About Sika deer…
Britain is blessed to have 6 species of deer present for the hunter (in increasing order of size; Muntjac, Chinese Water Deer, Roe, Fallow, Sika and Red), but none are as secretive and sought after as the Sika (Cervus Nippon).
Having been introduced to wealthy owner’s deer parks in the 19th century from Japan, like Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer, they quickly escaped and established themselves in wild populations across the country. They are now found in pockets across the UK and Ireland, the best-known populations are in Dorset in the south of England and in various locations in Scotland.
Fully grown stags weigh between 40 and 70 kilograms, while hinds typically weigh 30 to 45 kilograms. In comparison, the average adult man in Britain has a height of 1.77 meters and weighs 79 kilograms.
Sika deer share similarities with fallow deer in terms of their coat colour. Their fur ranges from pale yellow/brown to red/brown during the summer months, transitioning to dark grey and black in winter. A distinct dark-coloured dorsal stripe often runs along their backs, while their tails are shorter compared to fallow deer, and the black stripe is less prominent. Additionally, noticeable white glands are present on the hind legs of sika deer, and they possess a distinct white rump.
Relative to their body size, sika deer have small heads. Their antlers are spaced widely, with the forward points angled at approximately 45° from the main antler beam. Sika deer typically have a maximum of 8 points on their antlers, while hinds do not grow antlers.
The tracks of sika deer resemble those of red deer but are slightly smaller in length, measuring approximately 7 centimetres, and narrower.
The best time to hunt Sika stags are in the rut, which usually occurs at the end of September into the beginning of October, although this varies slightly each year depending on the weather and temperatures. Mating strategies in sika deer are influenced by their environment. Stags commonly defend rutting territories, similar to Fallow deer. They may also adopt harem-holding behaviour when a group of hinds has been assembled. Alternatively, males may gather to form a lek or wander throughout the range of hinds in search of receptive mates.
Sika deer are well-known for their diverse range of vocalizations. They produce various sounds, including groans from stags, clacking noises, whistles, and screams. These vocalizations serve different purposes and are used in various situations. Both males and females bark when alarmed.
The hunting opportunity…
This June, we are pleased to offer the opportunity to hunt these magnificent animals on a historic Scottish estate, well known for both the numbers and quality of its deer. The stalking on offer will comprise of two days hunting, comprised of both a morning hunt and an evening hunt on both days. If you are lucky enough, there is the opportunity to take a stag on each day, with no limits on size.
With Sika being one of the rarer wild species to hunt in Europe, this presents a rare chance to experience the thrill of stalking these secretive and impressive animals.
Whilst normally our hunt giveaways are only for our PRO members, this time we would like to reward our first PLUS members by including them too!
On the 30th June all PLUS and PRO members will be entered into our hunt giveaway, so if you haven’t upgraded yet, now is the time to do so! Not only will you gain the chance to win the hunt of a lifetime, but you will also gain the ultimate hunting toolset in your pocket to improve both your hunting and your hunting area management.
If you are already a PLUS or PRO users, check out our Instagram or Facebook accounts to see how to increase your chances of winning too…
