Maryland Sika

[hugshe]

Hi folks, I'm looking to drive or fly up to Maryland to do a little archery Sika hunting in the first week of october and just seeing if anyone else around here is interested. It would probably wind up being around three to four days of actual hunting, since it's a long drive for me (living in Charleston, SC). I'm 25, reasonably fit and I've been hunting in Idaho and now South carolina for years. I know it's still a ways out, but I have to get my schedule sorted pretty far in advance if I want to take leave. Thanks!

 

[Nine Banger]

I've always wanted to do this.

Is rifle OK at that time or just archery? DIY or outfitter?

 

[hugshe]

I've always wanted to do this.

Is rifle OK at that time or just archery? DIY or outfitter?

That would be archery, rifle season runs Nov.30-Dec.14. I plan on DIY, although I have heard good things about Muddy march outfitters in that area and would consider using them, but they're archery only.

 

[Nine Banger]

Got it.

I haven’t gotten into archery yet. Waiting for an Iowa rut tag.

 

[Highvoltage1]

Permethrin is your friend.

 

[E.Shell]

Good luck with your hunt hugshe!

I live in MD and hunt Sikas occasionally. It's always possible to stumble into one, but most successful hunters and guides hunt over corn or milo feeders. My impression of Sika Deer is that they are semi-nomadic and don't really pattern like whitetails. They don't care about high tide or sunrise. They'll walk though deep water like it's not even there and will stick their head underwater to eat. They bed down out in the needle-grass (Black Needle Rush) on a high spot in the middle of the marsh and aren't really drawn to cover. The main reason to hunt from a hummock is to have a tree to climb. We see them just as often at noon as in the mornings. Most action seems to be the last half-hour of daylight, but they can move at any time.

There are a lot of Sika Deer in the lower Dorchester County salt marshes and quite a few in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which does have some decent hunting areas. In spite of good numbers, one can spend a lot of time sitting out there without seeing deer.

I'd suggest getting a guided hunt if you really want to kill one.

The advice above about permethrin is very good, the swamp is unfriendly. Ticks don't care about deet. There are ticks (3 varieties), chiggers, mosquitoes (3-4 varieties), greenheads, deer flies and no-see-ums. It can be very difficult to sit still without a ThermoCell or being slathered in some sort of insect repellent. Most of what one encounters in October, while it can still be very warm out, are 'skeets, ticks and no-see-ums.

IMO, archery season is really the best time to hunt them, due to an abundance of deer during the early season that haven't yet reacted to hunting pressure. Crossbows are both deadly and legal. There is an early muzzleloader season for a few days in late October.

Be extremely careful how you shoot them, they don't bleed well (thick fur and fat) and seldom leave much of a trail in water. Belly down, they are about the same color as the mud and grass (average height 3 feet) and you can just about step on them before seeing them. If you hit one, watch him carefully and take care to mark the last spot you see it. The whole marsh looks the same and without a compass bearing and a landmark, it can be very hard to find the spot you think they're in.

 

[E.Shell]

 

[7Bartman]

I'd skip the permethrin (salt water skeets won't even be phased by it) and get two thermacells. Seriously, that and a bug suit. In October we get some moon phase high tides in the marshes and about a week later when the skeets come off you better be ready. Getting a sika on public land can be a challenge, but can be done.

Most outfitters will likely already be booked up.

Here's a video of some of their vocalizations. I have more videos on my channel that you may find helpful.

I have a buddy in that lives in Charleston that drives up to hunt often. He runs Holy City Charters.

 

[hugshe]

Thanks @E.Shell and @7Bartman, definitely something to think about. The mosquito thing is certainly a factor, I paddled out to one of the islands off edisto last october to scout for whitetail and abandoned the effort after losing about 10 percent of my blood in 15 minutes to the clouds of mosquitoes. I was thinking about maybe trailering the jon boat up and then basically hunting out of that, setting up in trees overlooking larger patches of phragmites, but it sounds like finding chokepoints or trails to watch will be very difficult.

 

[Highvoltage1]

Permethrin works wonders for mosquitoes, get 120 merino with a hood and treat it. They will fly all around but won’t bite you. Same for the ticks, I’ve never seen more deer ticks in my life than on the shore. You can look down and have 50-100 on you at any time tiny tiny tiny little things. I’ve always contemplated the Sika thing since I buy the MD license but I’ve never attempted it. Good luck on your research and hopefully you find what you’re after.