Troy Pottenger on Which Scrapes Mature Bucks Use in Daylight | Whitetail Research Podcast Ep. 7

- ONX Code --ONX CODE: https://webmap.onxmaps.com/purchase/hunt/membership?promo=wrIn this episode, I sit down with Troy Pottenger to talk about mature bucks, scrape behavior, and what separates the scrapes that consistently produce daylight activity from the ones that don’t.Troy has spent decades chasing mature whitetails, and we cover how he identifies high-value scrapes, how terrain and security cover influence daylight use, and what hunters should look for when trying to narrow down where an old buck may expose himself during shooting light.But this conversation goes well beyond scrapes.We also dive into predators and their relationship with deer, hunting pressure, mature buck behavior, what makes a 10+ year old buck, and some of Troy’s experiences in the mountains, including when he finds himself running after wolves to scare them away.It’s a wide-ranging conversation about whitetails, predators, woodsmanship, and what years of paying attention in the woods can teach you.If you’re interested in mature bucks, scrape behavior, and understanding why deer do what they do, I think you’ll enjoy this one.-- PODCAST LINKS --YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@WhitetailResearch/podcastsSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mi77ulOaYycrAi0Cro1Zn?si=5sVK2exTR0GhCfkPecZaOwAPPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whitetail-research/id1875766041--WTR LINKS---PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/WhitetailResearchLearn more: https://whitetailresearch.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/whitetailresearchWebsite: hhtps://whitetailresearch.com-- Video Chapters --0:00 Intro — Troy Pottenger0:57 Why Are Mature Bucks Bedding With Fawns?10:20 Coyotes, Fawns & Predator Behavior17:34 Are Humans Really the Apex Predator?30:45 Troy’s Whitetail Hunting Philosophy39:52 How Hunting Pressure Changes Mature Bucks48:49 How Does an 11½-Year-Old Buck Survive?1:00:34 Do Old Bucks Teach Younger Bucks?1:11:50 Human Pressure, Safe Zones & Mature Deer1:23:26 Keeping Bucks “Biologically Driven” Through Scrapes1:31:05 True Community Scrapes1:52:59 How Troy Chooses Mock Scrape Locations1:58:50 How Mature Bucks Use Scent During the Rut2:10:11 The 190-Inch Buck & Mock Scrape Case Study2:18:02 Building a Killable Setup: Access, Wind & Thermals2:31:22 How Many Sits Before the Kill?2:41:18 Sliding Your Scent Past Mature Bucks2:44:45 Should You Hunt Field-Edge Scrapes?2:50:59 Trail Cameras: Confirmation, Not Dependency