Scrapes & Mock Scrapes
Category: hunting-strategy
Topic keys: rope-scrapes
Current guidance
As of 2024-12-15, the most recent claim on this subject.
The show recommends hanging rope scrapes early rather than waiting until closer to fall, letting them weather for months before scenting; Don has moved cameras and scented with a full bottle of Smokies lure once a year at that point. He favors ropes over grapevines, having had better luck with them, and suggests plain hemp or manila rope from a farm store over pre-packaged scent ropes. He credits Gene and Barry Wessel as the idea’s originators, which he later tweaked. Terry has said the common mistake is putting scrapes out too late, in August or September, and has urged hunters to cut rope now rather than wait.
How the guidance evolved
- 2020-09-08 Don reports their YouTube video about creating rope scrapes to take buck inventory was the most-watched video they’ve had yet. 77:46 — Episode #29 - Don previews some HIT LIST and UP-AND-COMER bucks while Terry is chasing a good buck in KY
- 2022-01-17 Don recommended hanging rope scrapes now so they have months to weather before next season instead of waiting until closer to fall. 20:01 — Episode #100 - Chasing Giants Episode 100 - Predator Control, Doe Factory, Moving Scrapes
- 2022-01-17 Terry said the common mistake hunters make with rope scrapes is putting them out too late, in August or September. 20:52 — Episode #100 - Chasing Giants Episode 100 - Predator Control, Doe Factory, Moving Scrapes
- 2022-01-17 Don said he’s tried both grapevines and ropes and has had much better luck with rope scrapes. 21:58 — Episode #100 - Chasing Giants Episode 100 - Predator Control, Doe Factory, Moving Scrapes
- 2022-01-17 Terry recommended hunters get off the couch and spend a half hour cutting rope now instead of waiting. 23:14 — Episode #100 - Chasing Giants Episode 100 - Predator Control, Doe Factory, Moving Scrapes
- 2023-09-03 Don scents his rope scrapes with an entire bottle of Smokies lure just once a year, right when he moves cameras for fall. 58:05 — Episode #185 - Bucks are starting to shift - Fall Plots, GET THEM IN
- 2024-09-01 Don credits Gene and Barry Wessel as the original creators of the rope scrape idea, which he later tweaked and helped promote. 43:57 — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…
- 2024-09-01 Don complains it’s a pet peeve that people promote hunting ideas they’ve never had success using themselves. 43:02 — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…
- 2024-09-01 Don recommends hanging rope scrapes right after season so they weather all summer before scenting them in fall, rather than using fresh ropes. 48:23 — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…
- 2024-12-15 Don recommends buying plain hemp or manila rope from a farm store rather than pre-packaged scent ropes for rope scrapes. 44:55 — Episode #252 - Don says, “THERE IS NO SECOND RUT!”
Questions on this topic
- Zane Baldwin from Hastings, Nebraska asks why deer stopped hitting his rope scrape after chewing the end frayed, and how to fix it. 39:58 — Episode #248 - Big Buck Down! Wes Delks Joins Us to Discuss UHAUL
- Brian asks if he can scent his aged rope scrapes now, in July, and hang a camera on them instead of waiting for fall. 37:12 — Episode 230 - Don says Switchgrass is not the best bedding.
- Zach Zimmerman asked whether rope scrapes and licking branches spread CWD via nose-to-nose contact more than a mineral site would. 41:30 — Episode #185 - Bucks are starting to shift - Fall Plots, GET THEM IN
- Terry asked whether hunters should aim for fewer, better scrapes rather than scattering many random scrapes across a property. 63:52 — Episode #185 - Bucks are starting to shift - Fall Plots, GET THEM IN
- Steve asks if Don makes mock scrapes and when he switches his cameras to them. 41:47 — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…
- Terry asks Don to address the person who rushes out to buy and hang a fresh rope scrape this week. 47:37 — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…
- An audience member asked what Don looks for with rope scrapes used as an inventory tool during the rut. 71:27 — Episode #110 - Double Episode live from Master Class - Al Foster gives great advise
- How many rope scrapes should you use on a property, or how many per acre? 44:08 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314
- An audience member asked whether the correct rope scrape height off the ground is two feet. 16:59 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH
- Todd Covey asked whether there’s a right or wrong time to reset a rope scrape once it’s been up for a year. 76:44 — Episode #58 - Burning Native Grass Tips and Great Questions from 3rd Master Class
Unofficial fan project. AI-synthesized from public episodes; may contain errors.