sika deer?

[skimerhorn]

Bagged a nice 9 point whitetail this year and now looking for something else to try. I live in va so was looking for something not terribly far. I was looking online and saw hunts in md for soma deer. I've ne er seen one and don't know anything about them. Can anybody give me any info? How big do they get? Are they worth giving a try? Has anyone been to md and tried them or hunted them anywhere else?

 

[havgunwilltravel]

I've hunted them in a couple of different locations. Pretty switched on in areas where they get lots of pressure, a sneaky deer that takes a while to get to truly understand their vocalisation...rut hunting is fun (as with most species i suppose.) as the males will give away their locations, but generally takes good patient stalking to get a look at them in the bush/forest type habitat.
Interested to hear the updates if you do go for a look at them.

 

[devon deer]

We have them in the UK, bloody things will mate and cross breed with our indigenous red deer.
If they ever turn up in the place where i live they will get some lead!
Having said that they are about the size of a white tail, perhaps a little larger, but they are really tough to put down.
Cheers
Richard

 

[mixedbag]

I've hunted them for a few seasons years ago.Very tough deer to bowhunt.Best places to hunt for them is in the marsh.they are very small with average live weight of 70lbs.Gun hunting in the marsh is the best way to get one,or even putting on drives thru the marsh.You usually need hip boots to get to the best sika deer spots.They whistle like an elk in Oct.,but don't rut as hard as whitetails with all the chasing.They basically call the does to them which makes hunting the rut as tough as any other time.Best bet in a gun hunt and get very high in a tree,if you can find one,and look down into the marsh.They are smaller then the marsh grass so you have to be high to even see one moving.Little woodlots connecting the marshes are also good and the best places to bowhunt them.Baiting is legal on private land in Maryland and is really the most effective way of having a chance.Alot of cheap outfitters to chose from on the eastern shore.Late season is suppose to be best as they hit the baits better;late archery/muzzleloader seasons
Good luck,all I've ever done is miss those little suckers both with gun and bow.I'll be back hunting them again next year and every year till I get one since its affordable and challenging.The usually don't get bigger then 3 points per side in the wild.so if you have a chance at a 6 point,take it,as thats a trophy sized sika deer

 

[devon deer]

Mixedbag, your Sika must be smaller than ours, the Sika stag can go to 160lb.
6 points is usual but they can have up to 8 points.
We call them the whistling deer as they make a ghostly whistle during the rut.
Cheers
Richard

 

[skimerhorn]

According to what I saw on a website they only get between 2-3 ft tall and only weigh about 70lbs

 

[mdhunter]

We have them here on Marylands Eastern Shore. The rut is before the whitetails in mid October. They are definitely fun to hunt when they are out bugling like elk.

Without a doubt they are a delicacy. Much better to eat that whitetails and certainly easier to drag out. Give it a try!

Check out the Assateague Island National Seashore. You can actually hunt them in the marshes just off the ocean. A truely unique experience for sure.