Scrapes, Woodsmanship, and Faith with Chad Whitcomb of Backyard Scents This episode is a deep, practical conversation about deer scrapes, mock scrapes, signpost rubs, camera strategy, and how to read deer behavior through the season. Chad Whitcomb of Backyard Sense brings a woodsmanship-first approach shaped by hunting public land in Massachusetts, years of observation, and a faith-driven perspective on hunting and life. We also discuss how to use scent as communication, why discipline matters more than chasing every new camera pull, and how bucks and does each play a role in scrape activity leading into the rut. Key topics In this episode, Chad Whitcomb shares how hunting in Massachusetts, one of the toughest deer states he knows, shaped his patience, scouting style, and respect for every piece of sign. Chad explains why he prefers morning sits, especially on cold fronts when deer movement and scrape activity can change quickly. We discuss ecohabitats and natural lines in the woods, especially transitions like oak flats into hemlocks, where rubs, scrapes, and travel routes often overlap. Chad breaks down mock scrapes as an intel tool first, but also as a hunting setup when placed with broadside shooting lanes and the right licking branch height. He stresses that a complete scrape setup includes three things: the scrape itself, the licking branch, and a rub or signpost element nearby. Chad shares his belief that does are highly important to scrape activity, especially when matriarch does and mature does work licking branches and leave scent. We discuss how he keeps scrapes fresh without over-pressuring a spot, using natural materials, minimal intrusion, and sometimes leaving scrapes untouched for months. Chad explains why discipline matters more than constantly chasing new camera intel, and why staying with a hot scrape can beat leapfrogging from spot to spot. He goes deep on learning a buck’s personality through video, including how timid bucks, dominant bucks, and intruder bucks respond differently to calling and scent. Chad outlines how he uses scent all season and why he believes scent creates calmness and communication rather than just attraction. We also talk about signpost rubs, how they function like community communication hubs, and why they can be especially valuable when paired with scent and cameras. Chad closes with a woodsmanship mindset: respect the land, leave it better than you found it, and be a better steward for future hunters and the next generation.
