Licking Stick/Mock Scrape

[Bush_84]

Hello all.  My question is what the licking stick should be made out of.  I see that a vine is always a big suggestion, but I'm not sure I've seen a vine that big.  I've got some grapes, but those are still pretty small.  I don't have pine.  What I do have a lot of are maple, ash, and elm.  I've also got a good sized willow in the back that I'm going to likely need to trim soon.  I do have an oak and a couple of apple trees, but none of those are in a place where I could take a branch that size off of them.  I do have a few vines but none of them are the size that I've seen recommended for a licking stick.  So is it better to deal with a smaller vine or more appropriate size elm branch?

[dakids]

Following,   never did this.  I have found a blanch hanging over one of our mowed trails.  Scraped the dirt with my boot.  Pee in the scrap and hung a trail cam.  Works a lot.

[Boar]

Ive never done it ethier but most scrapes ive observed have a licking branch over head to rub there eye glands and nibble it a bit and deposite saliva about it, yheve neve been mor tha maybe a pencil size at the biggest

[deadeye]

Do deer use an available licking branch. I tried a couple this year.

This is the buck I shot last Saturday. I did not shoot it from this stand
as the wind was wrong for it. Never hunted this stand all season due to
unfavorable wind.

[Bush_84]

It's one of those simple things in addition to a watering hole that I plan on implementing on my small property.  I know where I want it, but I just want to make sure I'm doing it right. 

[Leech~~]

I watched a video on making them on Youtube and it worked every time.  Can't believe I forgot to try I this year! 

[Bush_84]

According to Jeff sturgis most of his stands have a mock scrape and water hole.

[Steve-o]

Those are amazing photos, DE.  I might have to try that up in the Land of 10,000 Wolves next season. 

[Bush_84]

So now that we have all decided that we want to install licking branches lets decide what we want to make them out of lol. 

[Steve-o]

Based on the size of the branch DE used, I'm guessin a hockey stick might work. 

[Bush_84]

Lol.  Now that the leaves are gone I might go scouting again for a vine.  If I can't find one I'll just grab something and put it out there. 

[deadeye]

I'm not sure why but for some reason they like a "vine". I read somewhere the vines have a distinct odor. Who knows why but I got tons of pictures and videos of deer by them. Some does and small bucks are actually frightened by them but the just can't help coming back for another sniff.