Advice sought

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Sako75Hunter

Sako75Hunter

Well-Known Member
Hi folks,

I haven't been on here for a while, but need some advice please.

Someone I know locally has 30 acres of native woodland fenced against deer, since there are a lot of sika in the area. It seems a sika stag has somehow managed to get inside the fence. One of the neighbours saw it through the fence a few weeks back, and when I went to have a look I did indeed find what appeared to be deer tracks, though no droppings. The owner has walked the entire perimeter of the fence looking for how the stag might have got in, but found no obvious breaches. I've placed a few trail cameras around the land to get a better sense of what's going on.

Anyway, the upshot is that I've been asked to try to take out the deer, which I'm happy to do. However the challenge is daunting, because most of the 30 acres is thickly covered in tangled forest. The idea of spending days sitting in a hide, probably fruitlessly, doesn't appeal even if I had the time (which I don't). So my question is: can members think of any viable solutions to this conundrum?

I have a thermal spotter, but that obviously has only limited reach in such dense cover. There are one or two high spots on the land that command a view of a few more open areas, but again the idea of sitting there for god knows how long in the hope that this one deer might show itself doesn't appeal.

I've heard of deer licks used to attract them in, but have never anything like that. Might this be an option, or are there any other means by which to get this deer in the crosshairs for a kill shot?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
 
You will be lucky to attract it to anything, in my opinion. I have known Sika stags to jump into and out of a 6ft fence. Or they will find a weak spot and go under.
Walking around a thick 30 acre wood trying to locate the stag is not going to produce much of a result unless you get really lucky.

If it were me, I would put a portable high seat up in the middle of the wood, and sit and wait. I would also check the outside of the wood for any sign where it might be jumping in or out. It will be a waiting game, I'm afraid, especially if its a good mature stag. They are cunning deer at the best of times.
 
30 acres isn't vast if its really thick you will just need to sit tight and keep returning i guess . So hard to say when i have not seen the lay of the land and the opportunities it might or might not have . I would start where it got in because that is going to be an established route now and it didn't parachute in , signs will be building every time it uses it
 
Sako75Hunter said:
Hi folks,

I haven't been on here for a while, but need some advice please.

Someone I know locally has 30 acres of native woodland fenced against deer, since there are a lot of sika in the area. It seems a sika stag has somehow managed to get inside the fence. One of the neighbours saw it through the fence a few weeks back, and when I went to have a look I did indeed find what appeared to be deer tracks, though no droppings. The owner has walked the entire perimeter of the fence looking for how the stag might have got in, but found no obvious breaches. I've placed a few trail cameras around the land to get a better sense of what's going on.

Anyway, the upshot is that I've been asked to try to take out the deer, which I'm happy to do. However the challenge is daunting, because most of the 30 acres is thickly covered in tangled forest. The idea of spending days sitting in a hide, probably fruitlessly, doesn't appeal even if I had the time (which I don't). So my question is: can members think of any viable solutions to this conundrum?

I have a thermal spotter, but that obviously has only limited reach in such dense cover. There are one or two high spots on the land that command a view of a few more open areas, but again the idea of sitting there for god knows how long in the hope that this one deer might show itself doesn't appeal.

I've heard of deer licks used to attract them in, but have never anything like that. Might this be an option, or are there any other means by which to get this deer in the crosshairs for a kill shot?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...
I would check the perimeter yourself being you will be the shooter so if it is jumping in and out then that will be a starting point from both sides of the fence. Fallow leave distinctive racks/slots which they keep to so that would be what I would look for, also over the years I prefer to find the info myself and make my own plan.
 
tozzybum said:
The only other " busy " option, do u know anyone with a drone?
Love or loathe they will cover far more ground .
Or its a sit and wait as Malc said .
Good luck
Click to expand...
All great suggestions, thanks.

Would a drone shake a deer out, if it was laid up in heavy cover during the day?

Do drones with thermal imaging exist? (I imagine they're crazy expensive, if they do!)
 
Sit and wait. Deer don’t understand busy / humane time etc.

One of the key skills of being a good hunter is developing patience and ability to just sit and wait.

It will often be more successful and ultimately quicker in the long run.

And much easier than trying ti extract a Sika Stag from impenetrable tangle of woodland.
 
Heym SR20 said:
Sit and wait. Deer don’t understand busy / humane time etc.

One of the key skills of being a good hunter is developing patience and ability to just sit and wait.

It will often be more successful and ultimately quicker in the long run.

And much easier than trying ti extract a Sika Stag from impenetrable tangle of woodland.
Click to expand...

It's not patience I lack, it's time!
 
I do these jobs regularly usually Roe yearlings that have squeezed through badger runs, in one plantation we do get Sika aswell as Roe the Sika do jump in and out, these situations can be frustrating especially when cover is up, my suggestion is look at the regularly walked tracks find a good safe spot and get someone to walk it round towards you and if nothing shows he is coming and going as he peases.
 
Sako75Hunter said:
It's not patience I lack, it's time!
Click to expand...

Make time, - go straight to a spot and sit and wait. Best is 40 minutes before last light and just be silent.

I do have a little Sika stalking on the West coast. Its thick tangled ancient oak woodland, bracken and brambles. There is one spot where I just go and sit. And I am always rewarded. Perhaps not a shootable animal everytime - but just sitting and watching and being for less than hour is very very good for the soul.
 
Camdig said:
I do these jobs regularly usually Roe yearlings that have squeezed through badger runs, in one plantation we do get Sika aswell as Roe the Sika do jump in and out, these situations can be frustrating especially when cover is up, my suggestion is look at the regularly walked tracks find a good safe spot and get someone to walk it round towards you and if nothing shows he is coming and going as he peases.
Click to expand...
Great idea, thanks.
 
Check the area to see if there are any good green flushes of growth where the stag is likely to feed. Target that area. Other option, like Stephen said, feed it into the honey trap
 
Heym SR20 said:
Make time, - go straight to a spot and sit and wait. Best is 40 minutes before last light and just be silent.

I do have a little Sika stalking on the West coast. Its thick tangled ancient oak woodland, bracken and brambles. There is one spot where I just go and sit. And I am always rewarded. Perhaps not a shootable animal everytime - but just sitting and watching and being for less than hour is very very good for the soul.
Click to expand...
Yes. I do the same myself regularly in areas where deer come and go.

The difference in this instance is that there seems to be only one deer in the whole place. I'd say I could easily sit there for an entire week and not see him. Even if I wanted to, I just wouldn't have the time.
 
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