by Camp ASCCA
Sambar Deer Hunting Florida – Sika Deer Hunting
Obviously, when the word deer is mentioned, most of us think of whitetails, because they are the most predominant deer species in North America. But over the past number of decades there has been a further deer that has received a lot of attention by hunters, biologists and wildlife viewers.
The Sika deer is a nonnative species and is not related to our Sika black tails of the northwest and Alaska. The Sika’s I’m referring to are really extra closely connected to our native elk. They are not native to North America but originate in Japan, Taiwan and eastern Asia. Captive Sika’s have been reported in 34 states in the U.S. with wild populations located in Texas, Virginia and Maryland’s eastern shore.
It has been reported that Clement Henry, an eastern shore resident, released 5 or six Sika deer in 1916 on James Island in the Chesapeake Bay. Then in the 1920′s, some of the Henry stock was released onto Assateague Island.
More than the years, the deer have moved onto the mainland of Maryland, taking up property in the marshes and wetlands of the lower eastern shore. Right now, Sika deer inhabit Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worchester counties of Maryland with the highest concentrations in southern Dorchester County. Sambar Deer Hunting Florida
The Sika males are known as stags and females referred to as hinds. Both of which are extremely vocal, especially for the duration of the rut. The Sika is more closely associated to our native elk then whitetails, consequently they are one particular of the most vocal of all the deer species. Throughout the fall and early winter breeding period, stags can be heard bugling across the marsh, with most of this occurring early in the morning and at dusk. Hinds also vocalize applying soft bleats and whistles to communicate with other females and their young.
They differ from whitetails in appearance in size and color. Adult Sikas will stand about 2 ½ feet at the rump and have proportionally shorter snouts, legs and ears. Adult stags weigh around 90lbs., with mature hinds weighing about 60lds. There coat is a reddish brown during the summer time months and a dark chestnut to practically black for the duration of the winter months. Stags are generally darker and have a shaggy most important about their neck. They will also keep their white spots into adulthood which are most noticeable during the summer time. Unlike whitetails, who raise a huge white tail up when alarmed, Sikas have a white rump patch that flares outward. Sambar Deer Hunting Florida
