Can you Call Sika Deer in
- Thread starter Heym SR20
- Start date
@Heym SR20 in all the years of dishing out advice on here, can you honestly say that you've never seen a post on SD about calling sika?
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Yes, but not as easy as red stags. Sika stags are clever, very clever…
Easy
It seems like it depends on the area. Where I have stalked a lot by Inverness it’s very effective. If you wait until the calling starts I’d almost say a guarantee, either a sceery or Nordic stag call-the latter superior to my ear.
However I speak to Bowland FC rangers regularly and the stag calls don’t seem to do much, more success with hind mews and buttalo. Strange.
However I speak to Bowland FC rangers regularly and the stag calls don’t seem to do much, more success with hind mews and buttalo. Strange.
I have called in 20 or so over the years. About half have come charging in to the call, The others a bit more wily about coming in, but still come. Had one a few years ago that I could see with one antler and one eye sticking out from behind a tree about 80 meters away watching for where the call was coming from for 10 minutes before it ventured down the hill. You have to watch for them sneaking round behind you as well. But when they charge, they charge. I've had them in at 10 yds on more than one occasion - and very ****ed off. When they give it the full on charge you know all about it- thought they would go straight through me on a couple of occasions. Without doubt the biggest adrenaline rush UK stalking can offer - but it's all over pretty quickly.
I think it's worse when they walk alongside you in forestry grunting. You can hear them but not see them and you keep wondering if they do mean to attack you. Probably said it before but I had a guest of the boss get up and run when a high stepping, mud covered stag appeared twenty yards in front and coming at us. They can be a little scary when close, to say the least.
sikamalc
Administrator
Called in a lot over the years. Much depends on how well you conceal yourself and the terrain. I 've had them creep in behind me before now, and also come charging like a steam train.
The trick is to call loud, but little. And be set up with the rifle ready at your shoulder, and one in the chamber. You will only get one chance only.
The trick is to call loud, but little. And be set up with the rifle ready at your shoulder, and one in the chamber. You will only get one chance only.
Sika are very territorial, especially when the rut is on. Look hard enough in a block of woodland and you will see the scoring on the trees where a Sika has marked his territory. Each Sika seems to mark in a different way so you can map out where each ones territory is. I was taught this by an old keeper in Sutherland. Step into that territory and call during the rut and the owner believes it's another Stag after his hinds, When he comes in he is expecting a scrap so you had better be ready.
What I have found interesting is the volume at which you call. I believe that if you call too loudly, if a small stag is the owner of the territory he will be very careful about coming in, worried about the size of the stag he may meet. Hence the watch from a distance at the edge of safe forestry approach we sometimes experience. Call softly and if in earshot most come in. If there is nothing about at first, wait. The territories are rarely that big and there is a high likelihood that you are being watched. Give it 5 minutes between calls, stay well camouflaged and search the woodland hard with your bins (thermal is cheating
). I have had a few occasions where I have given up, broken cover, only to find an eruption in the bushes 60 yards away where he was watching from.
What I have found interesting is the volume at which you call. I believe that if you call too loudly, if a small stag is the owner of the territory he will be very careful about coming in, worried about the size of the stag he may meet. Hence the watch from a distance at the edge of safe forestry approach we sometimes experience. Call softly and if in earshot most come in. If there is nothing about at first, wait. The territories are rarely that big and there is a high likelihood that you are being watched. Give it 5 minutes between calls, stay well camouflaged and search the woodland hard with your bins (thermal is cheating
). I have had a few occasions where I have given up, broken cover, only to find an eruption in the bushes 60 yards away where he was watching from.
When he comes in he looking for an explanation as to why your there and seeing as your there best hand over the £50 he thinks you still owe him as well. It's amazing how the only sound you may hear is the snap of a matchstick size twig then at something a big sika stag emerges like a ghost
NickJ
Well-Known Member
I have had more luck calling sika stags in the rut than with any other species I think. I have a friend in Ireland who thinks they call better than red or fallow there.
I get well hidden with my back to a tree and do the triple whistle three or four times then give it 10 minutes and repeat.
A tip I had from a local here who shoots a lot of sika was not to start too loud as he figured you sound like a big stag and that can scare others off.
I have used a Sceery Elk (Bull) call for many years but as @JH83 says above he prefers the Nordik.
A friend brought back a Sceery Elk (Cow) call from the US and had some success with it which - given the fact we obviously use a female call for roe makes sense. The squeak it makes could probably be replicated with a roe call but I've never tried tbh.
I get well hidden with my back to a tree and do the triple whistle three or four times then give it 10 minutes and repeat.
A tip I had from a local here who shoots a lot of sika was not to start too loud as he figured you sound like a big stag and that can scare others off.
I have used a Sceery Elk (Bull) call for many years but as @JH83 says above he prefers the Nordik.
A friend brought back a Sceery Elk (Cow) call from the US and had some success with it which - given the fact we obviously use a female call for roe makes sense. The squeak it makes could probably be replicated with a roe call but I've never tried tbh.
NickJ
Well-Known Member
Give the Buttalo a go, if you can whistle like a sika then good on you...... but for the sake of £30 or £40 I'd buy a stag call
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