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Licking branch tree fell over

greg728

greg728

Active Member
SH Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2021
Messages
180
Location
Pennsylvania
Last month I found some nice scrapes and rut sign in an area and marked it on onx. I went back in yesterday and a storm must have blown the tree over so the biggest scrape there doesn’t really have a licking branch. I opened the scrape up more with my boot to extend it a little near another branch in hopes it’ll be used but it’s a pretty high branch so not sure if it’ll be used or not. Curious what everyone’s experience is with this. When you have damage to a licking branch tree for a good scrape do they typically die or will they still be pawed? There’s a few other smaller scrapes nearby and I think the area will still set up well for good rut activity but it made me wonder.
 
Don’t feel bad I had a bunch of trees fall into a big pile. One of the bottom tree had my trail camera attach
 
I had a similar occurrence in a spot where there was an all year community scrape that's been there for at least a decade. The licking branch tree died and the branch wasn't over the scrape anymore. There was no scrape activity in the same spot this year but another scrape opened up about 20yds away but not on the same trail the old one was on. It remains to be seen if it was just a rut scrape or if it becomes another community scrape.
 
Beach said:
Don’t feel bad I had a bunch of trees fall into a big pile. One of the bottom tree had my trail camera attach
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Yikes! The first thing I check when I saw the blow downs was whether my cam was still hanging.
 
boyne bowhunter said:
I had a similar occurrence in a spot where there was an all year community scrape that's been there for at least a decade. The licking branch tree died and the branch wasn't over the scrape anymore. There was no scrape activity in the same spot this year but another scrape opened up about 20yds away but not on the same trail the old one was on. It remains to be seen if it was just a rut scrape or if it becomes another community scrape.
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I don’t have the intel in this spot to know if it’s a community scrape but it looks like it could have been. I think the smaller scrapes are used together with the bigger scrape during the rut phases but I could be wrong. There are several trails that lead to the area and based on the bedding and sign I’m fairly confident it will continue to have rut activity. I moved the limbs that fell into the trails out of the way and freshened the other scrapes and extended the main scrape to the closest branch so we'll see what happens. Wouldn’t be surprised if another one opens up nearby.
 
Is the adjacent tree the same species as the original licking branch?
 
We just had an ice storm here and I can't even imagine the adjustments I'm going to have make to some of my whole set ups this year because of it. Thousands of trees and millions of limbs and branches down in my hunting areas. This is just Mother nature's way of thinning the herd or pruning the landscape so to speak. Deer and other critters have to adjust to these conditions all the time and I believe the deer will definitely still use that area for rutting but will either expand one of those other scrapes into a community scrape or start a new one in the immediate vicinity. Just my 2 cents.
 
I’d make a mock scrape with a licking branch near the original. They’ll use it. Make it now and put a trail cam up to monitor it and see what happens. There are scrape scent kits available now too. I’ve found though that the scrape was made there due to its location for some reason, it will be used in pretty short order I estimate whether you use scent or not. In other words, the location begets the scrape, not the other way around.

I’m in grape country and we have wild grape tangles all over the woods. I take my pruners with me and cut lengths of the straightest ones I can find about 3-4 feet long and wire them vertically onto a live and strong branch of a tree where I want to make the mock scrape. I don’t directly attach it to the horizontal tree branch though. Instead, I wire it by looping one end of the wire around the horizontal tree branch and one loop of wire around one end of the grape vine. This allows the grape vine licking branch to move all around without binding on the horizontal branch on which it’s wired. I’ve also used beech and other regular hardwood tree branches. Anyway, I have video footage of a fawn “playing” at this scrape. It would lick and hit the vertical grape vine “licking branch” with its mouth and nose and get it moving and swaying. The little fawn would then start jumping and bobbing its head up and down as the branch would swing. It would do this for several minutes just “playing” with that branch. It was fascinating footage.
 
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greg728 said:
I think so but I’m not 100% sure. Have you noticed a preference in branches?
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Yes, deer definitely have preferred species of tree for a licking branch. Snip off the old licking branch and tie it to the adjacent tree. Wearing rubber gloves will help reduce your disturbance.
 
woodsdog2 said:
I’d make a mock scrape with a licking branch near the original. They’ll use it. Make it now and put a trail cam up to monitor it and see what happens. There are scrape scent kits available now too. I’ve found though that the scrape was made there due to its location for some reason, it will be used in pretty short order I estimate whether you use scent or not. In other words, the location begets the scrape, not the other way around.

I’m in grape country and we have wild grape tangles all over the woods. I take my pruners with me and cut lengths of the straightest ones I can find about 3-4 feet long and wire them vertically onto a live and strong branch of a tree where I want to make the mock scrape. I don’t directly attach it to the horizontal tree branch though. Instead, I wire it by looping one end of the wire around the horizontal tree branch and one loop of wire around one end of the grape vine. This allows the grape vine licking branch to move all around without binding on the horizontal branch on which it’s wired. I’ve also used beech and other regular hardwood tree branches. Anyway, I have video footage of a fawn “playing” at this scrape. It would lick and hit the vertical grape vine “licking branch” with its mouth and nose and get it moving and swaying. The little fawn would then start jumping and bobbing its head up and down as the branch would swing. It would do this for several minutes just “playing” with that branch. It was fascinating footage.
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Just curious. Why do you pick the straight vines for licking branches? I've seen videos (Jeff Stugis?) where he said a twisted vine or branch may be better because it gives them more resistance and more surface area to leave scent on. Supposedly the bucks like the feel of being able to twist and tangle their racks in the branch if that makes sense.
 
I had it happen two years ago on a community scrape that had been there for several years, probably much longer. This one did not reappear nearby. It was a great spot for a camera and so easily accessible.
 
DroptineKrazy said:
Just curious. Why do you pick the straight vines for licking branches? I've seen videos (Jeff Stugis?) where he said a twisted vine or branch may be better because it gives them more resistance and more surface area to leave scent on. Supposedly the bucks like the feel of being able to twist and tangle their racks in the branch if that makes sense.
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They stay at the mock scrape longer trying to get more of a “purchase” on the branch. Plus I’ve used knarly ones before and the bucks get them in thier antlers easier and tear them down.
 
greg728 said:
Last month I found some nice scrapes and rut sign in an area and marked it on onx. I went back in yesterday and a storm must have blown the tree over so the biggest scrape there doesn’t really have a licking branch. I opened the scrape up more with my boot to extend it a little near another branch in hopes it’ll be used but it’s a pretty high branch so not sure if it’ll be used or not. Curious what everyone’s experience is with this. When you have damage to a licking branch tree for a good scrape do they typically die or will they still be pawed? There’s a few other smaller scrapes nearby and I think the area will still set up well for good rut activity but it made me wonder.
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I generally don't care. Deer are going to be where they're going to be. Everyone wants a "guess" or "opinion".

They're animals. They will show you themsrlves in due time.
 
kbetts said:
I generally don't care. Deer are going to be where they're going to be. Everyone wants a "guess" or "opinion".

They're animals. They will show you themsrlves in due time.
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This is true. I hunted the trail through it a few times this year and the deer are still using the trail, the scrape just isn't being used anymore.
 
greg728 said:
Last month I found some nice scrapes and rut sign in an area and marked it on onx. I went back in yesterday and a storm must have blown the tree over so the biggest scrape there doesn’t really have a licking branch. I opened the scrape up more with my boot to extend it a little near another branch in hopes it’ll be used but it’s a pretty high branch so not sure if it’ll be used or not. Curious what everyone’s experience is with this. When you have damage to a licking branch tree for a good scrape do they typically die or will they still be pawed? There’s a few other smaller scrapes nearby and I think the area will still set up well for good rut activity but it made me wonder.
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If it's just a field edge tree branch over a scrape I wouldn't be too concerned.
I have had a really good scrape loose the licking branch. Try cutting one off a lesser scrape branch and zip tie it over your prime or hot scrape.
It's worked for me on occasion.
If all else fails a new nearby scrape may be the new ticket.
 
Anyone try manilla rope/cord for a licking branch? It seems like they'd be easy to install (toss over an overhead branch and tie a loop and pull through). Although on public land, someone might tear it down as litter or it might draw attention for a hunter to come back.
 
raisins said:
Anyone try manilla rope/cord for a licking branch? It seems like they'd be easy to install (toss over an overhead branch and tie a loop and pull through). Although on public land, someone might tear it down as litter or it might draw attention for a hunter to come back.
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Yes, I did. I hung it right next to a grape vine licking branch that I have over a well used mock scrape. I wanted to see if deer preferred one or the other. Final impressions were deer very slightly seemed to like the vine better but the rope was still well used.
I thought I had pics posted somewhere on the forum. I can't remember if it was it's own thread or part of an existing thread.
 
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