I have stalked and hunted Sika deer for over 38 years. Mostly in the Highlands, but for a few years also in Dorset.
For me Sika, especially in the Highlands are one of the most difficult deer to stalk and obtain a good stag.
Last year was the first time I did not take clients to the Highlands. Instead I took some of my closest friends, including a long standing friend who has guided and hunted with me over all my Highland leases and in England and abroad.
His wish was to always take a really good Sika stag. He achieved that wish last season on an area we have in the Highlands.
I capped his deer off and recently started work on it for him
Sika have an extremely thick skin, especially on the back of the neck. His stag was no exception to this. Without a fleshing machine, which I have in my workshop, it would take weeks to thin the Cape down to a pliable state to tan.
Photo shows a new fleshing blade to attach to the machine.
After a lot of thinning, shaving and tanning I finally mounted up his stag in an off shoulder wall pedestal model. Now drying and will be finished drying in a week or two. Then it will be finished after another hours work.
For me Sika, especially in the Highlands are one of the most difficult deer to stalk and obtain a good stag.
Last year was the first time I did not take clients to the Highlands. Instead I took some of my closest friends, including a long standing friend who has guided and hunted with me over all my Highland leases and in England and abroad.
His wish was to always take a really good Sika stag. He achieved that wish last season on an area we have in the Highlands.
I capped his deer off and recently started work on it for him
Sika have an extremely thick skin, especially on the back of the neck. His stag was no exception to this. Without a fleshing machine, which I have in my workshop, it would take weeks to thin the Cape down to a pliable state to tan.
Photo shows a new fleshing blade to attach to the machine.
After a lot of thinning, shaving and tanning I finally mounted up his stag in an off shoulder wall pedestal model. Now drying and will be finished drying in a week or two. Then it will be finished after another hours work.
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