I'm in NOVA and usually hunt small private land in MD, so I'll have an MD hunting license.
Anyone here from the area hunt or interested in hunting Sika deer this coming season?
I'm interested in experiences, advice, and anyone who's looking to join up for a hunt. I have no private land in that area of MD so we're talking publiuc land ... from what i understand it's gonna be buggy, wet, and generally tough hunting ... sounds perfect.
I have always wanted to get me a Sika deer! I'll be keeping up with this thread.
Blaine, I figure since I always end up shooting 75lb deer, this way when I shoot a 75lber it wont be as disappointing haha
From what I understand, between the smell of the poop ( wild horses I think ) and the bugs, it's not a very pleasant experience, but what the hey, go do and see for yourself.
Good luck.
Yes. It's terrible. You'd hate it! Don't bother. He he.
Go to Maryland Whitetails.com website and check out "the wallow". A wealth of info there. Assateague Island is not the only, nor the best place to hunt Sika on the eastern shore. PM me and I'll send you link the wallow if you can't find it.
Only place you will get that pony smell is Assateaque and there are Sikas there but not as thick as Steve Kendrots backdoor...He's the Sika expert at Blackwater and if you run into Steve you better follow his footprints cause he has some "honey holes" I hear...I'm about 1/2 hour from Steves place and for a batch of blackberrie cobbler or a napped arrowhead I'll point out his house for ya's....Kind of like a drive by and I'll say there he is type of thing :archer:
Sounds like you heard right! I went for the first time last season and will say it's definitely not for everyone. There is a sulfur smell at Blackwater, maybe that's what someone was referring to?
Tried them once. Had a spike under me but property had a forked antler rule. Very neat and tasty creatures!
I'm in! I' generally make the trek a few times a year anyway, and it would be a pleasure to hunt with a fellow TGer. Those bugles are haunting to say the least! I've yet to have one agree with being arrowed, but they are an absolute blast to hunt. Get in touch, and we'll make some plans.
Matt Whitehair
443 480 9044
I'm going to try and hunt them more this year as well. For you out of state guys if you want to save some cash on hotel rental I live just over an hour away from sika country
Buggy is a huge understatement!!! Saltmarsh mosquitoes are very, very aggressive, Thermo-cell is a must.
75# is a big sika. Look for a chocolate Lab or a Chesapeake coming off of the marsh. If you compare them to a whitetail, you'll pass on the shot.
SHOOT!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/yohon/Stag-1.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/yohon/media/Stag-1.jpg.html)
Dont shoot ;)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/yohon/IMG_0592_zps9cb87de5.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/yohon/media/IMG_0592_zps9cb87de5.jpg.html)
On second thought if you want THE best tastin venison known to man...you might reconsider!! Keefer would probably miss something that small :saywhat:
Looks like a winner either way Yohon. The second one would be easier to get out :biglaugh:
oops double post
I did a DYI @ Blackwater last year-- didn't manage to shoot one but it was very cool hearing their sounds and I did call in a stag at one point. It took a day or 2 to get my bearings-- it's a huge place. I am going back this year but with DOA Outfitters (Joe Walsh) who has access to some private land. Definitely worth a try. I noticed the Refuge filled up with hunters on the weekend-- if you can go midweek you'll have it to yourself. PS I'm taking a climber this time--gotta get above that marsh grass.
So, what's the story on them?
How'd they get there? Open to non-resident aliens? Yeah, I'm an alien!
Hopewell Tom,check this link:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/naturalresource/summer2003/sika.html
I am moving there in January. You can count me in next year! I will be chasing sikas for sure.
Yohan,
You rascal you I saw that little comment you threw in there ...I was just beginning to like ya..... a little :readit: :biglaugh:
One of the best parts of hunting Sika....a complete sunrise!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/yohon/Openingmorn.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/yohon/media/Openingmorn.jpg.html)
Hey guys what type of Sika deer do you have in MD looks like a japanese sika due to there small size, S.Texas has several different breeds [4] and the DYbowski sika [biggest] can get up 275pounds down here with big horns.
Ours were brought here from Asia some time ago...The Mini Sika's but they are fun to hunt if you can get on some private land....The public can get overcrowded at times I hear...I used to hunt Assateaque with some fella's back in the early 80's till mid 90's and things have changed down there but Blackwater is the place and Yohan and Steve Really knows the area to go....I think Steve has done a lot of homework on the public areas and YOHAN has some hideaways he keeps to himself but I know what he drives and have some good friends in the D.N.R. that can help me locate him if need be..... :goldtooth:
Ben- I have a buddy who lives in MD and nails sika every year. But he's one of those guys who went from compound to crossbow....not a trad shooter.
I do get an MD license every year, too, so I can get over there for a few whitetail hunts. If I get one this year and we can figure out the details, I'd be interested.
Doug
Keefer is your Sika rut mid Sept in MD. I have shot 2 good Sika bucks before during our whitetail season and there is nothing better then hearing them bugle at sunrise. Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up :bigsmyl:
Our Sika rut seems to peak mid October. Our Sika are the smallest subspecies. I've seen only a handful that dressed over 100 lbs. I'd love to go to Texas and hunt the really BIG Sika.
You take that pretty sunrise and add in the sounds that Sika make during the rut and your days has been made!!!!! :knothead:
Doug, sounds good man, just keep in touch about it.
Uhhh. Stop talking about 'em, I'm gettin chills.
Highly addictive if you love the marsh.
That 90# and 70# weight in the link above is VERY optimistic. I haven't seen many break 75# in 35 years of hunting them. Most are 40-55#. I did shoot a doe (hind if you like hifalootin terms) that weighed 61#, one of the biggest does I've seen at our place.
If you get a crack at ANY Sika with your traditional bow take it. It still will be a trophy. If you read stuff on marylandwhitetail.com they lead you to believe 6 point stags are behind every phragmites bush in the marsh. Not so.
Quiet bows are super important. I shot one this year on the third attempt. First arrow hit a tree, second arrow was flat out ducked at 15 yards, he came back to see where the commotion was coming from and ate the third one....but he still ducked and it took him through the neck and down the length of the body. Went 60 yards with an arrow exit beside its tail.
Pound for pound, absolutely the toughest animal I have pursued, and that includes hogs. I've seen too many walk away in the short time I've hunted them.
Oh Man! Went once with Mike last year and I will definitely be back!
(//%5B/url%5D%20%20%5Burl=http://s481.photobucket.com/user/two4hooking/media/101512013.jpg.html%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/two4hooking/101512013.jpg) (http://s481.photobucket.com/user/two4hooking/media/101512013.jpg.html) (http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/two4hooking/sika1.jpg) (http://s481.photobucket.com/user/two4hooking/media/sika1.jpg.html)
x2 on the sunrise!
(http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/two4hooking/101512008.jpg) (http://s481.photobucket.com/user/two4hooking/media/101512008.jpg.html)
Won't happen for me this year but I'll get after Sika sooner than latter. Love the pictures!
:campfire:
The best one liner I have heard about killin a nice Sika is that "you and him are both going to be wet" ;) One of my all time favorites pixs that points that out....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/yohon/IMG_0512.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/yohon/media/IMG_0512.jpg.html)
Try Taylors Island, I had a lease there for a number of years. You'll need to take a ride and talk to locals . Great whitetail hunting as well.
Mr. Palmer knows a thing or two about sikas. Love that pic.
Don't let this happen to you. My buddy was rifle hunting and shot a deer. I was bowhunting and he called me on the radio at dark to come pick him and deer up. He took the wrong path out and resulted in a long wet dark walk home and a lost armguard and duraglove for me.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Hunting/IMG_1996.jpg)
Never got stuck in my boots. Marsh and motors don't mix! A few from over the years.
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/skendrot/IMG_2635.jpg)[/URL]
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/skendrot/IMG_2630.jpg)[/URL]
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/skendrot/IMG_2064.jpg)[/URL]
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/skendrot/IMG_2071.jpg)[/URL]
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/skendrot/071020_003.jpg)[/URL]
The one that got away....
(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d83/skendrot/IMG_0091_C.jpg)[/URL]
Steve,
I think I remember that stag on the bike!!
I know I do Phil! How's the bow making going? Just finishing up my first self bow. Hope to take a stag with it!!
The one that got away is a stud
Thanx for sharing....
Looks like the hide would be neat looking tanned...
Actually. The one that got away was gotten by a buddy on opening day of early muzz.
Beautiful critters. How in the world do you hunt them? Calling, food sources?
They have vocalizations similar to an elk and respond pretty well to calling. They love corn, but like their feet wet at the same time so you've got to be creative (pallets with carpet and a barrel out in the marsh works). Trails are easy to find, but look like they were made by rabbits.
Last year I waited at the waters edge until I could hear them moving and then tried to cut them off. Tree stands are best probably cause the terrain is thick. They're flighty and nervous, but seem more curious than a WT.
This will only be my third or fourth year hunting them so I'm still kind of a rookie. From what I've seen, think elk......and I've never hunted elk. They also use wallows.
I've found that they have a tendency to not stick to trails as much as whitetails, instead wander through general areas. If you can find a discernable trail being used then by all means hunt it. But since a lot of the hunting area is under water trails are hard to identify.
Public land does not allow baiting but most private lands surrounding it are heavily baited most of the season.
My son (16yr old) won 3 day hunt w/ an outfitter through the PA Longbow Association. We'll be headed down in mid November, anything special we should take or do to prepare.
Steve great photos! Looks like you have had pretty good luck chasing these guys. That last one is a monster!