When possible, that makes finding them in spring the best time to determine which scrapes to hunt next fall. Before green-up, all of the previous year's scraping is done and can still be gauged. Studying the size and depth of the scrape generally reveals how hard it was worked. Simply put, the larger and or deeper the scrape, the more it was tended. This provides the answer to whether it was a serious or random scrape.

Luckily for those who can't scout in spring, the most serious scrapes are also typically some of the first to be opened each fall. Because of that, it's common to be able to identify them by their level of use even before peak scraping occurs.

To increase the odds of a mature buck working a scrape during legal shooting hours, the best choices are typically set back in the woods. Here, the protective cover helps make a mature buck feel safe. In turn, he's much more willing to work these scrapes during daylight.

Lastly, it's best to time your hunt for when the odds are best for scraping activity occurring during daylight. Each time we go into the woods we are leaving signs behind of our activities. Frankly, with all the hunting pressure we place on bucks, they don't get mature by being stupid. Regardless of how good a scrape looks on Oct. 10, hunting it then provides greater odds of educating the big boy than getting the drop on him. Instead, waiting for his testosterone to rise to the point that it inspires increased daylight movement is almost always the better choice.

On the flip side, hunting that scrape too late is equally bad. Once the chase phase begins, mature bucks are too busy finding does to go out of their way to tend scrapes. They will work them when convenient, but rarely go out of their way to do so.

The keys are finding a serious scrape in an area where bucks feel safe, and by waiting for the right time and minimizing our disturbances. Following those guidelines removes much of the frustrations experienced while scrape-hunting.

JOINING THE CHASE
As mentioned, once the chasing begins, mature bucks all but abandon their scrapes. Part of the confusion regarding scrape-hunting is that the little bucks often don't stop scraping, thus tricking hunters into believing that scrapes are still good to hunt.

Another way the immature bucks confuse hunters is that they begin chasing does well before the does are ready, whereas the mature bucks show the intelligence and discipline to wait until the closing days.

Unlike their little brothers, once the timing is right, the big boys shift almost completely to finding does. Though the majority of does still aren't quite ready, a handful of early ones have already been bred and the breeding frenzy is just around the corner. This realization drives mature bucks to chase and harass the does on the cusp of breeding. Simply put, he wants to be certain that he has her cornered when she becomes willing to stand for his advances.

Though close, the doe still isn't ready and doesn't care for being harassed. In an effort to lose her bevy of suitors, she often heads for the thickest cover she can find. There, she can spend hours running around in circles, trying desperately to shake her pursuit. Eventually, either she loses them, breaks cover and heads for the next thicket or most of the bucks lose their interest in her and seek out an easier target to close the deal with. With most does laying low trying to avoid this harassment, the bucks bounce between known doe bedding areas and thickets in an attempt to find their next victim.