Sceery vs Nordik Sika Calls?

[foxhunter]

View attachment 157434Another good Stag taken on my recent lease, which a number of SD members have been on. Taken a few years ago now, but the man in the photo was the head deer keeper on a very very large estate in Northumberland. I have not seen him for sometime, as he moved off the estate. I had seen this stag a few times, and kept it for him as I was repaying the help he had given me over the years with clients. He had never shot a Sika stag until that evening. In the end we took a further small stag prior to taking the one in the photo. We were a long way from the initial area I wanted to get to, so the hope was we would not disturb the big lad. We had only been in the spot that I wanted to wait at about 20 minutes and the stag came out well before dark.
The area is old Caledonian forest and is perfect Sika habitat.

Is that Colin from Alnwick Castle, did my Level 2 with him many years ago.

 

[sikamalc]

Yes its Colin. Great guy. I used to take some of the deer off Alnwick with Colin and some of my clients over a number of years prior to his leaving. I even rented the Dukes Sister home, Lady Victoria Fellows if I remember rightly. Great times on the estate with Colin. Also Barter books at the end of high street in Alnwick, one of my favourite haunts looking for old sporting books.

 

[NickJ]

I tried the Nordik for a year or two but have had more success since I got a Sceery Elk bull call.

As per an earlier post I have also had some success with a Buttolo to mimic a hinds 'peep.'

I have always tried to ambush or stalk them first and only call sparingly - usually when I can hear a stag in thick cover whistling and need to draw him out after he doesn't appear by his own accord. Some good advice I had a couple of years back was to start calling quietly/meekly as at full volume you might sound like a big 'un they might not want to take on! I think since then I have had more success since employing this tactic.

I would say that for every stag I hear whistle I can get (what seems like at least) a vocal response more than half of the time but actually bringing a stag in is pretty tough. I have had more success in forestry than on the open hill.

Like roe the response seems to vary massively, of the half a dozen odd I have shot to the call generally they were just slinking/walking in then having a peek around a tree but I was with a friend once in the Monhalidiths who called a decent 8 pointer that came really charging in. It was very exciting, he dropped it at about 15 paces. (This might be a reflection of my calling abilities!) I managed to call in and shoot a spiker once after watching him get battered by a mature stag, he had some sort of death wish.

Interestingly an American friend (who lives here in the UK) also brought back for me a Sceery Elk cow call as he had brought a sika stag in on the first attempt of using it here in Lancashire. I haven't had a chance to try the cow call yet but based on the fact roe calls, of course mimic the female (or young) I guess it could work. The main issue with that is how to practice, before the sika rut, for the bull call I tend to listen to actual stag calls on YouTube to practice in advance (inside, not in the field) but with the cow call the only resource I have found is a demo for it reproducing an elk cow.

I would echo Malc's comment about the fact that a normally tough species is even tougher to kill during the rut and being called in - when his adrenaline levels are at a peak. I would say make sure you have enough gun , I personally favour a 'nest' (neck/chest) or neck shot in the rut where possible to reduce the chance of a runner, and always have a dog handy!

 

[Klenchblaize]

I have taken a lot of sika over the years, some in Dorset, but mostly in the Highlands of Scotland, where they are a different beast to deal with in my opinion.

30 plus years back everyone was using the Acme predator call. The FC boys were getting very good results. The cost was about £5 at the time. The trick was to knock the end of the call out and then cup the call in your hands an blow hard, dropping the call away as a stag would do. For a number of years on the 13,000 acre lease I managed we had excellent results. However over the years and up to the present day the deer got used to it. Sika learn very quickly. I now stalk a 6000 acre area in the highlands and also have access to a huge estate that cover some 25,000 acres which is one of the best areas north of Inverness for Sika.

The elk call they use now can be very successful in calling out a Sika stag. But to call a Sika out you really need to be on top of your game. Get your wind right, find a spot where they cannot see you easily. Sika stags will often stand back in dark timber looking out into the light, and just watch. Don't be surprised if they circle around and come in behind you, checking the wind to make sure who and what you are. Make sure your rifle is loaded and presented on sticks or ready to fire, Sika pick up the slightest movement, and old stags are very in tune with their environment and know the area very well.

Early morning or evening is the best time, make sure you are there in time, walking into an area too late will alert the stag to your presence and older stags will not come out if they sense you. Make sure your shot is in the shoulders. If you have never shot Sika before you will be surprised how much punishment they can take, and also don't be surprised if the beast runs off still. That's also not unusual for Sika.

It goes without saying that if hinds are present and coming out to graze or moving through, get ready as the stag will almost certainly be last and pushing them in front of him. You will if lucky get a small window to shoot, a quick whistle or shout may stop him long enough to get a shot. In this instance the stag will almost certainly run off, unless neck or head shot.

"Sticks"? Don't be a wimp Mr. Sikamalc!

Get yourself and that Blaser into those dark & lonely bog oak frequented places and be ready to drop Mr. Sika with an off-hand shot at less than 25 paces. If you're real lucky you might just have time to let your shoulder fall against an accommodating lichen-draped trunk for all the support a real Shoreline Deerstalker would expect for their endeavours.

K

 

[sikamalc]

I have had clients and myself take them off hand. But I don't have a Blaser.
Tikka or my Rigby

 

[foxdropper]

Use the sceery call myself .
Calling them in dense woodland has to be one of the most exciting things I’ve done and would eclipse roe calling by a margin .
The time I tried it in Scotland ,I was facing the wrong way each time a stag came in but was rewarded with very close eye to eye contact twice ,just not where the rifle was pointed .The trip started off with stags whistling constantly for the first morning but as I worked my way around the timber the calling ceased to only distant whistles .My disturbance and probably too much calling had them silent for the rest of the trip .Most success I’ve had and I can’t say I’ve done a huge amount has been around wallows and as said don’t belt out your best mature stag whistle as it will intimidate some into staying back .
I was lead next to a wallow once in Scotland calling softly looking down a green ride under the fir canopy for maybe 20 minutes ,had heard a stag call nearby in answer to mine but after a while it ceased .My inexperience lead me to get up just as a huge 8 pointer appeared about 60 m away ,stood for a second and vanished .Couple of minutes more and he’d of been mine .
Nothing better than arriving in a seat to hear stags whistling ,no matter how far away ,on a cold Autumn morning .
In Dorset we’ve had multiple stags come in same time which results in a stand off ,thrashing and stamping .
Great to see them travel a distance to you in open ground .Mate and myself both bagged one each one afternoon called from out of a dense bracken banking .Mine was more a case of luring a hind out first to which a stag followed ,despatched with a shot high neck .
We were asked to look in on a farm whilst there that was having trouble with young stags hassling sheep in the rut ,proper trying to ride them .We set up one morning mate and myself one either side a hedge and I called .No sooner had I finished the first whistle ,a young stag jumped the fence only 40 yards away and I shot him high neck .I then heard rather than saw another was charging down the field to my left .No time to be discreet so I changed position and bagged that one too with a chest shot He ran and collapsed about 80m along the hedge but before he expired fully ,another older stag jumped the far fence and came charging towards us .As he saw the downed stag he lower his head and gave the carcass a full on shake .My adrenaline was sky high but managed to control it long enough to squeeze off another round to bag number three .Mate bagged a very good stag later that day same farm .
edited to say has anybody else had to write sceery 4 times before it printed as spell check wants to write scenery lol.

 

[Otto68]

Use the sceery call myself .
Calling them in dense woodland has to be one of the most exciting things I’ve done and would eclipse roe calling by a margin .
The time I tried it in Scotland ,I was facing the wrong way each time a stag came in but was rewarded with very close eye to eye contact twice ,just not where the rifle was pointed .The trip started off with stags whistling constantly for the first morning but as I worked my way around the timber the calling ceased to only distant whistles .My disturbance and probably too much calling had them silent for the rest of the trip .Most success I’ve had and I can’t say I’ve done a huge amount has been around wallows and as said don’t belt out your best mature stag whistle as it will intimidate some into staying back .
I was lead next to a wallow once in Scotland calling softly looking down a green ride under the fir canopy for maybe 20 minutes ,had heard a stag call nearby in answer to mine but after a while it ceased .My inexperience lead me to get up just as a huge 8 pointer appeared about 60 m away ,stood for a second and vanished .Couple of minutes more and he’d of been mine .
Nothing better than arriving in a seat to hear stags whistling ,no matter how far away ,on a cold Autumn morning .
In Dorset we’ve had multiple stags come in same time which results in a stand off ,thrashing and stamping .
Great to see them travel a distance to you in open ground .Mate and myself both bagged one each one afternoon called from out of a dense bracken banking .Mine was more a case of luring a hind out first to which a stag followed ,despatched with a shot high neck .
We were asked to look in on a farm whilst there that was having trouble with young stags hassling sheep in the rut ,proper trying to ride them .We set up one morning mate and myself one either side a hedge and I called .No sooner had I finished the first whistle ,a young stag jumped the fence only 40 yards away and I shot him high neck .I then heard rather than saw another was charging down the field to my left .No time to be discreet so I changed position and bagged that one too with a chest shot He ran and collapsed about 80m along the hedge but before he expired fully ,another older stag jumped the far fence and came charging towards us .As he saw the downed stag he lower his head and gave the carcass a full on shake .My adrenaline was sky high but managed to control it long enough to squeeze off another round to bag number three .Mate bagged a very good stag later that day same farm .
edited to say has anybody else had to write sceery 4 times before it printed as spell check wants to write scenery lol.

Great story sandys dog, had similar myself last year
Fantastic when it all comes together, makes up for the days spent seeing little or nothing. Although still great to be out.
Will do a write -up today/ tomorrow if I get time.

 

[foxdropper]

Thanks mate ,look forward to your account .

 

[foxdropper]

Double posted

 

[foxdropper]

 

[Otto68]

So,went for weekend at stalking grounds late in last years rut, had shot two stags the previous month at a my favourite part of forestry.back up there early morning for a look , plenty of signs about,wallows still being used, listen for whistling & nothing, not a sight of a deer, apart from a barking roe which must have spotted us. Long walk through rides & round edge of trees & nothing, disappointing to say the least. Morning over.
Time to decide the evenings plans,I decide to go & try ambush some deer that I know are coming off the hill, over the river to some grass,we see them when out foxing, always away at least an hour before daylight.
Off we head, still two hours of daylight, plenty time to get set up & glass the trees/ hill.sit for half hour before things start to move,4-500 yards away a few sika moving up the hill going straight away from us,
Bloody typical
They keep going till nearly at top of hill & I think what have I got to lose,give them three calls on the Nordic & one of the stags turns on his heels& has good look,another three calls couple minutes later sees him start trotting straight down the hill towards me, heart starts pumping, prob still 350 yards, give him two calls, don’t know why two??made them sound a bit weaker this time,off he heads again straight towards me till he reached a wide bank of birch & willows, out of sight 200 yards now, keep glassing & the dog starts a wee whimper, tell the boy in no uncertain terms to shut him up & bring the glasses down, he says”did you not see that”?
“See what” I say.”the sika stag that ran down past us”I had the glasses on the other one constantly & never seen, or heard it.the boy said he heard it’s hoofs while it ran past.cursing myself for not seeing it I give another two calls, two minutes later from down river, sika stag comes up through cover & stands facing me 50 yards away, not the same one boy says as this one has white tips to antlers,turning like a contortionist on sticks I eventually get him in crosshairs,ready for cramp & doing my back in I decide not to fire as I would probably have snatched with my position & better no deer than a wounded hardly get myself back into proper position when the original sika comes straight out trees & stops 30 yards out facing me, steady as a rock now,.270 130g SST in the neck
Down he goes, thumbs up to the boy & over river, quickly drag him back.decide now to go & stand up behind a whin bush, sticks ready & within a couple of minutes look up the river & two sika stags coming down side by side(one spiker).
Looking straight towards us & as said earlier in post
It’s amazing how they can pinpoint where the whistle comes from.may I add, I always wear gloves & a face veil regardless of heat, reckon it has got me a good few deer that would have been off seeing my hands/face.so bigger one gets in front & at about20 yards on opposite bank stops been following it all the way,safety off & slight squeeze on Jewell trigger & it drops to a side on beck shot, nearly falling into river. Open the bolt & put gun on ground, stand up & the spiker had ran about 15 yards & stopped, turned & faced me, waiting for his mate??i was very relaxed , picked rifle up, closed bolt, on sticks slowly, no face veil or gloves & this one was away?middle of neck & shot number three accounted for deer number three, what an exhilarating 10-15 minutes. Went & collected them as I wasn’t going to shoot any more, mibby I should have waited &seen if anymore had turned up.
That was 5 separate sika coming to the calls, I’m no expert but it worked for me this time & on various other occasions, also had many a time when it hasn’t worked.
Also the last deer face on in neck was still blinking when I reached it, tough tough creatures & gave my utmost respect & admiration. Love watching them as well as stalking/ambushing them.
Also went & cleared up some roe, with my mate accounting for another stag at different forestry
Hope you enjoy my long winded story, so Nordic call for me, but everybody to their own

Steve.

 

[sikamalc]

Couple more good stags taken in Scotland. Mind this was about 20 years ago, and its not me in the photo either.

 

[JH83]

I’ve had frankly remarkable results with the sceery call. Provided I’m hearing the stags whistling I usually get some form of a reaction, sika stags are remarkably confrontational beasts. As previous posts suggest, get ready when you start as things can develop very quickly! Here are a few from past seasons, all fallen to the sceery