Here in New Hampshire November 2nd the rut hasn’t really kicked in yet because the does are just beginning estrous. But the bucks are aggressive and cruising at night. This is not a random pattern. The older bucks get out of bed near dark and begin to take a cruise pattern based on where he may encounter a receptive doe. Then, make ground scrapes, urinate over his hock tarsal gland in it, and will leave scent from his hoof interdigital gland and from his forehead preorbital gland saying just who he is. Other bucks beware!
A very glandular affair telling the doe that he will soon revisit it.
As of November 2nd, I have observed few scrapes, however as each day passes, soon a shift will occur when enough does enter estrous that the rut is in full swing and scrapes and rubs will abound. This could be just a week away.
Some of these scrapes are considered primary scrapes where the does urinate and signal receptiveness. Other scrapes are often what some call a secondary scrape. These secondary scrapes are active by the buck but some experts say, they have not been visited (peed in) by a doe.
How does the hunter take advantage? Build a mock scrape, as a competitive buck might do. This kind of mock scrape can cause the buck to hang out closer to his scrapes and to “ward off” other bucks. And do it in daylight!
Or use scents to add to his scrape as if a doe peed in it. This, many say, is now a primary scrape which he will check more often. Of course we are not deer but collecting info from veteran hunters help verify these beliefs.
This warding off can also be done by buck “tree rubs”. These are signpost rubs. The size and damage of these signpost type rubs can be seen by other bucks. I have seen trees from saplings rubbed and seen trees that are 5 or 6 inches in diameter rubbed enough to kill the tree. Big rubs often mean big antlered deer, often leaving tine marks in the tree. A lesser buck may be intimidated by a big rub not far from an active scrape.
I like to participate by making mock scrapes and rubs in hopes of getting Mr. Big to show up in daylight!
I’ll be waiting…
Good Hunting!