Sika deer are Asian elk and duplicate many behaviors of their cousins in the West. The rut is in Mid-October and the swamps of the Eastern Shore ring with Sika’s whistling bugles. Normally, nearly nocturnal, these water-loving creatures roam the swamps searching for females where savvy archers wait in ambush. Andrew Kaetzel and Josh Lashley set out for a weekend’s adventure and each had success taking one stag and two hines (females).
Small Animal- Huge Challenge
Sika hunting is very popular and Kaetzel and Lashley used a canoe to get deep into a public hunting area where few hunters could penetrate. “This is one of the most physical hunts I’ve ever been on,” said Kaetzel. We had to wear chest waders and fight our way through dense swamps and fields of phragmites, plants that grow six-to-ten feet high and are as thick as dog hair. They wore bug suits because mosquitoes were prolific.
Archery or Muzzleloader
The duo chose to hunt the week prior to Maryland’s muzzleloading season which opens the third week of October. Using Ravin and TenPoint crossbows, they hoped to make the most of any archery opportunities. They used climbing tree stands that overlooked swamps and phragmites patches. Sika deer weigh between 40 and 75 pounds so they become swallowed up in tall vegetation making shots very difficult.