Mock Scrapes

[whitetail]

  4 yrs. i started to expermenting with mock scrapes and drag rags and last year i think i hit on something because i got 2 nice 8 points not real monsters but really nice for southeast louisiana. H.S. Specialties makes a domaint buck lure and something called licking stick comes in a spray bottle that seams to be the ticket. I made 4 mock scrapes taking extra care not to leave any human sent wearing rubber boots and dish washing gloves with a green forked stick my scrapes where 21/2 - 3 ft. in a  oval  shape all leaves and debris raked in one direction and dirt scraped well in the middle of each scrape i made a small hole and placed in it a paper cup like ketsup is served in pushed the dirt around cup up to the top of the cup and poured in the buck lure and beat the limbs over the scrape with my stick enough to break some of the small twigs and scrape up the bark a little and sprayed it with the licking stick keep gloves on at all times then i took 2 drag rags one soaked in doe esterus the other soaked in the domaint buck lure starting at the 1st scape draging both rags through each scrape and made about an 1/8 mile circle back to where i started from i started  this 2 weeks before the rut mid dec. down here. ever 3 three days i renewed each scrape and dragged my rags my 4th trip in i found what i was hopeing for a buck had taken over the scrapes i had made 2 days later bingo 4 days after that bingo again. Does anyone have any tactics to share the more you know the more you can bingo.
                                                 Thanks  Whitetail

[Big Redhead]

That is a really neat idea! I may just try it this year, particularly if the action is slow.

I usually just stick with the basics: Locate a travel route, pick a spot with favorable cover and wind direction, sit down, be still, be quiet, be ready, and wait. I don't read books, don't wave my arms around to look through binoculars every 10 seconds, and when bowhunting I don't hang my bow up on the tree. My weapon is in my hands, loaded (on safe), and I am keyed and ready every second. When the moment arrives I raise my weapon and shoot the deer. These are the basics to killing wild deer and eating lots of venison every year. Tactics are great, but no amount of camoflauge, scent attractants, expensive "scent-free" clothing, or scent killers can makeup for neglecting the basics.

[whitetail]

Yes you are so right there is no substitute none at all for knowing and understanding the basics. If you have the knowledge of the basics , food , water , bedding area and hiding places you know for the deer to get from one place to the other they have to travel . Finding the travel routes between these areas can produce alot of kills believe me this is how i've hunted deer for 40 years and i have never went without venison using the basics. But i do lisen to any and everything and add to my tactics and from time to time try something new but without basics i don't care what you do you'll find it hard to take the smart and allusive white tail . One last thing if you don't learn to use your # 1 enemy the WIND in you favor you might want to get rid of your venison recipes and stick to beef and chicken.
                                       Thanks     Whitetail