Sika Deer

jode hillman

jode hillman

Well-known member
I thought I?d share a story of my recent hunt. I am a marsh rat. It may not be a trophy to some, but to me, well it couldn?t be more happy. I love everything about hunting these awesome animals in such a wonderful place as the eastern shore.

My First Stag- Sometimes its Meant to Be

I killed my First Sika deer, a hind, last season. They say Trout don?t live in ugly places. Neither do Sika. As soon as I saw the beautiful creatures moving thru their natural environment, the marsh rat in me was instantly hooked.
I had the good fortune through my Friend Ron, to meet a good friend of his who has a place to hunt on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Over a railbird push, and later a NJ duck hunt, we talked about dates and decided late December should be nice cold weather, great to get the Ghosts of the Marsh moving during daylight.

I counted the weeks with baited breath and soon the time was at hand. However the nice cold weather had taken a turn, the forecast was 60 degrees and two days of monsoon rain. Ughh, terrible. But as an old friend used to say, ? You can?t kill?em from the couch!?

My friend Adam and I drove thru the rain and arrived to soupy ground. However we saw numerous Hinds out mid day in the rain browsing. Promising!

Our first nights hunt was miserable, beautiful country, but a cold hard rain had me soaked thru within minutes, and my duck jacket weighed 10 pounds. I doubt the muzzleloader would of fired even if I had taken a shot.

Adam and I retreated to the cozy house my friend owns and had Whitetail Back straps for dinner. Delicious. The dryer worked overtime forcing the dampness from hats and gloves. We hit the hay early because the deer hunters alarm is never far distant.

We awoke to the weather just as we had left it. Ugh, this was to be a struggle. However I went full duck hunter mode, chest waders and waterproof parka. An all day sit was planned despite Mother Nature?s plans.

The south wind wailed as I sat in a 15? ladder stand. I was on a long neck of Virginia Pines jutting into the marsh. Salt hay and spartina grass ringed the peninsula. A long run of Phragmites ran away to my right. Shooting light came and went, and I still could barely see. As it grew lighter I began my visual sweep. Left to right, close to far. Concentrating on anything or and part, that could be a deer.

About 7:20 my scan picked up 4 shapes behind me,moving along the edge of the marsh. Soon they my would be hard right and broadside. Just as they stepped into the opening duck hunters let loose with the first mighty barrage of the morning. Instantly a stag raised his head and looked worried. He was beautiful. About 12? high with forks and sparkling white antlers, polished from the Phragmites. As I raised my gun to shoot he caught that slightest movement and took his harem out of the area, Poste Haste.

My hopes and dreams of success, delicious back straps and glory were dashed. I despaired. I began to replay the event in my mind, ? If I only had a little more height? , ? If I only had a little more cover? I thought. As I looked around I spied a WELL hidden platform 30 yards further back in the thick stuff, AND about 35? up!!!! I hadn?t seen it in the low light of the previous hunts. Yes! A perfect crows nest.

I made the decision to get down, change spots and strap in for the ride I was about to get on.

The box was tight but afforded a grand view of the woods and marsh. My puny 100 yard self imposed range didn?t even scratch the surface of the vast expanse before me.

I ate a quick snack, had some tea and settled in for the wait. However shortly thereafter I saw a thick dark shape moving thru the Phragmites. As I gazed more intently, I saw it was a Sika! A Stag! His current path would cross him in front of me at about 55 yards, in a shootable clearing.

I readied the gun, controlled my breathing, as he entered the opening I chirped, he stopped, and BOOOOM! The White .504 sent the heavy lead conical.......... who knows where !!!! Ahhhh crap, I had hit a thumb sized branch just below the scopes line of sight. For the second time of the morning I see my hopes and dreams Running from sight.

What happened next can only be described and divine intervention. The Stag stopped at a tiny clearing just within my view. I could clearly see his shoulder broadside. Composure be damned. I reached in my jacket for a speed load, dropped in the powder and rammed the bullet home. I grasped at my cap brim for the extra primer I always keep there..... keep there....... uh not this time, it was missing! I had to UNZIP my back pack, rummage around, and then finally cap the rifle.

I looked up, and the stag was frozen motionless. Aim, breathe, squeeze...... boom!!!!!! This time when the smoked cleared the space where the stag stood was empty, nothing ran, nothing moved. Then I saw the Stag slightly kick as it expired.
I couldn?t believe it. I made every mistake in the book and still harvested my dream. A free ranging wild marsh Ghost.

Some Things are meant to be. I was just happy to be a part of it.

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A great story that I can relate to living on the shore. As good as whitetail backstrap is I,ll swap every one I can for sika backstrap any day.
 
Vince Pagliaroli said:
When a deer gives itself to you, it is a blessing. A gift from above.

Merry Christmas Jode.
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There?s no doubt about that Vince. It was quite amazing
 
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roy brewington said:
A great story that I can relate to living on the shore. As good as whitetail backstrap is I,ll swap every one I can for sika backstrap any day.
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I was skeptical until I shot my first last year, and as hard as it is for a whitetail hunter to admit, that?s the truth!
 
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I have never shot a sitka or a stag, but sitka is on my list. I live in blacktail country and love hunting the rut with my bow!

Congrats and thanks for sharing! Dandy looking deer.
 
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Buddy said:
I have never shot a sitka or a stag, but sitka is on my list. I live in blacktail country and love hunting the rut with my bow!

Congrats and thanks for sharing! Dandy looking deer.
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Thanks Buddy, there are Sitka( which I believe are a species of black tail) native to the west coast. Then there are Sika ( a small relative of the Elk, which are native to Japan and Korea). The latter, Had been unintentionally released on the eastern shore of MD about 100 years ago. Now there is a small huntable Wild population that lives mainly in marsh and swamp habitats. It?s the only wild population in the US.
 
The first time I went to Japan, we went to the temple in Nara where the native sika deer, google Nara Shika, have the run of the place. They were every where and would eat out of your hand!
But out in the country side they can be very wary. The tend to only active only very early and late afternoon. The number of hunters in Japan is very low and dropping, the deer population is exploding in some areas and the govt is trying to get more people to hunt them. If we move there I hope to get a chance to hunt them. getting a hunting license is relatively easy but it?s about a 6 month process to buy a shotgun.
 
Carl said:
The first time I went to Japan, we went to the temple in Nara where the native sika deer, google Nara Shika, have the run of the place. They were every where and would eat out of your hand!
But out in the country side they can be very wary. The tend to only active only very early and late afternoon. The number of hunters in Japan is very low and dropping, the deer population is exploding in some areas and the govt is trying to get more people to hunt them. If we move there I hope to get a chance to hunt them. getting a hunting license is relatively easy but it?s about a 6 month process to buy a shotgun.
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That is very cool Carl. That?s one of the main challenges of hunting Sika, they are pretty much a nocturnal creature. We had a little luck with a big flood tide Thursday had the moving from there normal daytime beds. It?s a challenge just to see them in legal light. The road in.

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During the years that we waterfowl hunted Chincoteauge. We would often see Sika during that grey light time before dawn and dark. On occasion during daylight, but very briefly in the thick marsh. When the season to hunt them was in, you would often hear shots late.

Folks pay big $$$$ to hunt them on Exotic Ranches in Texas, and it is still not a slam dunk. That sez much about how elusive they can become with hunting pressure.

It is a major hunting accomplishment to succeed the way that Jode did, IMO.
 
Buddy said:
That area looks brushy!

What time of year do those deer rut?! And do they have much for predators?
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Lots of marsh grass and heavy pine forest . They rut in October and bugle quite profusely. Coyotes and foxes will prey on young or weak, as will eagles.
 
Vince Pagliaroli said:
During the years that we waterfowl hunted Chincoteauge. We would often see Sika during that grey light time before dawn and dark. On occasion during daylight, but very briefly in the thick marsh. When the season to hunt them was in, you would often hear shots late.

Folks pay big $$$$ to hunt them on Exotic Ranches in Texas, and it is still not a slam dunk. That sez much about how elusive they can become with hunting pressure.

It is a major hunting accomplishment to succeed the way that Jode did, IMO.
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Thanks Vince, they ar much more elusive than whitetail, mostly because of there night time habits and superb eyesight. But I don?t think their noses are quite as good. It?s all about putting in the time. I logged over 30 hunting hours and was lucky to get a shot at one deer.
 
Tom Russo said:
Great story Jode, beautiful Marsh. Thanks for sharing!

Tom
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Thanks Tom. It really is an awesome experience. I love the March as you can tell by duckhunting. But to be on a deer hunt there too it?s just excellent.
 
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