Do scrapes show a pattern of use over the hunting season?

Understanding Scrapes and Trail Camera Patterns

When analyzing trail camera photos and scrape activity over the hunting season, you’ll typically see a spike in visits and activity during the peak rutting season, usually around 7-10 days before the peak breeding date for your target species. This increased activity may persist for a short period after the peak breeding date before gradually decreasing.

Analyzing Scrapes with Trail Cameras

Place trail cameras at scrapes at a height of around 3-4 feet off the ground to capture photos from a more natural angle. Position the camera to capture a 6-8 second video clip with a minimum interval of 10-15 seconds between shots. Set the camera to take photos at night, as many species are most active under the cover of darkness, and you’ll capture clearer photos of the animal’s face and any antlers. Reviewing these photos will help you identify patterns of use, such as the most active times of day, and the number of visits by the same individual.

Identifying Patterns and Making Adjustments

When reviewing trail camera photos, look for the number of visits by the same individual, as well as any patterns in the timing of these visits. For example, if you notice that the same buck visits a scrape every morning at dawn, you may want to adjust your hunting plans to be in position by dawn. Keep in mind that weather conditions, such as rain or extreme cold, can impact the frequency and timing of visits to scrapes.