Maryland sika deer

GE286

FNG
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Mar 5, 2025
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Not whitetail but didn’t see a sika deer forum. Moved to NC a couple years ago and have been interested in hunting Sika in Maryland. Was curious about non resident tags and availability of public land? Figured I would ask here before spending hours looking at regs and maps.
 
I am a Maryland resident. Public land is available but it is not like you’d have in western NC or any of the national forests. It’s much smaller management areas and they have gotten very crowded over the last few years. It used to be that they were treated as an invasive and they would just count as part of the whitetail bag limit. Starting last year, you now need to purchase a regular sika deer tag. The season for sika and whitetail still remain the same, so there’s no need to track separate dates. However, most of the public land requires a separate permit to hunt and has season dates that do not correspond with the Maryland general season (that is for whitetail and sika). One thing to consider with them is that they are generally nocturnal, so they’re a bit more of a challenge to hunt.
 
Additionally, I would not wait till late in the year to hunt them. At that point, people are doing deer drives on public land. Yes, you read that right. Deer in the surrounding areas get freaked out from unwelcomed guest and gunfire and usually wait till dark to move.
 
Unfortunately you’re about 10 years late to the game for quality public land sika hunting. Social media and Steve Rinella have turned the public lands into a zoo.
Just imagine living where he hunts/lives every year. Lmfao.
 
I’m also very curious about hunting Sika deer. I am sure someone has information on where to go to have fair chance at Sika. Most animals whitetail/mule deer/elk in areas that I hunt are no strangers to pressure and zoo-like public land. Or, is it really the case that Sika deer hunting is just a lost cause in MD?
 
I'm in West Virginia, have been wanting to come hunt them for a few years now. Very interested in learning more as well
 
I’m in Maryland as well, I live about 30 minutes north of Blackwater. Head down pre-season and you’ll get a good idea of how they move, you’ll see a ton. I’ve always had good luck with them on the edges where they come out of the marsh into pine stands. They’ve pushed the majority of the whitetail out, if you’re willing to kayak and wade through the sloughs and the marsh you can put yourself in some really good edge habitat. As about 1000 other people will tell you , the mosquitoes and horse flies will carry you away.
 
I’m in Maryland as well, I live about 30 minutes north of Blackwater. Head down pre-season and you’ll get a good idea of how they move, you’ll see a ton. I’ve always had good luck with them on the edges where they come out of the marsh into pine stands. They’ve pushed the majority of the whitetail out, if you’re willing to kayak and wade through the sloughs and the marsh you can put yourself in some really good edge habitat. As about 1000 other people will tell you , the mosquitoes and horse flies will carry you away.
You can’t get away from the flies and mosquitoes either. They will bite you through your clothes
 
VIrginia's sika hunt is a quota draw hunt, so it wouldn't be crowded, I had a friend do it once and he enjoyed it had some success, it was a quality experience

I dont know how many years or points it takes to get drawn, never peaked my interest for some reason, i might look into it though

*note it appears its not a draw hunt anymore, maybe i was mistaken
 
VIrginia's sika hunt is a quota draw hunt, so it wouldn't be crowded, I had a friend do it once and he enjoyed it had some success, it was a quality experience

I dont know how many years or points it takes to get drawn, never peaked my interest for some reason, i might look into it though
There’s enough in MD where they’ve bled well out of Blackwater, all through Dorchester, south Caroline and a few other counties, so no need for a draw here. If you wait out the guys who don’t have the fortitude to handle the marsh it’s a great hunt. Combined with the quite liberal whitetail limit. Plenty to keep you busy.
 
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