Closest sika population to Sussex

[Pickles]

With taking all 6 species in mind I would be interested to hear of the closest 'reliable' population of sika to Sussex. I know we have pockets of them here and there, but would like to go somewhere they are plentiful and you have a good chance of seeing some!

 

[Northern_George]

I know it not near Sussex but I’m pretty sure the Peebles area has plenty of sika about, not sure but I’m certain there are some in the new forest which would be a lot closer for you.

 

[Pickles]

I know it not near Sussex but I’m pretty sure the Peebles area has plenty of sika about, not sure but I’m certain there are some in the new forest which would be a lot closer for you.

Thanks. New forest would be no bother.

 

[PMA]

Quite a few in Dorset I’m told

 

[foxhunter]

Dorset

 

[Pickles]

Dorset or New forest is no major hassle. New forest fair bit closer. Has anyone been out in New forest after sika? Any contacts as a starting point?
Many thanks

 

[sikamalc]

I would look to Dorset. Plenty slightly east of Dorchester.

 

[Overlay]

Dorset or New forest is no major hassle. New forest fair bit closer. Has anyone been out in New forest after sika? Any contacts as a starting point?
Many thanks

There are plenty in Dorset, I was down there this past year on Sika see plenty

you should be able to find a outfitter down there

 

[Mike L]

Dorset or New forest is no major hassle. New forest fair bit closer. Has anyone been out in New forest after sika? Any contacts as a starting point?
Many thanks

I am shooting down at st Leonard's on saterday, I will get some outfitter details for you.

 

[ashray]

swanage and purbeck, give jan andrews and her son a call,they stalk corfe castle area and you wont be disappointed

 

[Donkey Basher]

Dorset or New forest is no major hassle. New forest fair bit closer. Has anyone been out in New forest after sika? Any contacts as a starting point?
Many thanks

Not sure who has the stalking there now but a few years ago a friend of mine had the stalking on the Beaulieu estate in the New Forest & there were plenty of Sika there at the time.

 

[SussexSteve]

Phil Turner or Kevin Rigler both have a lot of Sika ground I believe around Dorset

 

[Shootgun]

Shot this one in Dorset and I’ve seen loads!

 

[Pete6.5]

I would go to Dorset for a sika. The sika in the south of the new Forrest seem to be abit more expensive to shoot but they also get some massive multi point heads

 

[Pickles]

Thanks everyone. I will certainly do some research on all those suggestions.
As a matter of curiosity has anyone seen/shot any of the mysterious sika in Sussex?

 

[DaveW1]

There are Sika in the Wild in Sussex, in the Erridge and Wadhurst areas for certain, I have a couple in my freezer!

 

[Pickles]

There are Sika in the Wild in Sussex, in the Erridge and Wadhurst areas for certain, I have a couple in my freezer!

Would you think they are park escapees? I know they essentially all are but do you think they had got out then shot within a couple of weeks? Or do you think there is a breeding population wild?

 

[Jagdmatch]

There were a lot around the Uckfield area a few years ago. I shot quite a few of them but suspect they have disappeared all over the place now. There are prop a key some around Eridge and Wadhurst where the park deer have found a way out.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Thanks everyone. I will certainly do some research on all those suggestions.
As a matter of curiosity has anyone seen/shot any of the mysterious sika in Sussex?

As an aside, there are/were a few Dutch guys who 'stalk' on some of the estates around where I live and a few years back one swore he'd seen a Sika stag - of course no-one believed him as we're in the middle of Hampshire miles away from any known populations... next week he shot the stag and proved he was not as mad as they thought he was! No idea where it came from and none been seen in the area since, unsurprisingly.

 

[Pickles]

There were a lot around the Uckfield area a few years ago. I shot quite a few of them but suspect they have disappeared all over the place now. There are prop a key some around Eridge and Wadhurst where the park deer have found a way out.

I have heard of them in the blackboys area, apparently some got out of the park there in 87 storm and stayed pretty local...