Kings of the Eastern Shore: Sika Deer
Spending time on the Eastern shore of Maryland is always a treat. When that times falls in mid-October, it is certainly going to be extra special. That time frame coincides with the rut of the King of the shore, The Sika deer. Sika are a species of tiny Elk first introduced in the late 1800s by a private stocking on James island. At some point they escaped the island. Over the next 100 years they began to quickly colonize swampy Dorchester and surrounding counties. Now a well established free range herd, hunters travel from across the country to try and bag one of the shy, largely nocturnal creatures.
A female Sika, Known as a “Hind”
The hinds spotted coat remains throughout her life, even when mature.
I was fortunate enough to get an invitation to hunt a friends large private timber holding, for early muzzleloader season. A chance I could not pass up. Upon arriving the evening prior to opening day the wind was howling. This set the stage for the opening morning frustration. The wind was blowing 40 miles an hour plus, the tide was super high and even though I saw several Sika, I did not harvest one.
Typical view from a Sika deer stand.
I cleanly missed one in the morning due to the swaying tree stand , and I elected not to shoot at a stag in the meadow at last light During the afternoon.
I was So troubled by the days events I did not sleep well that evening. I awoke at 3 AM playing the days scenarios over in my mind. I quickly realized I would not fall back asleep, and decided to put into action my plan for the new day, Friday. I was dressed and out the door by 3:30 AM and in my stand deep in the pine forests of Dorchester County by 4:30 AM
Sunrise over the Marsh
It was a spot I had scouted last winter that showed good sign of both Hinds and stags. It didn’t look like it had seen much hunting other than a decomposing carcass of a deer, probably shot during early bow season.
I climbed into my perch some 30 feet up and watched numerous shooting stars burn across the sky. The wind was blowing, but not as bad as Thursday. I soon began to hear the cat like meowing call of the Sika Hind( female), Within seconds they were answered with a shrill roaring bugle from several stags.
In the moonlight, Silhouetted in the darkness I could see distinct shapes running all around in the meadow. Yet it was still 1-1/2 hours until shooting light. I looked through my scope and saw a wonderful 6 Point stag silhouetted perfectly against a patch of light grass. The little devil on my shoulder told me to shoot, but the angel on the other side won out.
Soon shooting light arrived, and as I looked around, I had many little groups of deer feeding in the short Meadow grass. Two spikes were sparring and clacking antlers while letting out short bellow’s, feeling the other out. Then from directly in front of me a hind let out her call and a stag answered immediately and closely.
Sika stag wallow in the timber
He was in the thick timber and staying out of sight. The hind continue to meow and made her way out into a grass opening at about 60 yards. Soon the two spikes saw her and made a beeline towards her, harassing her and trying to get her attention. After about a minute of this the stag could take it no longer and he ran charging out to run the spikes off.
A visitor to my perch, a Delmarva fox squirrel
I looked through the scope and I saw branching antlers. So I knew it wasn’t a spike, but it didn’t look like the big 3 x 3 I had seen in the moonlight either.
However I knew it would be the biggest Stag I had ever seen or taken. So I decided to take the shot. Upon the report of the muzzleloader the stag fell to the ground . I held the scope on him and he did not move.
I decided I would also try to harvest the hind since it was my last day hunting and I love Sika venison . I reloaded, drew a bead and fired.
The hind ran all of 40 yards and I saw her cart wheel down into the grass.
However upon the report from the second shot, the stag raised his head got up and staggered into the same patch of brush where the Hind had ran. Oh no, what did that mean, did I stun him, or worse yet wound?
I looked in vain to see movement or to see him fall, I saw neither. I decided to climb down, come home, clean the gun and get breakfast. Later I would go back with a buddy and begin the search.
After several hours past we eased our way into the marsh slipping along quietly. I was in the lead with the muzzleloader ready. It only took about five minutes to locate the dead hind, in a little bit further along the same trail there with the expired stag as well!
Jode, with a beautiful pair of Sika Deer. Stag and hind
What is amazing turn of events. It was probably the best time hunting I had ever had in my life. From the scenery, to the animals, to the excitement, to the good friends, to the wonderful environment.
This trip had it all. Killing Two beautiful animals was just the icing on the cake. And Sika is just about as yummy and delicious as anything you could ever eat. That’s why I expend the monumental effort to chase these wonderful little marsh deer.
Thanks for reading, Jode