too. Our rut is mostly during December, so this is really, really early for here. I rarely see scrapes before mid-November on our property. I happen to have an observation stand on the other side of this field, so I think it's time to start observing! The beans are only knee-high because of dry weather in June and July.

I believe I feel my neck beginning to swell! Our season doesn't open until Oct. 1.

Do I get the prize for the earliest scrape sighting?

[leatherneck]

Probably a few juvenile bucks not knowing what they are doing. You will see the younger bucks make these scrapes on edges of fields this time of year. Patience grasshopper, the rut will be here before you know it.  

[Jerry Jeffer]

Actually, scrapes can be found all year. Usually not 'vigorous' scrapes. I urinate in them any time I am passing by. Even if I don't see the scrape. If I know there is usually a scrape there, that is where I pee.

[JSimon]

I have actually heard that early scrapes are made by bucks with at least one breeding season under their belt. As Jerry said, deer will make scrapes throughout the year as a way of communicating, but I don't think scrapes at this time of year are related to the rut yet. But, those same scrapes may remain active, or heat up as the rut approaches.

[Don Stokes]

JSimon, I've heard that about early rubs. I'm sure the deer are still in velvet, but one of the scrapes had a tall weed hanging over it, and there were a couple of the tender branches broken, like he was working it with antlers. I plan to sit in my observation stand with binoculars this week. The weather's still cool, and I've seen some nice bucks in this field before season. Unfortunately, our season doesn't start until October, and that's about the time the beans are cut. In years when the harvest is late, I've had good luck hunting the edge where they are most likely to enter.

[Widowbender]

I remember one time I found a scrape in august and put a trail cam on it. When I went back to check it, I noticed that it had been cleaned out, so I was excited to see what had made the pic. The only  visitor to the scrape had been a doe!!  Later on though, that scrape became a visiting spot for several different bucks and does. It stayed active, off and on, throughout the year. You never know what your gonna get when you put a camera at a scrape. I once got pictures of nine different bucks, a coon, two foxes and a bobcat, all in one week!! GOOD LUCK!!

David

[Gene Wensel]

Don,
    I think I should get the prize for the earliest scrape sighting this year. I saw one on January 1st...

[Don Stokes]

(expletive deleted)!! I work off the fiscal scrape year, not the calender scrape year. You almost got me.

Don

[beaglesandbucks]

It is simply a territorial scrape and chances are about 99.9% the buck will never visit the spot again.