Over the past week, the activity at my scrapes has been nonstop. As bucks finish their lockdown period with the does they have bred, they are traveling to new areas in search of their next estrus doe. My SpyPoint cameras have detected many new bucks stopping by the scrapes, introducing themselves to the local deer. This is a fascinating time of year when a big buck can appear and disappear in the same day. Check out the action from the scrape!
Work It!
The first new buck to appear at one of my scrapes this week showed up around 1 AM. This mature 8-point buck entered my rye food plot and approached the BuckStik. He worked on the top of the BuckStik before smelling the forehead strip to check for scent markings from other deer that have visited the scrape. Before leaving, he ensured to leave his interdigital scent on the ground. This is a beautiful 8-point buck that I hope will stick around.
Nemesis
My neighbor has been hunting a buck he calls his “Nemesis” for the past three years. This buck is wise and mature, boasting a wide eight-point rack. He tends to disappear for long stretches, making him even more challenging to hunt. This year, I captured one of the first videos of Nemesis. It’s impressive to see his long main beams and the unique “potato chip” feature on the back of his left beam. Nemesis typically shows up in the middle of November to mate with does, then vanishes like Keyser Söze.
New 9
The New 9 appeared at the natural vine scrape on my property. You can see flakes of snow falling as he works the vine. The mature buck followed my scrape line and hit multiple scrapes while passing through my land in search of an estrus doe. The New 9 is an impressive young buck with significant potential. It’s an incredible sight to behold in the middle of November.
Perfect 10
A beautiful, perfect 10-point buck showed up this week to work the BuckVine. I sent a video of him to all my neighbors to see if anyone recognized this buck, but no one had seen him before. I’m not sure where he came from, but he really seemed to enjoy the Buckvine and was actively searching for a doe to breed. Just imagine how impressive this buck could become next year if he makes it through the Pennsylvania Rifle Season!
Early Today
I know this buck well, but I’m not used to seeing him so far from his core area. Last year, this unique buck had a drop tine and successfully survived the 2024 hunting season. Now that he is one year older and more mature, he seems to be traveling farther in search of estrous does. I hope he returns to his core area before the Pennsylvania Rifle Season begins after Thanksgiving. I would love to see this buck in person, not just on video. Although my PA tag is filled, both of my kids are excited for the upcoming Pennsylvania Rifle Season.
What will next week bring as bucks continue to chase does? Stay tuned to see what is happening in the deer woods. I look forward to the upcoming events. If you are interested in trying a Rope Scrape, take advantage of Buckstik’s 10% discount on their BuckRope and many other products. Head over to the website and use the code: Bowhunting10