| Obviously, when the word deer is mentioned, most | | | | Wildlife and heritage service biologists initiated a |
| of us think of whitetails, since they are the most | | | | tagging study in 1988 to obtain important information |
| predominant deer species in North America. But over | | | | on harvest rates, longevity, and movements of Sika |
| the past few decades there has been another deer | | | | deer. The average distance traveled by Sika males |
| that has received a lot of attention by hunters, | | | | (stags), as measured by comparing tagging location |
| biologists and wildlife viewers. | | | | to recovery location, was 2.7 miles. Sika females |
| The Sika deer is a nonnative species and is not | | | | (hinds) were recovered an average of 1.3 miles from |
| related to our Sika black tails of the northwest and | | | | the tagging location. Supprisingly, some of these |
| Alaska. The Sika's I'm referring to are actually more | | | | tagged deer were still alive 10+ years later. |
| closely related to our native elk. They are not native | | | | Hunting Options |
| to North America but originate in Japan, Taiwan and | | | | As far as hunting the Sika deer, you have a couple |
| eastern Asia. Captive Sika's have been reported in 34 | | | | choices. You can go on your own and hunt public or |
| states in the U.S. with wild populations found in | | | | private land or go with an outfitter. I have done all of |
| Texas, Virginia and Maryland's eastern shore. | | | | the above from hunting the vast public and private |
| It has been reported that Clement Henry, an eastern | | | | marshlands on my own, to hunting with an outfitter. |
| shore resident, released five or six Sika deer in 1916 | | | | All of which are not bad options, just depends on |
| on James Island in the Chesapeake Bay. Then in the | | | | how much you want to spend and how much time |
| 1920's, some of the Henry stock was released onto | | | | you have on your hands. |
| Assateague Island. | | | | Guided hunts are relatively inexpensive as compared |
| Over the years, the deer have moved onto the | | | | to other big game hunts such as, whitetails or mule |
| mainland of Maryland, taking up home in the marshes | | | | deer. If you have never hunted Sika's and don't live |
| and wetlands of the lower eastern shore. Today, | | | | close enough to get over there to scout prior to |
| Sika deer inhabit Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset | | | | hunting, then a guided hunt is a good option, at least |
| and Worchester counties of Maryland with the | | | | for your first go at hunting Sika's. If you do have the |
| highest concentrations in southern Dorchester | | | | time to scout, then going on your own may be for |
| County. | | | | you. Obviously it's not that easy to find private land |
| The Sika males are called stags and females referred | | | | to hunt but there are acres and acres of public land |
| to as hinds. Both of which are very vocal, especially | | | | available to hunt Sika deer and some of this public |
| during the rut. The Sika is more closely related to our | | | | land is as good, if not better than many private |
| native elk then whitetails, therefore they are one of | | | | places. |
| the most vocal of all the deer species. During the fall | | | | The one thing you'll have to understand is the |
| and early winter breeding period, stags can be heard | | | | environment is quite different than that of whitetail |
| bugling across the marsh, with most of this occurring | | | | habitat. The salt marshes of the lower eastern shore |
| early in the morning and at dusk. Hinds also vocalize | | | | are where the Sika deer call home. Though |
| using soft bleats and whistles to communicate with | | | | sometimes there range will overlap with the whitetail, |
| other females and their young. | | | | they primarily spend most of their time in the marsh. |
| They differ from whitetails in appearance in size and | | | | This environment is more like the everglades of |
| color. Adult Sikas will stand about 2 ½ feet at | | | | Florida then the open hardwoods and thickets of |
| the rump and have proportionally shorter snouts, legs | | | | whitetail country we all know and love. |
| and ears. Adult stags weigh around 90lbs., with | | | | Obviously with marshes you have water, and lots of |
| mature hinds weighing around 60lds. There coat is a | | | | it, knee boots is a must with hip boots being required |
| reddish brown during the summer months and a dark | | | | in many cases. With water you get mosquitoes, |
| chestnut to almost black during the winter months. | | | | (notice I typed mosquitoes, which is plural), bug |
| Stags are typically darker and have a shaggy main | | | | repellent, a Thermacel or a bug suit is in order for this |
| around their neck. They will also keep their white | | | | adventure. I will be honest; some who have ventured |
| spots into adulthood which are most noticeable during | | | | to Sika country left a few pints lighter and have no |
| the summer. Unlike whitetails, who raise a large white | | | | intentions on coming back. The mosquitoes will |
| tail up when alarmed, Sikas have a white rump patch | | | | definitely get your attention. But then again, so will |
| that flares outward. | | | | that stag bugling at sunrise. |
| Sika Deer Range | | | | |