All I have is big mountains littered with log roads old and new, but in south east ky in Harlan county scrapes will almost be the only way to kill an old buck. But it’s always a lot of walking and hard to get deer out. Hunters, four wheeler roads and poachers make it even more rough! No ag! People say don’t go south of I64 or east of I75 but I’m as far south east as it gets in Ky! Bears,bobcats, and coyotes just makes it a bit harder to harvest or even see big bucks every season! Advice is always welcome!!!
Whitetail Habitat Solutions I study your videos and have learned so much! Cant wait to try mock scrapes next season. Ive never used them before. Id do anything to have a hunt with you someday and have you teach me everything you know. Only a dream !
Jeff, quick question. When I'm hunting the Hills and there is great buck bedding and plenty of room for those lots of conifers water everything they need but no agriculture around and no food plot on the property. What do you think the main source of food outside of the acorn crop would be for them it's $160 Acres
I started using alot of mock scrapes this year . I've seen a few bucks use them so far . One has a really nice buck stopping at it. So far everything I have learned from your channel has improved my hunting. The one thing I know I need to work on is thermals and how the wind works in hill county. If you have time could you do a detailed video on wind and thermals . I've seen some of the videos you have done on them but I'm still have the problem of how hills effect wind direction. Thank you for another awesome video
Rob Cline jr Ditto. Hills make the wind so difficult to predict. That's why I use a climber alot. You can wait until you get to your spot and set up based on the wind condition that very moment
I found a couple scrapes a couple weeks before opening day. I had a small buck looked to be a 4 pointer come through one night around 230 am and a Coyote came through the next night around 7:52 pm. Since then, no Deer are coming near the scrape. I did a spot and stalk hunt in that general area and I've checked the camera once since then. I did find some Deer sign behind the camera. I found more scrapes and a small buck rub and set cameras over all other signs that I found. Is there something I can do to get the Deer coming to the scrape? I'm not sure why the Deer have suddenly stopped checking the scrape. I was generous with scent cover spray and use pine boughs to wipe all over me before I go into the woods. I'm not sure if hunting pressure has caused the Deer to change their behavior or maybe it's the Coyote. I'm wondering if they just aren't totally in the rut yet and haven't been interested in checking the scrape. Is there anything I can do to bring the bucks back or should I just write the area off and move on?
Jeff! Thank you so much! got an 8ptr with my bow yesterday following your advice. Morning of a 20 degree cold front, down wind and at least 100yds from my unpressured food plot and from a stand i had not hunted all year just waiting for the right conditions to strike and at 9:07 here comes one of my core target bucks. Amazing! Even tho this is my 37th bow season i have learned so much from you!
Been Fishing my whole life. This is my second year hunting and I'm hoping to get my first deer using these tips. A friend and I have a 21 acre lease Near me in Upstate NY. Got close with the bow last night(on opening day of rifle), but the wind swirled and a hand full of doe spooked. But, it was still AWESOME!!! Thank you for these vids. I don't have anyone to teach me this stuff, so your videos are like gold to me!!
Jeff, I just hunted a mock scrape this weekend that we put in this summer. First time using the stand because we waited for pre-rut and favorable HuntCast forecasts and I shot the biggest deer I have ever got with a bow. A beauty 8-point. Thank you for sharing all your know-how!
Been watching your vids for two weeks. Been hunting for years. shot my first buck this am. huge weather change did him in. Thanks for sharing your real knowledge. I owe him to you.
Thanks again for another fine video Jeff. At 56 years old I too can think back to the old days and the dumb things we did hunting lol. I even have had 2 falls from trees at about 10 feet each time and managed to get lucky and survive. Now it's safety harnesses, lineman belt, and climbing ropes for me. I was just thinking about hanging a licking branch near a stand in my timber but was afraid it was too late. I am going to hang one this afternoon thanks to this video.
Yea ive hunted over big community scrapes or even smaller ones and wasted several days not seeing a thing because i probably setup too close to it or either it was already compromised from others or foot traffic when i was on management land. Id say maybe most of scrapes are nocturnal or at least 60% are. Good info for sure.
Located two new scrapes yesterday, had doe activity around 9:35am , watched an 8 point come in nose down in pursuit of a doe and grunt as it was chasing it around. It was sunny yesterday and rather warm. It doesn’t matter what the locals have said about it being two hard frosts one in late October the second in November which will trigger the pre rut. I always said the best time to start archery hunting buck or doe in my area of New York is during Halloween week Oct. 26 - Nov. 1, which is pre rut. From that point on the rut will soon start, Nov. 2 is the opening day for Crossbow season.
Hey Jeff I followed your advice to a t this year, and harvested a public land 8 pter last night in PA! Not my biggest buck, but my first public land buck and boy was it satisfying. Thank you for everything
Man that is so awesome to hear...thank you for the feedback! Really happy for you. Diane and I were just talking about getting out to PA for a hunt this Fall during gun season. CONGRATS, that's even more special - to me anyways - being on public land.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 , great to hear you might be coming out to PA in gun season! Please make sure to publish the footage, and you're welcome to drop by if you're in the Uniontown area!
I added a mock scrape on my property last year after watching one of your videos on Mock Scrapes, I was amazed at how much activity it got. About 3 weeks ago I put a camera back at the scrape and I took a stick and freshened it up, I poured some Buck urine in it, I came back about two weeks later to check my camera and I noticed about half of the licking vine was laying on the ground. When I checked my camera I had a picture of a 10pt I call Wishbone standing in the scrape and the next picture my vine is a lot shorter lol. I had to replace my vine and last week I had two new 8’s and a nice 6pt at the scrape. I had a picture of the two 8’s sparring beside the scrape lol. Mock Scrapes definitely work and Thank You for sharing your knowledge with us! Good Luck this season!!!
Jeff you are the Professor of Whitetails! Tried your mock scrape method using grapevines(preferred locally) in three areas on 44 Ac's of timber. One the the edge of a 1/2 Ac food plot, the others on interior woodroads through hardwoods. All age classes of does through mature 3.5 yr old bucks are using them almost daily. 2 of the mocks now have 3-4 additional scrapes within 5-10 yds from the original mock! Thanks so much for the tips and education. Haven't connected yet, awaiting pre rut later this week. Question: whats the best time of the day or night to check cameras with the least disturbance. presuming normal scent free protocols? Thanks again Professor!
I put an extra ladder stand up on a flat last year with the purpose of using it for afternoon hunts this year. The area sits between hardwood bottoms and an area of young pines and it's a spot I got busted when exiting during the evening last year (buck coming up out the hardwoods to the flat at the same time I was, both of us hit the flat about the same time). So up went the stand. This year I took a 7 pointer on opening weekend, late afternoon hunt. That flat and surrounding cut roads are full of scrapes (stopped counting after a dozen). A few days later I came across three new scrapes, two of which are sitting on the path to my stand. I'll be sitting in that stand again in a couple of weeks.
I remember the days of building tree stands out of ruff saw hardwood... nailing them into tress.!! 😂 still see the remains of some of them 20 + years later.. i base tree stand locations by scrapes... we have one old logging road about 1/2 mile long that have a lot of crossing on it.. usually annual scrapes pop up about every 150-200 yards in the same spot every year. Thanks for yet another great video Jeff.. have a great season.!! 👍🏻
Hi Jeff. This year I am adhering to your advice about not busting right in there and hunting all my stands. I’m here in Massachusetts so things are definitely different over here. Hunting just started on Monday. So this year I even refrain from putting my cameras up in my area because I don’t really need the information I already know it’s there. Anyway, I only hunted on Monday morning for a few hours. Saturday I also hunting for a couple Hours in the morning. The front that just blew through the Midwest is going to blow through this area until about Halloween. After that the temperatures are going to drop right out and you know what that means that’s a whole different episode. Good luck brother
I get about 1 out of three success with mock scrapes becoming active. I think I might be putting too many on field edges. Going to try more trails and transition areas and see what happens. Good info! Thanks!
Started using your mock scrape set up a couple years ago and still amazed by the results. Question... Have you ever attempted or considered moving vines of existing mock scrapes to a different mock scrape location to make a buck think another buck has moved into his territory?
and I have also seen a nice buck hit this scrape two mornings ago. I went out this morning and seen him again chasing does on the ridge would you set up on this scrape?
Jeff - I hit a buck this past Saturday and hit shoulder leading to minimal penetration and what I can think of as being a non-lethal hit. I didnt find a drop of blood and searched most of the morning following the shot only to not find a downed buck, I'm away at school and only have time to hunt Saturdays. If I go back and hunt my farm again this weekend, would that be applying too much pressure on the piece to cause my daylight bucks to go nocturnal? I know we're nearing the rut so any time in the stand is better than none, I just don't want to blow my 17 acre piece out and have the neighbors get all the bucks on my parcel. thanks - Dylan
Me and my wife was coming home day before yesterday and I seen the big boy I’m lookin for. He was on the other side of my lease on somebody else’s property but if he went straight to my stand he was prob 350-400 yards from it. He had a buddy to that wasn’t no small dude but I’m glad I finally seen him I was worried he might’ve got killed last year. I’ll get him before it’s over LORD willing that is Amen. He’s a wall hanger for sure. Be safe out there brother you and your camera man to and may THE LORD BLESS YOU ALL AMEN.
I have never hunted exclusively over a scrape although due to your teaching I now hunt over my mock scrapes and water holes as per your teaching with has greatly enhanced my daylight sightings success. On a somewhat related topic: I am into my 2nd year using the HECS clothing system and have experienced what I view as real benefits such as where I had a snow junco land on the end of my gun barrel and just sit there until after a minute or two I shook the barrel to spook him off. It may just be a self fulfilling prophecy but I intend on using it every time out from now on. I'm a retired NJ State Trooper and feel that I am no pushover for gimmicks. Have you ever used this system? Thanks Cris
Hi Cris I have not sure the system but have had several clients tell me they swear by it. Kind of like me...if it isn't broke don't fix it. I just think it's awesome you are seeing more daylight movement in general...So I wouldn't change a thing at this point ☺️ Interesting product tho. I'm really careful about clean boots and legs. I have seen many times where if careful, mature deer will walk right over my access trail...even within a 1/2 hour or less.
Good points...we are seeing lots of bucks using the scrapes, just not one on our hit list. Hope to get out in the am this coming week, weather is going to turn cold...possible snow. Bob
Oh Jeff you have done it again my friend. I set up one of these last night, pee'd on it at 6:03 and left. I have a trail cam pic at 6:37 of a Buck coming in to investigate. I scraped it with a stick and it worked. I thought you were crazy a couple of years ago when you told me to pee in it. For some reason it was the ONLY thing you have told me that I just couldn't bring myself to do. Hahaha well it works TOO!!!
I killed my largest buck ever with a bow in central Ohio, because I listened to your tips and tactics on weather... that was the ticket. Temps and high pressure last Friday put him on his feet in daylight. Thanks Jeff
Hi Coy! The Mathews Vertix...although I switched to their new one that comes out in mid November and I like that one a LOT! I have been shooting Mathews bows exclusively since 1992 so kind of a Mathews guy ☺️
Thanks for the reply. I have been looking around for a new bow just not sure what to get. I like the Matthews grips but still might give a different brand a chance.
A couple thing...the cameras are Exodus and high quality, so that limits or eliminates pics from movement. This will be my 4th hunting season usimg them. I love my the Lift II models! Here is a link to check them out... bit.ly/JSturgis 5 year warranty and I have had zero hunting season failures. 2" viewing screen, true HD video and extremely high quality. I am running up to 20 trail cams at one time and regardless of the B roll I need for videos...I rely on the trail cams heavily for learning buck behavior, in season census, buck home range and for making informed hunting decisions. OUTSTANDING trail cameras, after hundreds of thousands of pics and videos over 3 seasons I can highly recommend. 2nd...I use vines for my lick branches and any tree variety that a buck prefers to rub is a great choice. But regardless of tree or vine, I HIGHLY recommend that it is 5-6' long, 3/4" to 1" in diameter. That keeps them from blowing around a lot, and also has to feel natural to the deer because it is more stiff and rigid with weight. They need something of substance to rub their glands on. Quality cameras and a good stout (but not too stout) licking branch combine to give me what I feel are zero wind induced pics
Whitetail Habitat Solutions thank for the reply! My biggest deal is that im getting thousands of pictures of wind every time I checked my cameras because here in North Dakota its impossible to have a day without wind
Kelvin Thomson thank you. I know mine aren't High quality but I'm only 18 haha it's not easy to buy everything High quality haha I figured a high quality bow and Sitka gear was more important
@@gavinbenz9034 , I gotcha. However, even the lower-priced Wildgame Innovations cams that I run don't have any trouble with false-triggers. Sure, the trigger and recovery times are a little on the slow side, but the quality of the pictures is more than adequate to see what's on my land.
So much to learn I was up in Rascommon County hunting on State land I scouted but never saw a scrape or rub So I set my pop-up blind between too trees and right next the my pop-blind there was a Scrape My friend was telling me this is a perfect place hunt I started laughing before he assumed I set it up for him think again Brother I have a two-man blind and I am going to be hunting it. But Since Michigan has Banned baiting I find it difficult because I am "Not Seeing Movement at All" I have multiple cams home made scrapes I need to put or hang a licking branch but no feed I follow this Stupid Law so I don't bending the law I hope the senate passe the unband baiting law by Tuesday this Tuesday coming up 11/12/2019 I am also hunting out of a tree-stand the only pic's I got was 2 doe's and one Fox
Very rare to see a buck at a scrape in daylight around here. If I see a scrape or rub I get away from it and find the highest nastiest thick spot close by. That's where you'll find him.
Whitetail Habitat Solutions. I have went to your website and clicked on talk to Jeff and I sent you a email. It might not have went through but I would like to talk to you on the phone about my land and maybe hiring you.
I have a buck that I have been getting videos of irregularly and in different areas around a 100 acre section of public land. This is my third season hunting him and he’s at least 6 1/2 now. Wednesday evening I got a video of him making a scrape 30 minutes after shooting light. Do you have any tips on finding where he is bedding or how to get consistent game camera footage of him? Right now his locations and habits just seem random.
I wish qe had the deer like most states do. I live in west virginia mason county and there used to be alot of deer here but the amish moved in 20 years ago and they have killed everything i wish they would just move the hell away so the deer we have left will have a chance to grow into beautiful bucks. But with the amish here they will never have a chance
He says more hunting pressure will ruin The hunt which is not true at all with more hunting pressure deer move a little faster in the woods or hedgerows but deer move more with time pressure
Anyone from Indiana? God damn, it's going to Suck this year with all the blue tongue disease hit all our deer this year. I'm not seeing hardly ANY deer, what deer I see are all does and only seem them like10 - 15 mins before it's literally dark! Our tag limit is cut down from 4 deer to 2 deer; heard some of our county's are cut down to one deer. All I gotta say, people out there, make sure you manage your deer heard wisely and don't kill no more then ya need! Or ya going to be in the position we hoosier state are in and ya literally going to to be in the stand for hours seeing nothing on endless on end!
So I’m wondering what/how you elevated yourself to tie your vine on? I definitely agree doing it before a rain is the perfect time to do so during the open season.
Great video and some more good trail cam footage Jeff! Keep it coming! Have 3 on my parcel that has increased my daytime footage and sightings this year!!
Jeff, I’ve used your mock scrape technique with great success this year as far as trail camera intel. I place them in deer traffic areas with the key being dark/dingy thick cover. Especially on Apple trees in thicker cover. What are your thoughts on setting them up on a big woods public land walk in, hunt the area for the night and than return 3 to 4 days later to hunt over the scrape again? I have a spot in mind of placing it downwind from a corner off a cutover, approx 75 yards into the woods. I’m thinking of giving it a try on my rut vacation.
Your content awesome and accurate to tee I’ve been following each video and hunting with your guidance, and now because of that I’ve got at least seven daylight mature bucks that I’m after with decent racks. Big question is what is the biggest key features of a property is should be looking for when buying land or leasing? Looking to step up the game a little next year.
Good Information Brother. I got my 1st deer sitting on one limb an standing on another on the edge of a cotton field. I was around 16 an now I’m almost 55 . No way I could do it now lol
Jeff, I’ve had some great success with the mock vine this year. Had a real good buck that was hitting it regularly about 10 min before dark. Now due to hunting pressure ( public land) he is still hitting it very consistently but 15 to 20 min after dark. I know to talk about hunting the weather, so you think a cold front will bring it his buck to the scrape during shooting light ?
Oh Lord, Had so many Hours standing on Branches back in the day. Makes me sore thinking about it. Thank God for ladder stands. I.ve got to try your mock scrapes. Another Great video Jeff.
Good video.. Sucks that we dont have a Jeff Sturgis for us in the south east where we aint surrounded by agg fields and neighbors spending big money on food plots and such. Just broken up parcels of land with only acorns to hone in on till there gone and local browse. Diffrent world for sure.. Love the videos,but 90% of viewers dont own land and cant follow your advice. Good luck this year. unsubscribed.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 , please get some rest, Jeff! You've been through a lot lately and deserve a break. Of course that's easier said than done this time of year!
Hey brother I just got my nephews deer head sent off to the taxidermist that does mine for me. His dad was in the two man stand with him he said my nephew bout jumped out of the stand when the deer he shot hit the ground. It tore my nephew all to pieces lollllllllll. It was his 1st deer 🦌. I’m headed home I’ll finish watching the rest of the video in a bit be safe GOD BLESS.
All I have is big mountains littered with log roads old and new, but in south east ky in Harlan county scrapes will almost be the only way to kill an old buck. But it’s always a lot of walking and hard to get deer out. Hunters, four wheeler roads and poachers make it even more rough! No ag! People say don’t go south of I64 or east of I75 but I’m as far south east as it gets in Ky! Bears,bobcats, and coyotes just makes it a bit harder to harvest or even see big bucks every season! Advice is always welcome!!!
Great video thank you for the tips. This will be my first season hunting over them
This man will be a legend.
Ha, well maybe some day folks will at least know I worked very hard!
Whitetail Habitat Solutions I study your videos and have learned so much! Cant wait to try mock scrapes next season. Ive never used them before. Id do anything to have a hunt with you someday and have you teach me everything you know. Only a dream !
Jeff, quick question. When I'm hunting the Hills and there is great buck bedding and plenty of room for those lots of conifers water everything they need but no agriculture around and no food plot on the property. What do you think the main source of food outside of the acorn crop would be for them it's $160 Acres
I started using alot of mock scrapes this year . I've seen a few bucks use them so far . One has a really nice buck stopping at it. So far everything I have learned from your channel has improved my hunting. The one thing I know I need to work on is thermals and how the wind works in hill county. If you have time could you do a detailed video on wind and thermals . I've seen some of the videos you have done on them but I'm still have the problem of how hills effect wind direction. Thank you for another awesome video
Rob Cline jr
Ditto. Hills make the wind so difficult to predict. That's why I use a climber alot. You can wait until you get to your spot and set up based on the wind condition that very moment
@@Dss-bm3rz that's what I've been doing but sometimes the thermals make it a little harder to set up so I have been learned through trial and error
I found a couple scrapes a couple weeks before opening day. I had a small buck looked to be a 4 pointer come through one night around 230 am and a Coyote came through the next night around 7:52 pm. Since then, no Deer are coming near the scrape. I did a spot and stalk hunt in that general area and I've checked the camera once since then. I did find some Deer sign behind the camera. I found more scrapes and a small buck rub and set cameras over all other signs that I found. Is there something I can do to get the Deer coming to the scrape? I'm not sure why the Deer have suddenly stopped checking the scrape. I was generous with scent cover spray and use pine boughs to wipe all over me before I go into the woods. I'm not sure if hunting pressure has caused the Deer to change their behavior or maybe it's the Coyote. I'm wondering if they just aren't totally in the rut yet and haven't been interested in checking the scrape. Is there anything I can do to bring the bucks back or should I just write the area off and move on?
Been doing mock scrapes for years the vine is the best 👌 👍🏻
Jeff! Thank you so much! got an 8ptr with my bow yesterday following your advice. Morning of a 20 degree cold front, down wind and at least 100yds from my unpressured food plot and from a stand i had not hunted all year just waiting for the right conditions to strike and at 9:07 here comes one of my core target bucks. Amazing! Even tho this is my 37th bow season i have learned so much from you!
Been Fishing my whole life. This is my second year hunting and I'm hoping to get my first deer using these tips. A friend and I have a 21 acre lease Near me in Upstate NY. Got close with the bow last night(on opening day of rifle), but the wind swirled and a hand full of doe spooked. But, it was still AWESOME!!! Thank you for these vids. I don't have anyone to teach me this stuff, so your videos are like gold to me!!
You ever get one?
Jeff, I just hunted a mock scrape this weekend that we put in this summer. First time using the stand because we waited for pre-rut and favorable HuntCast forecasts and I shot the biggest deer I have ever got with a bow. A beauty 8-point. Thank you for sharing all your know-how!
Been watching your vids for two weeks. Been hunting for years. shot my first buck this am. huge weather change did him in. Thanks for sharing your real knowledge. I owe him to you.
Thanks again for another fine video Jeff. At 56 years old I too can think back to the old days and the dumb things we did hunting lol. I even have had 2 falls from trees at about 10 feet each time and managed to get lucky and survive. Now it's safety harnesses, lineman belt, and climbing ropes for me. I was just thinking about hanging a licking branch near a stand in my timber but was afraid it was too late. I am going to hang one this afternoon thanks to this video.
6' is key with cameras been doing it for 2 season and no detection more pics better deer 👍🏻🦌ty buddy
👍👍 been making mock scrape for 30 yrs,it works on trails like you said
Yea ive hunted over big community scrapes or even smaller ones and wasted several days not seeing a thing because i probably setup too close to it or either it was already compromised from others or foot traffic when i was on management land. Id say maybe most of scrapes are nocturnal or at least 60% are. Good info for sure.
Located two new scrapes yesterday, had doe activity around 9:35am , watched an 8 point come in nose down in pursuit of a doe and grunt as it was chasing it around. It was sunny yesterday and rather warm. It doesn’t matter what the locals have said about it being two hard frosts one in late October the second in November which will trigger the pre rut. I always said the best time to start archery hunting buck or doe in my area of New York is during Halloween week Oct. 26 - Nov. 1, which is pre rut. From that point on the rut will soon start, Nov. 2 is the opening day for Crossbow season.
Hey Jeff I followed your advice to a t this year, and harvested a public land 8 pter last night in PA! Not my biggest buck, but my first public land buck and boy was it satisfying. Thank you for everything
Man that is so awesome to hear...thank you for the feedback! Really happy for you. Diane and I were just talking about getting out to PA for a hunt this Fall during gun season. CONGRATS, that's even more special - to me anyways - being on public land.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 , great to hear you might be coming out to PA in gun season! Please make sure to publish the footage, and you're welcome to drop by if you're in the Uniontown area!
What tree stand ladder is that at 8:59 Jeff ?
I added a mock scrape on my property last year after watching one of your videos on Mock Scrapes, I was amazed at how much activity it got. About 3 weeks ago I put a camera back at the scrape and I took a stick and freshened it up, I poured some Buck urine in it, I came back about two weeks later to check my camera and I noticed about half of the licking vine was laying on the ground. When I checked my camera I had a picture of a 10pt I call Wishbone standing in the scrape and the next picture my vine is a lot shorter lol. I had to replace my vine and last week I had two new 8’s and a nice 6pt at the scrape. I had a picture of the two 8’s sparring beside the scrape lol. Mock Scrapes definitely work and Thank You for sharing your knowledge with us! Good Luck this season!!!
You talk a lot of scraps - how exactly do you create them? Are you scraping the ground and handing any stick over it?
Jeff you are the Professor of Whitetails! Tried your mock scrape method using grapevines(preferred locally) in three areas on 44 Ac's of timber. One the the edge of a 1/2 Ac food plot, the others on interior woodroads through hardwoods. All age classes of does through mature 3.5 yr old bucks are using them almost daily. 2 of the mocks now have 3-4 additional scrapes within 5-10 yds from the original mock! Thanks so much for the tips and education. Haven't connected yet, awaiting pre rut later this week. Question: whats the best time of the day or night to check cameras with the least disturbance. presuming normal scent free protocols? Thanks again Professor!
I put an extra ladder stand up on a flat last year with the purpose of using it for afternoon hunts this year. The area sits between hardwood bottoms and an area of young pines and it's a spot I got busted when exiting during the evening last year (buck coming up out the hardwoods to the flat at the same time I was, both of us hit the flat about the same time). So up went the stand. This year I took a 7 pointer on opening weekend, late afternoon hunt. That flat and surrounding cut roads are full of scrapes (stopped counting after a dozen). A few days later I came across three new scrapes, two of which are sitting on the path to my stand. I'll be sitting in that stand again in a couple of weeks.
Been watching 2 or 3 of your videos every night before bed since I found your channel, hoping I can harvest my target buck this year using your tips
That's great to hear....I hope they help you! And good luck ☺️ Thank you for watching!
They work I got nice buck two weeks ago by using these tips
chad reid having killed my target buck but I’ve seen a lot of deer and a few smaller bucks so far
Thanks Jeff
No whispering and no smacking lips
I remember the days of building tree stands out of ruff saw hardwood... nailing them into tress.!! 😂 still see the remains of some of them 20 + years later..
i base tree stand locations by scrapes... we have one old logging road about 1/2 mile long that have a lot of crossing on it.. usually annual scrapes pop up about every 150-200 yards in the same spot every year.
Thanks for yet another great video Jeff.. have a great season.!! 👍🏻
Hi Jeff. This year I am adhering to your advice about not busting right in there and hunting all my stands. I’m here in Massachusetts so things are definitely different over here. Hunting just started on Monday. So this year I even refrain from putting my cameras up in my area because I don’t really need the information I already know it’s there. Anyway, I only hunted on Monday morning for a few hours. Saturday I also hunting for a couple Hours in the morning. The front that just blew through the Midwest is going to blow through this area until about Halloween. After that the temperatures are going to drop right out and you know what that means that’s a whole different episode. Good luck brother
I get about 1 out of three success with mock scrapes becoming active. I think I might be putting too many on field edges. Going to try more trails and transition areas and see what happens. Good info! Thanks!
Started using your mock scrape set up a couple years ago and still amazed by the results. Question... Have you ever attempted or considered moving vines of existing mock scrapes to a different mock scrape location to make a buck think another buck has moved into his territory?
@kybeau Hmmm that sounds like a good idea.
Great information. Our season starts this Saturday. I cant wait. God Bless and Good hunting! Maine North Woods Hunter
Same here in NH. Muzzle Loader starts this Saturday goodluck to you.
now what if the scrape has been opened for a few weeks would you still not sit over it?
and I have also seen a nice buck hit this scrape two mornings ago. I went out this morning and seen him again chasing does on the ridge would you set up on this scrape?
Jeff - I hit a buck this past Saturday and hit shoulder leading to minimal penetration and what I can think of as being a non-lethal hit. I didnt find a drop of blood and searched most of the morning following the shot only to not find a downed buck, I'm away at school and only have time to hunt Saturdays. If I go back and hunt my farm again this weekend, would that be applying too much pressure on the piece to cause my daylight bucks to go nocturnal? I know we're nearing the rut so any time in the stand is better than none, I just don't want to blow my 17 acre piece out and have the neighbors get all the bucks on my parcel.
thanks -
Dylan
Me and my wife was coming home day before yesterday and I seen the big boy I’m lookin for. He was on the other side of my lease on somebody else’s property but if he went straight to my stand he was prob 350-400 yards from it. He had a buddy to that wasn’t no small dude but I’m glad I finally seen him I was worried he might’ve got killed last year. I’ll get him before it’s over LORD willing that is Amen. He’s a wall hanger for sure. Be safe out there brother you and your camera man to and may THE LORD BLESS YOU ALL AMEN.
I have never hunted exclusively over a scrape although due to your teaching I now hunt over my mock scrapes and water holes as per your teaching with has greatly enhanced my daylight sightings success. On a somewhat related topic: I am into my 2nd year using the HECS clothing system and have experienced what I view as real benefits such as where I had a snow junco land on the end of my gun barrel and just sit there until after a minute or two I shook the barrel to spook him off. It may just be a self fulfilling prophecy but I intend on using it every time out from now on. I'm a retired NJ State Trooper and feel that I am no pushover for gimmicks. Have you ever used this system? Thanks Cris
Hi Cris I have not sure the system but have had several clients tell me they swear by it. Kind of like me...if it isn't broke don't fix it. I just think it's awesome you are seeing more daylight movement in general...So I wouldn't change a thing at this point ☺️ Interesting product tho. I'm really careful about clean boots and legs. I have seen many times where if careful, mature deer will walk right over my access trail...even within a 1/2 hour or less.
Good points...we are seeing lots of bucks using the scrapes, just not one on our hit list. Hope to get out in the am this coming week, weather is going to turn cold...possible snow.
Bob
What’s your opinion on adding a good quality doe in heat to a scrape brother after the bucks start hitting the scrape hard?????
Oh Jeff you have done it again my friend. I set up one of these last night, pee'd on it at 6:03 and left. I have a trail cam pic at 6:37 of a Buck coming in to investigate. I scraped it with a stick and it worked. I thought you were crazy a couple of years ago when you told me to pee in it. For some reason it was the ONLY thing you have told me that I just couldn't bring myself to do. Hahaha well it works TOO!!!
Ha, they are awesome aren't they? Incredible attraction...
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Absolutely. Amazing! Thanks you for everything Coach!
I killed my largest buck ever with a bow in central Ohio, because I listened to your tips and tactics on weather... that was the ticket. Temps and high pressure last Friday put him on his feet in daylight. Thanks Jeff
What are you hanging for a licking Stick above your scrap?
Just curious, what bow do u hunt with Jeff ?
Hi Coy! The Mathews Vertix...although I switched to their new one that comes out in mid November and I like that one a LOT! I have been shooting Mathews bows exclusively since 1992 so kind of a Mathews guy ☺️
Thanks for the reply. I have been looking around for a new bow just not sure what to get. I like the Matthews grips but still might give a different brand a chance.
Do your cameras pick up a million pictures of wind on those scrapes? And if not what cameras do you use to stop that from happening
A couple thing...the cameras are Exodus and high quality, so that limits or eliminates pics from movement. This will be my 4th hunting season usimg them. I love my the Lift II models! Here is a link to check them out...
bit.ly/JSturgis
5 year warranty and I have had zero hunting season failures. 2" viewing screen, true HD video and extremely high quality. I am running up to 20 trail cams at one time and regardless of the B roll I need for videos...I rely on the trail cams heavily for learning buck behavior, in season census, buck home range and for making informed hunting decisions. OUTSTANDING trail cameras, after hundreds of thousands of pics and videos over 3 seasons I can highly recommend.
2nd...I use vines for my lick branches and any tree variety that a buck prefers to rub is a great choice. But regardless of tree or vine, I HIGHLY recommend that it is 5-6' long, 3/4" to 1" in diameter. That keeps them from blowing around a lot, and also has to feel natural to the deer because it is more stiff and rigid with weight. They need something of substance to rub their glands on.
Quality cameras and a good stout (but not too stout) licking branch combine to give me what I feel are zero wind induced pics
Whitetail Habitat Solutions thank for the reply! My biggest deal is that im getting thousands of pictures of wind every time I checked my cameras because here in North Dakota its impossible to have a day without wind
@@gavinbenz9034 , a high quality trail camera has a sensor that requires heat and motion to trigger. Movement alone shouldn't create false-triggers.
Kelvin Thomson thank you. I know mine aren't High quality but I'm only 18 haha it's not easy to buy everything High quality haha I figured a high quality bow and Sitka gear was more important
@@gavinbenz9034 , I gotcha. However, even the lower-priced Wildgame Innovations cams that I run don't have any trouble with false-triggers. Sure, the trigger and recovery times are a little on the slow side, but the quality of the pictures is more than adequate to see what's on my land.
So much to learn I was up in Rascommon County hunting on State land I scouted but never saw a scrape or rub So I set my pop-up blind between too trees and right next the my pop-blind there was a Scrape My friend was telling me this is a perfect place hunt I started laughing before he assumed I set it up for him think again Brother I have a two-man blind and I am going to be hunting it. But Since Michigan has Banned baiting I find it difficult because I am "Not Seeing Movement at All" I have multiple cams home made scrapes I need to put or hang a licking branch but no feed I follow this Stupid Law so I don't bending the law I hope the senate passe the unband baiting law by Tuesday this Tuesday coming up 11/12/2019 I am also hunting out of a tree-stand the only pic's I got was 2 doe's and one Fox
Very rare to see a buck at a scrape in daylight around here. If I see a scrape or rub I get away from it and find the highest nastiest thick spot close by. That's where you'll find him.
Hey brother I’m late but here finally
Thank you Jeff. When you post a new video I stop what I am doing and watch. Please get back with me about me hiring you, thanks!
That's great to hear Evan! Where did you contact us about hiring? I know Diane has been on top of all hiring contacts and we have been scheduling.
Whitetail Habitat Solutions. I have went to your website and clicked on talk to Jeff and I sent you a email. It might not have went through but I would like to talk to you on the phone about my land and maybe hiring you.
It amazes me that neighborhood down the hill from all them big bucks every time I see it. Just amazing
I have a buck that I have been getting videos of irregularly and in different areas around a 100 acre section of public land. This is my third season hunting him and he’s at least 6 1/2 now. Wednesday evening I got a video of him making a scrape 30 minutes after shooting light. Do you have any tips on finding where he is bedding or how to get consistent game camera footage of him? Right now his locations and habits just seem random.
I wish qe had the deer like most states do. I live in west virginia mason county and there used to be alot of deer here but the amish moved in 20 years ago and they have killed everything i wish they would just move the hell away so the deer we have left will have a chance to grow into beautiful bucks. But with the amish here they will never have a chance
Some fantastic info on Scrape Hunting!! Thanks for posting such good information, Best of luck!
Your videos are great! About how high are you in the stand?
He says more hunting pressure will ruin The hunt which is not true at all with more hunting pressure deer move a little faster in the woods or hedgerows but deer move more with time pressure
Anyone from Indiana? God damn, it's going to Suck this year with all the blue tongue disease hit all our deer this year. I'm not seeing hardly ANY deer, what deer I see are all does and only seem them like10 - 15 mins before it's literally dark! Our tag limit is cut down from 4 deer to 2 deer; heard some of our county's are cut down to one deer.
All I gotta say, people out there, make sure you manage your deer heard wisely and don't kill no more then ya need! Or ya going to be in the position we hoosier state are in and ya literally going to to be in the stand for hours seeing nothing on endless on end!
more great info Jeff, thank you so much for sharing
The positioning of the mock scrape can also be used to give you the shot your looking for.
Awesome info again! Definitely agree with the advice to place them in active travel area! I’ve also noticed they get better year after year!
Another great video Sir, love seeing it from the stand, great information as always
Jeff, what did you plant in those new kill plots?
So I’m wondering what/how you elevated yourself to tie your vine on? I definitely agree doing it before a rain is the perfect time to do so during the open season.
A lot of the really used scrapes are they your mock scrapes to start with brother???????
Great video and some more good trail cam footage Jeff! Keep it coming! Have 3 on my parcel that has increased my daytime footage and sightings this year!!
That's awesome to hear 365! Will do my best 👍 good luck in the rut...coming soon 😉
Why no rubber gloves ?
What you need to do a video on how to hunt a piece of land when crops are in and cant get to your stand till crops are out
Jeff, I’ve used your mock scrape technique with great success this year as far as trail camera intel. I place them in deer traffic areas with the key being dark/dingy thick cover. Especially on Apple trees in thicker cover. What are your thoughts on setting them up on a big woods public land walk in, hunt the area for the night and than return 3 to 4 days later to hunt over the scrape again? I have a spot in mind of placing it downwind from a corner off a cutover, approx 75 yards into the woods. I’m thinking of giving it a try on my rut vacation.
Jeff do you leave your treestands up during the off-season ?
Did you name that unique little buck that’s in the video ? The one in the beginning...
Hi Drake! We typically start naming them at 2/3 years old...not him yet.
Boxer? Tough guy?
A fellow should make a leafy cover like the leafy suits they have. That would make it blend in.
How do you avoid doe factories if you are surrounded by soy bean fields?
Your content awesome and accurate to tee I’ve been following each video and hunting with your guidance, and now because of that I’ve got at least seven daylight mature bucks that I’m after with decent racks. Big question is what is the biggest key features of a property is should be looking for when buying land or leasing? Looking to step up the game a little next year.
Great video Jeff, what did you plant in those small plots? I have a few small plots that the deer seam to eat down to nothing.
Good Information Brother. I got my 1st deer sitting on one limb an standing on another on the edge of a cotton field. I was around 16 an now I’m almost 55 . No way I could do it now lol
June or July would have been a great time to post this video.
Please show how you hide your trail cameras so deer don’t see them. Thanks.
I was thanking that hunting pressure tells when the bucks use the scrapes
Jeff come to the up and help me find a good spot to hunt! Lol have a good day!
Ha, I will be right up 😁 Thanks and you have a great day too!
Jeff, I’ve had some great success with the mock vine this year. Had a real good buck that was hitting it regularly about 10 min before dark. Now due to hunting pressure ( public land) he is still hitting it very consistently but 15 to 20 min after dark. I know to talk about hunting the weather, so you think a cold front will bring it his buck to the scrape during shooting light ?
Damn it! I want your brilliant brain. Seems every video I watch of yours some clicks and I can’t wait to get back in the stand
What is ur take on the active scape bottles u can hang just curious on thought
How can I get in touch with you for some consulting work this upcoming winter? I’ve tried emailing but got no response. I’m in Ga
The man does not hunt state land
Not related to hunting scrapes but to pressure. Fair to ask the question here or do you prefer an email?
Oh Lord, Had so many Hours standing on Branches back in the day. Makes me sore thinking about it. Thank God for ladder stands. I.ve got to try your mock scrapes. Another Great video Jeff.
Tim Man...the good ole days. Kind of? Ha. Thank you and you have got to try them...
So basically don't hunt over scraps that are not your own?
Fastest I've ever clicked
Ha, thank you!
Public land in wisconsin sucks... There is no such thing as hunter ethics... Sad
Only if I had the money to have this genius evaluate my hunting spots
A lot to do with it
Has anyone ever had a camera destroyed by a deer rubbing on the tree that it was attached to?
What is the overhanging "limb" you use? Looks almost like rope. How is it attached above?
I had always thought the overhanging branch needed to be live.
Did you say you pee in them?
Yes for sure...I owe from my stand a lot too. Doesn't bother the deer in any way...
Just try to avoid taking a dump lol might freak them out a little
Well I’ve got a night vision scope on my AR that I could put on my crossbow lollllllllllllllllllllllllllll.
What do u mean you pee in your mock scrap? Lol I don't understand? Why would you do that?
Good video.. Sucks that we dont have a Jeff Sturgis for us in the south east where we aint surrounded by agg fields and neighbors spending big money on food plots and such. Just broken up parcels of land with only acorns to hone in on till there gone and local browse. Diffrent world for sure.. Love the videos,but 90% of viewers dont own land and cant follow your advice. Good luck this year. unsubscribed.
Not trying to sound rude and I watch all your videos but are you ok? Looking a little rough in this video.
Ha, thanks for the concern! Tired out, wore out and not much sleep...feeling rough too!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 , please get some rest, Jeff! You've been through a lot lately and deserve a break. Of course that's easier said than done this time of year!
@@kelvin0689 thank you very much for your xoncern...really appreciate it! Going to get some very soon - as in today. Can't wait 👍
you look tired
Man so true in that video! Proly just woke up from a nap ☺️
I’ve only been finding scrapes right next to each other this year
This guy is such a charlatan
Hey brother I just got my nephews deer head sent off to the taxidermist that does mine for me. His dad was in the two man stand with him he said my nephew bout jumped out of the stand when the deer he shot hit the ground. It tore my nephew all to pieces lollllllllll. It was his 1st deer 🦌. I’m headed home I’ll finish watching the rest of the video in a bit be safe GOD BLESS.