Sika hunter?
03-16-2009, 10:21 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Damascus MD
Posts: 2,751
RE: Sika hunter?
email this guy, his name is Phil and he can answer any questions you have, tell him Andy gave you his email
[email protected]
[email protected]
03-16-2009, 10:30 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Sika hunter?
I am an advid sika hunter, but what I have found out is sika hunting is different depending where and who you ask. I hunt wild sikas in Eastern Shore of MD. I am mildly successful. Our sikas love swamp. You have to wear chest wader or at least hip waders with your stand and gear.
If you go to www.marylandwhitetail.comlots of sika hunters there.
Now, if you ask a guy from Tx, its a totally different type of beast it appears. Much larger. Our sikas run 100lbs for a huge trophy animal and a 4X4 is a monster. There's seems run 200lbs. I don't know how that works.
Here is one I got several years ago.
If you go to www.marylandwhitetail.comlots of sika hunters there.
Now, if you ask a guy from Tx, its a totally different type of beast it appears. Much larger. Our sikas run 100lbs for a huge trophy animal and a 4X4 is a monster. There's seems run 200lbs. I don't know how that works.
Here is one I got several years ago.
03-17-2009, 06:57 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: CT, USA
Posts: 3,058
RE: Sika hunter?
Never Bowhunted them, but I also did hunt on the Eastern Shore (near cambridge) for Sika growing up . Alot of fun, and good lord I love to hear them "bugle". It's like our " North american" elk, but more of a shrill whistle. Tough to hunt- very nocturnal-and as BC mentioned they LOVE the swampy terrain. First year I ever hunted them, I mistook a few does for dogs and never shot 
60 pounds was about average for a doe as I recall- bucks about 80 pounds.
There are two types of animals- SIKA, and SITKA- they are totally different. The ones on MD's eastern shore (Sika) are an asian Elk and were supposedly an accident- A large group of them were washed ashore around the turn of the 19th/20th century when a cargo ship carrying them wrecked/sunk- which is also what happened with the wild ponies on Chincoteague Island. THats the story I was told by a resident of the area when I was young-not sure if it's 100% Gospel. Maybe someone else has the scoop?
Anyway- tons of fun! I'd love to go back and just hear some bugle
60 pounds was about average for a doe as I recall- bucks about 80 pounds.There are two types of animals- SIKA, and SITKA- they are totally different. The ones on MD's eastern shore (Sika) are an asian Elk and were supposedly an accident- A large group of them were washed ashore around the turn of the 19th/20th century when a cargo ship carrying them wrecked/sunk- which is also what happened with the wild ponies on Chincoteague Island. THats the story I was told by a resident of the area when I was young-not sure if it's 100% Gospel. Maybe someone else has the scoop?
Anyway- tons of fun! I'd love to go back and just hear some bugle
03-17-2009, 07:20 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: CT, USA
Posts: 3,058
RE: Sika hunter?
When in doubt, Google is your friend-
Here's some info on them- apparently there are TONS of different subspecies of the Sika deer, and we just happened to get thesmallest versions (and apparently they were introduced on purpose- stupid old codger trying to BS me when I was a kid [:@]
)
You may get surprised at Assateague Island when you encounter the Sika deer during your vacation. Introduced on Assateague Island during the mid 1920's, Sika can been seen in the loblolly pine forest, sand dune areas and marshes along Assateague. They are inhabitants of Japan and live naturally throughout eastern Asia, including parts of Korea, Siberia, China, Vietnam, Taiwan. Although smaller than whitetail deer, these animals exhibit elk-like behavior. Often called "Asian elk", they sometimes offer visitors a chance to witness exciting physical challenges between males during the sika's mating season. Sika eat the leaves of myrtle bushes, grasses, persimmons, shrubs, and other plants on Assateague Island. They even eat poison ivy.
Sika are highly vocal and at least ten different sounds have been recorded.
There are several subspecies and their fur can range in color from chestnut-brown with reddish hair on top of the head to a dark brown or black They have white spots on their backs which appear more visible during different seasons. Scientists are still trying to figure out how many subspecies exist, but currently recognize six to 14 kinds of sika. About Six subspecies are nearly extinct in certain areas of Asia. Sika deer have been transplanted to several countries and have been known to mate with red deer, therefore producing hybrids which are larger than Sika. They have been introduced in New Zealand, Europe, Australia, and several US states, including Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
Here's some info on them- apparently there are TONS of different subspecies of the Sika deer, and we just happened to get thesmallest versions (and apparently they were introduced on purpose- stupid old codger trying to BS me when I was a kid [:@]
)You may get surprised at Assateague Island when you encounter the Sika deer during your vacation. Introduced on Assateague Island during the mid 1920's, Sika can been seen in the loblolly pine forest, sand dune areas and marshes along Assateague. They are inhabitants of Japan and live naturally throughout eastern Asia, including parts of Korea, Siberia, China, Vietnam, Taiwan. Although smaller than whitetail deer, these animals exhibit elk-like behavior. Often called "Asian elk", they sometimes offer visitors a chance to witness exciting physical challenges between males during the sika's mating season. Sika eat the leaves of myrtle bushes, grasses, persimmons, shrubs, and other plants on Assateague Island. They even eat poison ivy.
Sika are highly vocal and at least ten different sounds have been recorded.
There are several subspecies and their fur can range in color from chestnut-brown with reddish hair on top of the head to a dark brown or black They have white spots on their backs which appear more visible during different seasons. Scientists are still trying to figure out how many subspecies exist, but currently recognize six to 14 kinds of sika. About Six subspecies are nearly extinct in certain areas of Asia. Sika deer have been transplanted to several countries and have been known to mate with red deer, therefore producing hybrids which are larger than Sika. They have been introduced in New Zealand, Europe, Australia, and several US states, including Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
