Just a Northern California guy along the Trinity and Klamath Rivers that wants to go hunt these little exotic elk in the wild.

What can you all tell me on details?

Find AR Member Double Don (good guy!) and PM him...I believe he can tell you first hand info about these.

Whats the story on Sika's in the US, are they free ranging and where and when were they introduced?
I'd like to hear a bit about the story.
Sorry I'm not trying to derail this thread but just adding to it.

I am curious too!

I hunt these little bugger and they are tough and addicting.

Sika were brought here from a small island in Japan in the early 1900’s by an Eastern Shore resident named Clemment Henry who released a few deer onto James Island and Assateague Island.

Sikas from the original Henry stock were also released onto Assateague Island and gradually populated both the Maryland and Virginia portion of the island. Today, sika deer are known to inhabit Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, with the highest concentrations located in southern Dorchester County and on Assateague Island.

They are hunted mostly in the swamps on Maryland's lower eastern shore and they are 100% free range. There are a FEW reputable guides that book hunts for Sika deer. A person can also hunt public land for them but you will need some time and willingness to get dirty and muddy for a chance at one. The rut is usually mid sept to mid october.

Jim Shockey's Sika Deer hunt

https://www.wildtv.ca/preview/...maryland-spiker-slam

You can hunt them free range in VA too. They hold an annual hunt on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on VA's Eastern Shore. If you get the permit (not really too hard to do) you can take 5 of either sex per day. Even if you don't pull the permit, lots of people don't show up and you can hunt stand-by. I've done the hunt a few times when I was stationed in VA and it is a good time.

Wow that is great information. I just read the brochure about the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge hunt. Sounds really cool, especially if you live close by.

Okay so they run seasons and tags on them and don't treat them as an invasive species. Thanks for the info, sounds like Maryland and Virginia have them anywhere else?

quote:

Originally posted by Snellstrom:
Okay so they run seasons and tags on them and don't treat them as an invasive species. Thanks for the info, sounds like Maryland and Virginia have them anywhere else?

Texas, though most are likely behind high fence. They're pretty cool little critters; like mini-elk. Taste good too.

Can you use dogs?

quote:

Originally posted by Norseman:
Can you use dogs?

Not on Chincoteague. Can't answer about MD. These things like to live in the swamps. You'll be wet and muddy by the time you're done hunting them.

I have hunted Sika deer with a passion in Dorcester County, Maryland for 30 years. Dogs cannot be used to hunt them in Maryland. They are great eating. I keep my Sikas and give my White tails to "Hunters for the hungry". Typically we hunt them from towers or climbers overlooking the marsh or wooded areas. Rarely if ever have I become wet or muddy.