We’re now one full week into October, and things are heating up quickly. Mornings and evenings in Northwest Pennsylvania have been cool, while daytime temperatures have reached into the 80s. Fortunately, the first cold front of the year arrived yesterday, significantly increasing activity at the scrape and in the surrounding areas. The best action is still to come as we move closer to Halloween.
Sorting Things Out
Early morning meetings at scrapes have occurred frequently this week. Bucks are spending more time visiting scrapes, traveling, and establishing their hierarchy. Some bucks have already been removed from the area due to hunters harvesting them. The dynamics among the bucks continually shift throughout October as some are taken while new ones arrive to compete for the title of “Big Guy” on campus. This is an excellent time to sit near or above a scrape.
Passing Through
New bucks have been showing up at my scrapes more frequently this week. Farmers are busy cutting beans and corn, which means food sources are changing again, and bucks will be on the lookout for easy meals. As bucks travel, they make their presence known to other bucks in the area. This is one of the main reasons I love inside corner scrapes; bucks can’t resist a well-placed inside corner scrape, and they are naturally drawn to them. Having a camera on an inside corner scrape can help you determine when it’s active. You need to be ready to go in, hunt that stand, and hopefully tag a nice buck.
Same Scrape, Different Bucks, Same Result
Even when the temperature was in the 60s, these two bucks were sparring at the scrape. Their body sizes suggest they are the same age. The 8-point buck has an advantage due to its larger rack, but I have seen smaller-racked bucks defeat larger ones on many occasions. The urge to breed hasn’t kicked in yet, but that will happen very soon. If these two meet again in a few weeks, their fight could be intense and potentially deadly.
Becoming Numero Uno
After a dominant buck in an area is killed, the remaining bucks quickly become aware of the change. They realize that the dominant buck is no longer visiting scrapes or roaming through their territory. Bucks can tell because the scent from the interdigital gland, which he leaves on the ground while walking, is no longer present. I harvested TT8 on the farm on October 4th, and it didn’t take long for an 8-point buck to start actively visiting all the scrapes. The cool temperatures have encouraged this buck to roam at night to check the scrapes. I believe he is trying to establish himself as the new dominant buck on the farm. There are several 3.5-year-old bucks on this property, and contenders from neighboring areas will also be moving in. For now, this buck appears to be very active on the farm.
Daytime Sparring
Well, look who it is! The 8-point buck that visited the scrape at 3 AM is back again. The cool air has really got him energized to claim the number one spot. I have multiple videos of him coming to the scrape and feeding at the food pot within a 24-hour period. As you can see, the other buck doesn’t want to confront him right now. I’m eager to see who will step up to become the number one buck on this farm.
Scraping and Rub-Urinating
What happens when it rains and then a cold front moves in? Typically, it leads to increased activity at scrapes. We experienced a full day of rain before the current cold front arrived. As a result, leaves fall into the scrapes, and bucks work diligently to keep them fresh. The ground is no longer rock-hard, allowing bucks to easily dig and refresh the scrape. Notice how this buck rub-urinates after creating the scrape, while another buck looks on, waiting for his turn.
I can’t wait to see what the bucks do at the scrape next week; I am sure the action will be a bit more intense!
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