how often do bucks check their scrapes

Direct answer: Bucks commonly check and visit scrapes at night or during low- light periods, with daytime visits becoming more common during the pre-rut and rut as bucks search for does. The exact frequency varies by individual, pressure, habitat, and the time of year, but many mature bucks show peak scrape activity in the weeks leading up to the rut and tend to minimize daylight visits when hunting pressure is high. Uses of scrapes can occur year- round, but intensity and timing shift with testosterone and movement patterns. For a specific location, trail cameras and field observations are the best way to determine a particular buck’s scraping schedule.