What to do with scrape line?

[robinhood]

First let me say "what a cool site"

 

Im new to bowhunting so please bare with me guys. I think I found something that, relating to hunting Whitetails back in the midwest, I think I should exploit but dont have a clue on what to do.

 

Last week while hiking to a familier Coues hunting spot (rifle) I notice alot of trails coming out of this thick steep hillside. So I followed them through oaks, brush, manazanita, etc. only to have it open up to pines. Still following upwards, I came to a long bench, about 100yards by about 1/4 mile long.

 

Over 15 scrapes & uncountable amount of rubs, old & new were scatered along the bench. At the end I bumped this buck out of a bed & he ran down the hills out of sight. Unfortunately this was my only day to hunt until next week.

 

My question to all you experience bow hunters;

 

Do I hang out on the trails or should I hang a treestand near by & hope he will come by.

 

Thanks, Dean

[KidBowHunter]

I think you should hang a treestand near by because then you are higher up and the deer won`t scent you as easily. Good luck Dean!!! Also, use a good and safe harness!!!!!

[TREESTANDMAN]

Robinhood,

 

The best time to actually hunt over scrapes is usually during the pre-rut which is usually mid-late december. Bucks are behaving very territorial trying to establish dominance at this time. The larger bucks will typically make lots of scrapes and other bucks will come to leave scent and urine in the scrape and on the licking branch. That bench you found was probably the location of an incredible scrapeline that would have been effective to hunt earlier on and still may be now. It may also serve as a funnel does use to travel? If that is the case, it would be effective to hunt the area now. Now is when supposedly most of the does are in heat and the bucks will be tending them. Find the does, you'll find the bucks.

 

If any of the scrapes are wet, you may want to set a treestand over it. The bad part about hunting scrapes is that most scrapes are refreshened at night.

 

Get a trail camera to see what and when they are coming by.

[robinhood]

Thanks Troy, that sounds like great advice from such a new hunter. Thanks.

 

Treestandman I sent you a pm. I have too many ? to ask for my typing skills.

 

Dean.