Spring has certainly been unpredictable throughout March. However, I’ve noticed that deer communication at my scrapes has been happening consistently every day. Does, yearlings, and bucks have been interacting with the BuckStik products that I enhanced with Head-Scratcher Gland Lure. My SpyPoint cameras have been working overtime as the deer become familiar with one another and identify who has survived the winter.
Not Playing
Many hunters who watch this video may think that the deer is simply playing with the BuckRope. However, the young deer is actually using its salivary gland to interact with the scrape. Deer often take a licking branch or, in this case, a rope, and put it in their mouth. After the deer releases the rope, it begins to work the scrape with its preorbital gland. This behavior allows the young deer to communicate with other deer that will visit the rope scrape later.
Slow and Meticulous
During the fall, deer are pumped up with testosterone and energetically work on scrapes. In contrast, in the spring, they take their time and approach scrapes more slowly. I believe they do this because they produce less secretion from their forehead glands during that season. In the video, the deer is carefully working the BuckVine using its preorbital gland, followed by its forehead gland. It appears that the deer is quite relaxed, enjoying a sense of calmness as it interacts with the scrape.
Evening Visitor
A strategically placed scrape can attract deer year-round. Recently, a young buck visited one of my scrapes just as the sun was setting. He was drawn in by the rye grass in my food plots and took some time to work on a few of my scrapes. The video quality from the SpyPoint Flex Dark camera is outstanding, making it easy to get hooked on watching deer.
Buck or Doe
Setting up a trail camera near a scrape is an effective way to identify bucks and does in the spring. From the footage, it’s clear that a buck has recently shed its antlers. You can still see definition in its neck and the spots where the antlers once were. The larger body size suggests that this buck is either 2.5 or 3.5 years old, but I believe he is more likely in the 2.5 age class.
Still Holding On
Even though it’s nearly the end of March, some bucks still haven’t dropped both of their antlers yet. I enjoy watching videos of bucks interacting with scrapes and urinating in them before moving on. In the video, you can see a buck working on the minirope before pausing to relieve himself. This buck is still carrying one side of his antlers. As a 2.5-year-old, he made it through the season and will be a stunning 3.5-year-old this fall. I’m excited to see him grow his velvet over the summer.
Be sure to watch for another edition of “From The Scrape” in April. I am hoping to get some velvet footage at my scrapes. If you are interested in the gland lure I use, check it out at the link below.
Head-Scratcher Gland Lure – https://www.litfoutdoors.com/product-page/head-scratcher-gland-lure
