Deer visit scrapes all year, but what does the mean for you?
QUESTION: I’ve starting making mock scrapes, and it seems like I get more deer activity on my trail cameras around them than before they were there. I’m wondering when I should start putting my drippers out. Is there a time when it’s too early and just a waste of effort?
ANSWER: Traditional, deer-made scrapes all have one thing in common: an overhanging branch that acts as an olfactory signpost. While most of the activity occurs leading up to and during peak rut, deer actually use these licking branches year round.
While it’s difficult to distinguish cause and effect, it seems reasonable that deer would be more likely to visit licking branches that get the most activity, and thus have the most and most recent scents to sample. Bearing that in mind, it’s never really too early to put out your drippers.
Of course, you have to consider the cost involved and effectiveness of attracting deer during the off-season. However, the more accustomed they are to visiting a particular area, the more likely they’ll be to show up when the season opens.
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