[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/understanding-whitetail-scrape-behavior\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/understanding-whitetail-scrape-behavior\/","headline":"Understanding Whitetail Scrape Behavior","name":"Understanding Whitetail Scrape Behavior","description":"One of the greatest ways whitetails communicate with each other is through the scent they leave behind.\u00a0 Throughout the year...","datePublished":"2015-10-19","dateModified":"2019-01-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/#Person","name":"Hector Agosto","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Legendary Whitetails","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","url":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","width":522,"height":226}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/2-Alsheimer_001040831-e1444936882243.jpg","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/2-Alsheimer_001040831-e1444936882243.jpg","height":1601,"width":2566},"url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/understanding-whitetail-scrape-behavior\/","about":["News"],"wordCount":1405,"keywords":["News"],"articleBody":"One of the greatest ways whitetails communicate with each other is through the scent they leave behind.\u00a0 Throughout the year bucks are constantly marking their territory with scent, and scraping behavior is one of the chief ways they do it.\u00a0 Though bucks will work a scrape\u2019s overhanging licking branch throughout the year their most aggressive scraping is done from October to December, when testosterone levels are highest.Bucks will work prime licking branches 365 days a year with 80% of scraping behavior in the North occurring from mid-October to mid-November.When a whitetail buck makes a scrape he does so where there is an attractive branch hanging along a roadway, at the edge of a field, on a well-worn trail, or in a random area he\u2019s walking through.In most cases a buck begins the scraping process by rubbing his forehead, preorbital, and nasal glands on the branch and in some cases will actually lick and chew on the overhanging branch.\u00a0 Once done, most bucks will paw the leaves and other debris from the ground under the branch, then urinate into the pawed out earth.\u00a0 The process usually takes less than two minutes, but during this time a buck will leave liberal amounts of scent behind.\u00a0 Scraping, like rubbing, allows a buck to make his presence known by dispensing scent throughout his area.Typical scraping behavior involves leaving scent from a buck’s nasal, preorbital and forehead glands.\u00a0 When done working the branch bucks will\u00a0paw the ground and urinate into the ground.Hunters debate whether scraping is primarily a \u201cbuck thing\u201d or if it\u2019s done to attract does.\u00a0 During my years of photographing and hunting whitetails throughout North America, I\u2019ve seen many does work a scrape\u2019s licking branch.\u00a0 Only twice have I actually seen a doe paw the ground below the licking branch after scenting the licking branch.\u00a0 However, I\u2019ve killed several does in archery season that were working a scrape\u2019s licking branch when I released the arrow.\u00a0 On the other hand I\u2019ve seen and photographed hundreds of bucks making scrapes during my career.\u00a0 So, based on this, it\u2019s my view that scraping is primarily a buck behavior, a behavior they use to dispense scent and show dominance.Though they seldom paw the ground does will actively work a scrape’s overhanging licking branch.I believe scraping is also a satisfying, conditioned response for bucks.\u00a0 When working an overhanging licking branch, a buck is greatly satisfied by the branch massaging his forehead, preorbital and nasal glands.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe a buck consciously knows he is spreading his scent to other deer.Judging from the hundreds of photos I\u2019ve taken of scraping bucks, it appears the satisfying and stimulating aspects of scraping might explain why a buck performs scraping behavior so frequently.\u00a0 I\u2019m not saying scent-depositing isn\u2019t a big part of scraping, because it is.\u00a0 But I\u2019m convinced the dynamics of scraping are incredibly complex and serve several functions, probably more than we\u2019ll ever realize.The age structure of a buck population heavily influences the amount of scraping that will take place.\u00a0 If yearling bucks dominate an area, scraping behavior will not be great.\u00a0 However, if there are an abundant number of 2+ year old bucks in the population, scraping sign will be very evident.In 1990 I was a part of a scrape research project conducted on the Avery Estate in New York State where deer could be closely monitored in a natural setting.\u00a0 We discovered that during the two weeks leading up to peak breeding mature bucks made 6 to 12 scrapes every hour they were on their feet.During the two weeks leading up to peak breeding mature bucks can be expected to make between 6 and 12 scrapes every hour they are on their feet.amzn_assoc_placement = \"adunit0\";amzn_assoc_search_bar = \"true\";amzn_assoc_tracking_id = \"livinglegen05-20\";amzn_assoc_ad_mode = \"manual\";amzn_assoc_ad_type = \"smart\";amzn_assoc_marketplace = \"amazon\";amzn_assoc_region = \"US\";amzn_assoc_title = \"Deer Calling\";amzn_assoc_linkid = \"ae7c57fdf6064a88ed3611cb5c96359a\";amzn_assoc_asins = \"B000JVQRM0,B0756BXDTX,B00363V3OK,B0000AW0DR\";Classifying ScrapesThe way I classify the scrapes I find has evolved over the years.\u00a0 When hunters began to understand the whitetail\u2019s scraping process in the early 1970s scrapes were commonly described as \u201cboundary, secondary and primary.\u201d\u00a0 Though I\u2019ve used these terms, I learned along the way that there was a clearer way of defining what I was finding and photographing.\u00a0 In order to make the scraping process easier to understand I\u2019ve settled on referring to the scrapes I find as boundary, random and primary.Boundary scrapes:\u00a0 Boundary scrapes are made as bucks travel through their territory.\u00a0 These scrapes often show up along the edge of fields, fence rows and old roadways.\u00a0 Those made along field edges are nearly always made at night.\u00a0 Because of this I pay little attention to these scrapes except for checking the track size.\u00a0 If the track is more than 2 \u00bc inches wide (with no more than a \u00bc inch split in the toes) the buck is probably over 2 \u00bd years old and nearing maturity.\u00a0 Such bucks will also tip the scales at over 175 pounds (live weight) in the North.Random scrapes:\u00a0 Random scrapes are just that\u2014scrapes that are made spontaneously as a buck cruises his territory.\u00a0 A buck will often make a random scrape whenever he comes upon an attractive licking branch and is \u201cmoved\u201d to work the site.\u00a0 Seldom will they be reused and in most cases are not serious candidates for a hunting set up.Primary scrapes:\u00a0 Primary scrapes are the ones hunters need to pay attention to.\u00a0 In many ways they are the \u201cmother lode\u201d of whitetail scrapes, with some having the potential of becoming very attractive to whitetail bucks.\u00a0 They are most often found in strategic locations\u2014inside corners, ridge lines, and especially along well-worn trails between bedding and feeding areas during the rut.In many instances bucks will make a line of scrapes (20 to 50 yards apart) along such trails.\u00a0 Because many primary scrapes are found along well-worn trails, more than one buck (and does) will work and rework them during the seeking, chasing and breeding phases of the rut.\u00a0 I\u2019ve probably killed more bucks over primary scrapes along well-used runways than any other place.Hunting scrapes in prime travel corridors can be a very successful strategy in the days leading up to peak breeding, when bucks are on the move.TimingThough bucks work licking branches 365 days to leave their scent, prime scraping behavior occurs in the 30 day window leading up to peak breeding, especially during the last 10 days.\u00a0 Once breeding kicks in scraping behavior drops off drastically. During the post-rut scraping still occurs, but it is only a fraction of what it was before the rut."},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Legendary Whitetail's Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/understanding-whitetail-scrape-behavior\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Understanding Whitetail Scrape Behavior"}}]}]