Maryland Sika Deer

[MichaelO]

I'm working on planning a long weekend trip to the Blackwater Refuge for Sika deer in January.Will be archery with a climbing stand.Has anyone here done this trip before? any thoughts or advice?

 

[DangerRanger]

Do it!

I never have, but want to badly.... hope you have success!

 

[MichaelO]

I’ve hunted whitetail in the swamps of Louisiana but this seems like potentially a whole other level. Leaning towards trying to go the last week for 4 days of January if work will cooperate. Coming from Indiana it’s not a bad drive.

 

[oysyerstew]

look at assateague island also

 

[BeastOfTheTrees]

Let me know how it goes I’m planning on one as well in the next couple years

 

[NYSKIER]

I would definitely been interested to see how this pans out. I've thought about doing it myself but haven't seen to much information on it. I would second checking out assateague island I've seen it mentioned a few times. Hope it's great let us know how it goes!

 

[Superkodiak38]

I don't know if you have done this trip already since it's the 5th ? If not make sure you check with Blackwater to see what area's are open. They are in Maryland but it's Federal so they don't always coincide with the Maryland season dates. Sika are a tough nut to crack with a bow. It's been pretty warm here and there is still a good amount of food for them so they will be in the marsh. They have been hunted since September so you are not likely to find a dumb one left...lol... They may bugle, there is a second rut in January, but don't count on it. If you don't hear or see them it doesn't mean they are not there and they will appear and disappear in seconds, you may hear them walking or you might not. We have had a ton of rain so water is everywhere, bring at least hip boots if not chest waders and a staff to help you along, feel the bottom and make sure you don't step in a hole. A climber will work well, but make dang sure you are climbing a live tree ( one with needles on it) or you might come down pretty darn fast, and yes a tiny little skinny pine tree will most likely hold you, they hold me and I am most likely larger than you If you kill one the first time you go, buy a lotto ticket on the way home because it's your lucky day ! If for some reason Blackwater is closed check the DNR page for other public lands, they are fun to hunt and taste really good !

I won't be on the computer much the next couple weeks shoot me an email if you like [email protected] the pic in my profile page is a big Sika Hind

 

[hutty]

Great hunt and no such thing as an easy sika hunt. The refuge allows hunting on specific days in specific areas. If you can't hunt their, you can try taylors island and fishing bay WMA's which are state owned.

If you are going to give it a try the minimum you should have are hip boots and many of us use chest waders. Sika LOVE the marsh and between tides, mud and all the rain we have gotten, not to mention Dorchester County is mostly below sea level it is WET. Have a good light and know how to use a GPS because when it gets dark it all looks the same.

Truly challenging hunt, in a beautiful area, and one of the best tasting animals out there. Here is some more info that may help as well

http://www.delmarvasikadeerassociation.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/566374760045685/

 

[bigredxlt]

Good luck. You won’t believe the places these little guys will live. We usually see more of them in the marshes duck hunting than when in the tree stand.

 

[BeastOfTheTrees]

Such a unique hunt

 

[OXN939]

Unique hunt that is tough in its own way. Basically, think of hunting whitetail half the size you're used to, but in a marsh. Their eyesight is, in my experience, as good as a Turkey's.

 

[hutty]

No such thing as an easy sika deer hunt. Definitely a love hate relationship with marsh ghosts, or as I call them devil deer. Bring a thermacell no matter what time of the year.