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Rope for Mock Scrapes

BeauWPS

BeauWPS

Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2019
Messages
77
Location
Benton, AR
I’ll preface this by saying I’m sure I can find some wild grapevine in the woods, but where’s the best place to source untreated rope (hemp, sisal, manila) from reputable sellers?

I see most are treated with oils and I refuse to purchase those. Also, does anyone have experience with one material vs the others?
 
ricky racer said:
Save your money and just use a grape vine. It will work better and the supply is unlimited.View attachment 126409
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Depends on the area. 2 of the three areas I hunt here in AR you have to hunt to find a tree with vine, much less the right size. The other area, you have to hunt even harder to find a tree without them.

As for ropes, I decided last year to try them. I couldnt find a source of untreated rope that was at a price I was willing to pay so I just ordered some from amazon. I cut the rope to the lengths I wanted and put them outside and left them until late summer when they hung. I think I hung 10 or 11. Three of those got destroyed by bears. Three had some deer use but it was all really young bucks or does. Had a few mature bucks check them out but didnt use them. I tend to think it was the synthetic deer scent I put on them that deterred use. I am going to re-treat the ropes late summer this year with some homebrew deer tinctures I have brewing to see if there is any change.
 
IMG_1380.jpegIMG_1381.jpegSounds like I’ll probably wind up using a grapevine already out there. I spent a lot of time scouring the internet, but everything was treated with some chemical or oil. I was reminded why I should try this tactic when I came across a naturally occurring, sizable broken branch while scouting a several weeks back.
 
BeauWPS said:
View attachment 126432View attachment 126433Sounds like I’ll probably wind up using a grapevine already out there. I spent a lot of time scouring the internet, but everything was treated with some chemical or oil. I was reminded why I should try this tactic when I came across a naturally occurring, sizable broken branch while scouting a several weeks back.
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Put a camera on that scrape!
 
I’m blessed I’m in grape country so we have vines everywhere. We actually go thru timber stands and release the hardwood trees that have them tangled in them as they eventually pull the tree down. If you’re managing the forest for timber and wildlife, highly recommend cutting grape vines for mock scrapes and to keep them thinned out of your hardwoods.

I don’t use scent at all. Hang them in the right locations and they start using them pretty darn quick.

Somewhere I have video of a fawn “playing” under one of my grapevine mock scrapes. As the mother stood there watching, the fawn would hit the vine with its mouth and nose causing it to swing,!he would then jump and kick under the swinging branch and run around in half circles under it. As it started to slow down he would hit it again and start bucking and jumping under it again as it moved back and forth. One of the funniest things I’ve ever witnessed in nature.
 
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I don’t think the ropes provide the rigidity the deer like. If I can’t find a vine I’ll use a branch. Has to be somewhat of a green branch though for some flex and moisture retention ability. Dead branches don’t work. Beech are favored in my area.
 
woodsdog2 said:
I don’t think the ropes provide the rigidity the deer like. If I can’t find a vine I’ll use a branch. Has to be somewhat of a green branch though for some flex and moisture retention ability. Dead branches don’t work. Beech are favored in my area.
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I beg to differ. Cut branches are all I use and every one that I have hung have been used.
 
DroptineKrazy said:
I beg to differ. Cut branches are all I use and every one that I have hung have been used.
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I’ll have to try that. I know the grape vines I use eventually dry out and they are still used but I’ve never seen a completely dead grayed out licking branch used in nature. Any of the natural ones always show the orange/ yellow inner wood. But never say never, right?!
 
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