• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Expensive rake for mock scrapes

Allegheny Tom

Allegheny Tom

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2018
Messages
6,079
Location
Western Pennsylvania
This mock scrape has been money in the bank for many years. I get many thousands of pics on it every year. It started off as just a cut off grape vine that was in the way getting my tractor thru. The vine had to be cut and for the hell of it, I cut it at licking branch height, raked a bare spot, pee-ed in it and voila...deer of both sexes and all ages began to use it year round.
Eventually, the original vine rotted and they tore it down. A couple years ago, I cut a couple new vines and hung them from the walnut tree branch 12 foot up. I tried a large vine (still exists as shown in the pic) and a thin vine. They preferred the thin vine. They eventually tore it down.
I replaced it today with a Wicked Wick ala Gene Wensel.
I used my fel to lift myself up to reach the anchor branch. I then used the bucket to rake it out. I do own cheaper rakes, but this was easier, lol.
1st pic is with the new Wicked Wick. Other pics are the previous vine licks.
7288c931543fc280cec9032beacab9f9.jpg
df279509e0bd5f0cd1f035ec976d56c3.jpg
f477062c31a6bf1a2a7cfa70cd24be2c.jpg
bfacaf2c923262c16b7617118f43a868.jpg
5fade67cef63a329b13c3aa1413e3b5b.jpg
4e16bc582b71a1b1602eb449007bf01e.jpg
8424f3e89ca133b0abda4a5104c684d8.jpg
ec73be99097753dbd8b3d4be7ece90eb.jpg
1f3e510865e9f37c36695472960d5711.jpg


Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
DaveT1963 said:
Tom - I think you should invite me up to hunt some of your scrapes so I can give it a non-biased review :)
Click to expand...
No way Dave, Tom and I are best buds since meeting many years ago at the Harrisburg outdoor show in 2019. He's been bugging me to hunt with him all these years so I just might have to accept his offer. :)
 
Seriously though, this reminded me that I picked up some ScrapeSticks at the Iowa Deer Classic. Their booth was right to the booth I was working in. Once I'm more mobile I'll be setting up these licking branch systems where there aren't any good overhanging branches to see how it goes this year. Looks very promising and Tom has evidence that artificial licking branches work very well!
https://scrapestick.com/
 
I've been doing art licking branches for years. What i have found that works best is simple grapevine. I cut it in winter, let it dry out and then I do a little special something to it. Last for years and is dirt cheap :)

Understand, but if DanO doesn''t get it done I am always a safe back-up plan Tom :)
 
DaveT1963 said:
I've been doing art licking branches for years. What i have found that works best is simple grapevine. I cut it in winter, let it dry out and then I do a little special something to it. Last for years and is dirt cheap :)

Understand, but if DanO doesn''t get it done I am always a safe back-up plan Tom :)
Click to expand...
Do share - what is the somethin' special??
 
How do you guys go about picking mock scrape sites? Some of the ones I have made in the past seem to get no use while others do. Is there a method to the madness?
 
BackSpasm said:
How do you guys go about picking mock scrape sites? Some of the ones I have made in the past seem to get no use while others do. Is there a method to the madness?
Click to expand...

I'm sure there are several ways to have successful mock scrapes but the mock scrapes I've had success with were locations that previously had a scrape in it.

For example, I was hunting over a natural scrape in 2016/2017 season that was a great setup for wind and access. I killed the buck in my avatar picture in this exact spot. The deer ultimately killed the licking branch that season and on top of that the tree grew a substantial amount the following spring, making the lowest branch out of licking branch height. Another detail I would like to add is that all other trees in the area are mature hardwoods which results in very few low hanging branches in general. I wanted that spot to be a consistent scrape location each year so I hung a piece of grapevine using paracord. This provides the deer with a licking branch year around.
 
I put them were I would like to kill a buck - that and I put some near food sources just to take inventory. the key is to place them in normal deer corridors.
 
I accidentally created a scrape last summer when I placed a camera on public land. I put it just a couple inches off the ground on the trunk of a small tree, since everything taller was small enough diameter to sway in the wind. I cut most of the branches back out of the motion sensor path, and it left the cut back branches at the PERFECT height.

4 shooters consistently in their summer range. They all disappeared before season opener, though.

db69e14b45b8c963794921663046b999.jpg
92bb1492a8d07ca1d2cb441dc76972c2.jpg

f18e565a47c91acb32805a2bf9f07e69.jpg

6dcafc83ae0292d1076878541fed76d7.jpg

f375854510b78aedca26cd538f47640a.jpg


................................................................................All climbing methods, platforms, saddle designs, and/or use of materials possibly mentioned in the post above are not peer reviewed for safety, and should only be used as an example of my own method. Do your own research and testing before becoming confident in any DIY solution to support your life.
-IkemanTx
 
Last edited:
IkemanTX said:
I accidentally created a scrape last summer when I placed a camera on public land. I put it just a couple inches off the ground on the trunk of a small tree, since everything taller was small enough diameter to sway in the wind. I cut most of the branches back out of the motion sensor path, and it left the cut back branches at the PERFECT height.

4 shooters consistently in their summer range. They all disappeared before season opener, though.

db69e14b45b8c963794921663046b999.jpg
92bb1492a8d07ca1d2cb441dc76972c2.jpg

f18e565a47c91acb32805a2bf9f07e69.jpg

6dcafc83ae0292d1076878541fed76d7.jpg

f375854510b78aedca26cd538f47640a.jpg


................................................................................All climbing methods, platforms, saddle designs, and/or use of materials possibly mentioned in the post above are not peer reviewed for safety, and should only be used as an example of my own method. Do your own research and testing before becoming confident in any DIY solution to support your life.
-IkemanTx
Click to expand...
Those are some REAL bucks right there. Wanna trade? 2 of mine for 1 of yours?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
Any of u guys use preorbital on them? I just take a leak in them, not sure if that helps but I too have activity on the vines. I have 3 separate vines placed on my 60 acres. Had someone go thru last fall, steal my cell cam and rip down the vine at location I've taken 3 mature deer in 3 years.....be careful with camera placements. This year I'm pulling them out from August 1 thru Sept 20, marijuana harvest season or the methhead neighbor likely were the culprit.
 
My main mock is strictly for camera purposes. I don't hunt it so its pretty much a night time deal, although I do get some daylight pics.
Location is the primary key. This one is located between 2 plots where cover necks down deer movement. It's actually where I need to drive my tractor thru. That original grape vine was in the way and needed cut. But instead of cutting it completely out, I cut it at lick branch height. I raked the ground and took a leak in it. Instant scrape that deer used immediately, and for over 10 years now. The original vine rotted and I replaced it with another. I added the rope the other day as an experiment. We will see which they prefer...vine or rope.
I have used preorbital lure, but I don't think its important.

Something I've done in the past that has worked well is to basically transport an authentic scrape from one location (of no use) to the spot where I want one.
A real scrape and branch has all the real odors...nothing artificial.
Clip a piece of an over hanging branch and zip tie it where you want it. You only need a little piece of that branch. You aren't necessarily totally eliminating the entire branch. Some scrapes have multiple branches over them. Just take part of one branch. Handle it with rubber gloves (and the zip tie, too). You may need to put it in a garbage bag to protect from contaminating odors during transport.
Authentic over hanging branches will contain the scent of saliva (and hocks because they lick their hocks), forehead and preorbitals. Nothing better than the real thing.

You can also use a small shovel and transport some authentic scrape dirt, too. It will have interdigital, urine (maybe sperm), hock, rub urine from pee-ing on hocks and sometimes poop scent in it.

Ain't no lure manufacturer out there that can duplicate all of that. And you sure can't buy it on the shelf from your local sporting good store.
And sure as hell not ****s.
 
You must be a trapper too Allegheny Tom!!! Kishel's makes an interdigital gland lure for mock scrapes. Barry Wensel likes Smokey's pre-orbital. I think Jameson's Ultra Blend XXX is a great all season buck lure you can use in your mock set ups too. The best is all natural though I agree!!!
 
I got over 2,300 pics from July 3rd to the 30th.
They seem to favor the new rope slightly more than the established vine. Both licks were treated with Smokey's pre orbital lure, but honestly, Ive gotten thousands of hits in past years without lure. I do pee in it often though.
The majority of these latest hits were by does and young bucks, but I did get a few more mature bucks.
I got a lot of other critters, too.
Turkey, coons, rabbits, coyote, fox.
1d12b1f0674e864971c8341fa54a1e7d.jpg
7681ab636f9f126e6e69d75b0af7d1a4.jpg
633f79cd089df468859aa5f9f30ce2ca.jpg
9b54f77b2ce078a15e0a3091d71ed4f9.jpg
2d2f8c8f66a8f58f0d521c1f3b3da7f6.jpg
63f13d7069d0155a88014eee86c4e653.jpg
293d6ad8f540def75b731040e5301137.jpg
9e13236afb97de58ab0c4bb3cfe60143.jpg
41e9f7db6cd686dfaf746f25f8bee97a.jpg


Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top