The licking branch is key component of a whitetail scrape. The chemistry involving it is at least as important as the chemistry on the ground below it. Rarely if ever will an outdoorsman locate a naturally existing scrape and not observe a licking branch in place as well. For a long time, hunters have resorted to using urine based products to treat the licking branches above the scrapes they have either created or attempted to heat up. MDR Outdoor Group recognized this empty niche in the whitetail hunter’s arsenal and has produced what we believe to be the ultimate licking branch treatment in Branch Magic. We begin by removing the pre-orbital and forehead glands from harvested whitetail bucks. These are very small and certainly require some careful dissection, but it’s worth it! We follow this with a delicate extraction process in which we isolate the desired hormones from the glands. This extract is then blended with an odorless gel to provide the perfect consistency for brush-on application. This gel goes on the branch smooth and holds there for extended periods. The range of effectiveness is at least several days in wet periods and up to several weeks in dry weather. A hunter can expect to be able to treat at least 10 scrape licking branches and up to two dozen depending on the amount he applies to each. We recommend “painting” an area of the branch approximately 6 inches of length. The uses for this product are unlimited. Scrapes are certainly what it was marketed to address, but adding to a rub or just on a tree of branch along a deer trail can be effective. All deer in the area will find this odor interesting. Hunters who open the bottle are sometimes disappointed it lacks the strong smell of many of the deer urine products they have purchased in the past. A whitetail’s glandular hormones do not possess strong odors, but are very mild, almost sweet in character. Oftentimes these are undetectable to humans, but watch how a deer perks right up when it comes across it! For the hunter looking to do scrape type work with Branch Magic or any other hunting product, remember there is nothing more important than paying attention to human scent and it’s accidental exposure to the area you are placing the attractants. Rubber boots and a good scent destroyer are absolutely essential. Be very careful about coming in contact with the surrounding braches and weed growth whenever possible. You cannot be too careful. Those hunters looking to make mock scrapes should look for the following scenario: level, fairly dry ground, a downward hanging branch 4-5 feet off the ground where you will apply the Branch Magic (an evergreen branch is considered superior by some if it’s available), and preferable upwind of your stand sight. Pay attention to the prevailing westerly wind direction as well as how the thermals in your hunting area will be moving in the morning or evening when the winds are light. You can throw away a lot of good work and a chance at a big buck by being upwind of him when your trying for that perfect shot. Once the sight of the scrape is identified, use a modified garden tool, a stick, or even your boot to expose a 3-5 ft. circle of bare ground. Next treat this ground with a tarsal, plain doe urine, or dominant buck urine based product depending on the animal you plan to pursue and the time of year it is. Both 24SEVEN Early Buck and 24SEVEN Dominant Buck are great for this application as is our 24SEVEN Unscented using another company’s liquid scent. You will now apply the Branch Magic to the licking branch above. Refresh your scents once a week. Hunters often think they don’t’ want to start scrapes until mid-October, but several studies have been done showing the most effective time to start a mock scrape is mid-August to mid-September. Bucks may not work the ground hard or at all at these times, but they are urinating and leaving head gland hormones at the site in anticipation of what’s to come. Too many scrape hunters have observed mixed results in the past having only treated their sites with ground chemistry. Be one of the hunters using complete scrape chemistry this fall, use Branch Magic!