Sika deer in East Lothian and lower Tweed

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Am not so sure there will be Sika in any numbers in Deepsyke the odd transient one yes, Roslin Glen i can say holds alot of Roe, am currently working down their and have been around Roslin Glen since a bairn, shot alot of Roe from the glen too and have run trail cams off on for years.
I do agree in the next decade Sika will be at Flotterstone, there are definitely population at the South Lanarkshire end of the Pentlands.
I regularly shoot them in an EH postcode and numbers are increasing.

Edit - Deepsyke is about to be clear felled in near future.
 
Camdig said:
Am not so sure there will be Sika in any numbers in Deepsyke the odd transient one yes, Roslin Glen i can say holds alot of Roe, am currently working down their and have been around Roslin Glen since a bairn, shot alot of Roe from the glen too and have run trail cams off on for years.
I do agree in the next decade Sika will be at Flotterstone, there are definitely population at the South Lanarkshire end of the Pentlands.
I regularly shoot them in an EH postcode and numbers are increasing.

Edit - Deepsyke is about to be clear felled in near future.
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Reply Nice to here the sika are moving up and west. There has been more than a couple shot in Coal burn area and sightings by the wild life rangers a the country park near lark-hall (To be confirmed )
 
Rake Aboot said:
Nope
No sign of them in East Lothian anywhere.
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Except, the keeper on the Buccleuch Estate in Dalkeith where I live, spotted one on Dunbar moor, a decade ago, while giving a student his DSC 2, said, "Wow, that's a Sika, shoot it for goodness sake", and the student shot it. That student is now a very good DSC 2 examiner in Bonnyrigg.

Apart from that, I have never seen or heard of one in East Lothian, though Edinburgh Rifles offer Sika stalks just over the country boundary into the Tweed valley and I have seen nice pics from some of their clients of dead Sika.

A pity they are not around us yet as they are the most tasty of all deer. My wife now turns her nose up at Roe, and doesn't mind how many range days I take as I assure her it helps get the Sika in the Highlands.
 
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If that’s the Dalkeith keeper I’m thinking of I’d take that story with a pinch of salt.
If he had actually shot a Sika on Dunbar moor that would have been widely known about.

Actually every stalker I know would have been talking about that if it had happened.
 
Rake Aboot said:
If that’s the Dalkeith keeper I’m thinking of I’d take that story with a pinch of salt.
If he had actually shot a Sika on Dunbar moor that would have been widely known about.

Actually every stalker I know would have been talking about that if it had happened.
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I was told it first by the DSC2 examiner, and then checked with Cameron who confirmed it.
I have known Cameron for over 35 years, and found him a thoroughly decent chap and dependable, who has done a lot of good for many people without shouting about it. His no nonsense approach may not be everyone's cup for tea, but I far prefer it to those who beat about the bush.
There is only one current DSC2 examiner in Bonnyrigg, as far as I know, so you are welcome to check with the source.
 
AlexD said:
I was told it first by the DSC2 examiner, and then checked with Cameron who confirmed it.
I have known Cameron for over 35 years, and found him a thoroughly decent chap and dependable, who has done a lot of good for many people without shouting about it. His no nonsense approach may not be everyone's cup for tea, but I far prefer it to those who beat about the bush.
There is only one current DSC2 examiner in Bonnyrigg, as far as I know, so you are welcome to check with the source.
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There’s me!

Though do you mean witness or assessor?
 
I have seen, and shot, sika in this belt. These have come over from outside/west of Hawick I suspect, as transient. I don’t think they will establish a strong population, there’s not enough mature woods except for Kielder areas.
 

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triggertrix said:
I have seen, and shot, sika in this belt. These have come over from outside/west of Hawick I suspect, as transient. I don’t think they will establish a strong population, there’s not enough mature woods except for Kielder areas.
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That area I have pretty good data on spread. It’s to the east and north that’s much less clear.
 
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