Fresh scrapes in March!!

[Sean B]

I just took a walk in one of my hunting spots today  after work and I came across about a dozen scrapes that only looked to be a day or so old. There was a wet spot in the middle of one. Most of the scrapes were about 3'-4' in diameter!!  I tracked the trail to a bedding area on the eastern face of a steep hill. Wind usuall comes out of the west in that spot. I'll try to post picks if my photo bucket app cooperates!!

[23feetupandhappy]

Interesting  

[23feetupandhappy]

[Hummer3T]

I am seeing fresh rubs up here in Canada, never seen it before, but seeing quit a bit while shed hunting.  Thought maybe due to nice winter and animals wanting to shed horns before they are ready??

[Friend]

Saw several fresh 1 to 1 1/2' scrapes yesterday and one moderate racked buck.

Have typically seen lingering rut activity into March.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Interesting Sean.  My guess is some really late fawns next year!

I have one by me that isn't very big. In fact most of the coyotes are bigger than it is.

That's weird!

Bisch

[Possum Head]

Yep saw a pair of tiny fawns this past January. Some bucks may be busy after their horns fall off!

[durp]

didn't see any scrapes but i did see a dinky spotted fawn twice in december of 2014       sure looked funny playin in the snow.

[Longbowlogan]

I found a big community scrape Saturday that's still being hit on a new property I just got and scouted for the first time.

[ozy clint]

Nothing unusual about scrape activity in march. At least for the fallow deer here.      

[woodchucker]

Idk, Sean... All I can think of is un-bred does? Does will come into heat, every 28 days or so, untill they are bred. Last years squirrely weather, no definate "rut" (more like a "trickle-rut" all season long) Looks bleak for next year to me... Good old DEC/QDM mentality make be starting to take its toll. Maybe they should just focus on a healthy & balanced deer herd, and let Mother Nature take care of the rest...?? Lord knows, She will anyway!!!

[Cwilder]

Deer will hit scrapes and licking branches all year long

[Sean B]

Originally posted by Cwilder:
Deer will hit scrapes and licking branches all year long

I've seen small scrapes here and there but not like this. I'm thinking possibly because there's no snow on the ground. Here in NY, The ground here is usually still frozen and snow covered  at this time of the year.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

You may be right Sean.  I Have heard some deer will use scrapes all year long but not at the same capacity they do during breeding.  It sounds like you found breeding activity scrapes.

I think Chuck is correct, the wacky season this year allowed for some does to not be bred, this allowing some to come back into heat for a second, third and 4th time.  

I have been hearing these reports nation wide so I doubt the DEC has that large of a role on it though. LOL

You are right Chuck, Mother Nature always wins.   I think that every time I see a dilapidated old building with vines engulfing it and trees growing out of the roof.

[RAGHORN 3]

I've been told their pedicles start to itch and quite irritable before shedding, hence the head shaking and rubbing before they actually shed.....  

[TradBrewSC]

I found a few scrapes last weekend here in SC as well.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I hope they aren't breeding 6 months after the rut, The fawns will have zero chance at survival when they are born in November/December this year.

Those are just whitetail newspapers your seeing.

[Sean B]

Originally posted by PEARL DRUMS:
I hope they aren't breeding 6 months after the rut, The fawns will have zero chance at survival when they are born in November/December this year.

Those are just whitetail newspapers your seeing.

I was thinking the same thing!! These are definetly breeding scrapes.   I really think that's the case here!

[PEARL DRUMS]

I doubt they are breeding scrapes. The rut is based on the moon and sun. If they can breed 6 months late, they can breed all year. But they don't. Go out there and watch who uses them, bet it's all does and fawns talking back and forth. Not only that, but the bucks have all but lost their antlers and their hormones are not what they need to be to make a 6 month late rut happen.