Gonna tinker around with some this year. Maybe use some anise oil and maybe some vanilla extract to pull em in and get em to start using the scrapes. Any of you hunters ever try something like that? Gonna put a camera out and give it a shot.

I’ve made several over the years. Call it crude, but I straight up pee in mine for a couple days straight. If they’re not hitting it, it’s often a location problem.

Ive made a lot of them. They will get the attention of deer that are passing by but they dont seem to change the pattern of the deer so i dont really see them as having much value.

If they're using a trail that you can overlook, why would you need a false scrape on it?.

Put multiple in close proximity to each other, make sure you have a licking branch, and the ground is clear down to bear dirt at your mock scrapes.

Last time I made a mock scrape for deer hunting I hunting in Virginia.Just before daylight when I went to hunt it, a guy was already in a nearby tree and said he found it first.....

so when they are walking down that trail they will stop giving you more time to make a good clean kill

I know this is post is about scrapes but putting posts or tree limbs into the ground for rubbing posts in spots you want them to stop work extremely well also.

Not hard to stop a deer for a shot

Exactly. CT is right.

I’ve made a handful. I like a piece of 3/4” grape vine tied from a branch overhead so the bottom is just above waist height. I sometimes will spray glyphosate on the grass under it to keep it clear of vegetation. At least rake it clear. And then pee in it. Don’t add any weird scent! The deer will do that…lol. They are an awesome distraction to the deer as they work it over. However, in my experience they will not pull a deer far off their travel route.

I’ve made plenty of mock scrapes. Never tried putting vanilla or anise oil in them before. I’m curious how that would go over.

Never put in a mock scrape, but what I have done to stop them from passing through to fast is a scent station of anise hanging from a branch along the trail, usually just a bent q tip .

I've always found real scrapes. Mock scrapes serve no real purpose to me. I don't hunt scrapes alone without other features but do like to be able to see one or several or know they are nearby. They are used to determine how and where I set up. They are basically a good confirmation that you are on/near the travel corridor or high use area....sorta like what a rubline shows you....direction of travel, time spent in that area, etc.

If you can find what is referred to as a "community" scrape, you can camera inventory what bucks are in the area in early to mid-fall quickly. Every buck (young and old) will visit that scrape(s) when in the area.....everytime...until peak breeding approaches, then the younger bucks will stay back. Does will work these scrapes too as she nears estrous....mostly chewing/licking the overhanging branches, but will also urinate in them.

A community scrape is easy to identify....usually one is found on a plot or field edge or regularly used travel corridor. It will be raked out rather big compared to other scrapes due to multiple buck use and the overhanging branches will be broken and tattered more than other scrapes. Many times these community scrapes are also year-round licking branches. Remember their locations as they will be used every year and will many times be the first scrapes opened up in late summer/early fall.