Sika Call
- Thread starter Taffy597
- Start date
I have the Sika XT that I was given by the guy that makes them and also a Sceery cow elk call - both work well. I'm not particularly good at using them but had really good responses the last rut I hunted sika.
deercentral.co.uk
grahamsonline.co.uk
Sika XT S Deer Call – Deer Central
deercentral.co.uk
Special Elk (Sika) Call
ACE-1 Special Elk (Sika) Call. In the UK, this call has been found to be ideal for Sika deer stalking. Dr. Ed Sceery is the original inventor of these patented, bite-down style elk (Sika) calls. They have proven to be the most effective ever made and have become the high quality standard for...
grahamsonline.co.uk
sikamalc
Administrator
I have called Sika stags into the call many times. Success depends on the situation at the time, where you are, cover, what the stag is doing, if its with hinds etc. As a rule a mature Sika stag is no fool.
Always stand with your back against thick cover, or a tree. Make sure the wind is in your face. Your approach to an area should be as quiet as possible and check the wind all the time. Don't try and get too near, if you have a stag whistling.
Screery cow Elk calls are good, the Nordic I am not familier with. Many years back the acme predator call was all the rage. £5 each, but you had to knock the end of it out to get the desired effect. The FC were using them a lot. However over the years Sika have got used to them, and don't seem to respond like they used too.
I have stalked and hunted Sika over 36 years, mostly I might add in the Scottish Highlands, but also for about 6 years in the West Country. To me they are two different animals. The Sika in the highlands are super switched on, and its not easy to get a good stag. West Country they seem to be fairly easy to get onto and I guess they see a lot more people.
Out of all the deer over the years, it has only been Sika Stags that have caused me one or two hairy moments in thick cover.
Always stand with your back against thick cover, or a tree. Make sure the wind is in your face. Your approach to an area should be as quiet as possible and check the wind all the time. Don't try and get too near, if you have a stag whistling.
Screery cow Elk calls are good, the Nordic I am not familier with. Many years back the acme predator call was all the rage. £5 each, but you had to knock the end of it out to get the desired effect. The FC were using them a lot. However over the years Sika have got used to them, and don't seem to respond like they used too.
I have stalked and hunted Sika over 36 years, mostly I might add in the Scottish Highlands, but also for about 6 years in the West Country. To me they are two different animals. The Sika in the highlands are super switched on, and its not easy to get a good stag. West Country they seem to be fairly easy to get onto and I guess they see a lot more people.
Out of all the deer over the years, it has only been Sika Stags that have caused me one or two hairy moments in thick cover.
Interesting
A couple of very experienced sika lads I occasionally stalked with in Argyll had some scary moments in thick plantations calling sika stags, both had been properly charged and had to shout to stop the beast.
Oddly the Bowland sika don’t seem to come well to the call at all. This is from the old FC ranger of Gisburn forest, I don’t have any sika ground there anymore. No idea why not, but that seems the way of it.
Most of my sika stalking has been south of Loch Ness and I must confess it’s has been the finest of sport (see my profile pic). It’s right there with driven grouse, in my opinion even better. They call in readily here, the population is quite high, and they seem ready for a scrap (I’ll try to stay away from the obvious comment about our Scottish brethren!).
They seem either do one of 2 things. Charge in quickly or slide in unseen, and stand watching intently. I have become impatient on occasion and started to move position to be whistled by the latter that I never saw. Shots are often close range, and high neck in long rush.
Had good results with the sceery but the Nordic is imo better. It is rather loud though so small stags will come, but mill around at 100yds, not daring to come right in.
I’ll be up there in a few months, counting the days.
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sikamalc
Administrator
Yep, Iv'e had two occassions where I have been openly charged by Sika stags in thick commecial forestry, both times wounded by a client. The first time was some years back now with a lady from USA. Just clipped the gut on a big 8 pointer stag.
I had my old BMH dog, Todd at the time, who was without doubt the best dog Iv'e ever had. Its a bit of a long story, but he bought it to bay in thick commercial forestry you couldn't even stand up properly. And it suddenly turned and charged down the tunnel straight towards me. It all happened in a few seconds, but i killed it at close quarters with my 357 revolver.
And I know many consider a side arm a waste of time, but believe you me i'm glad I had it with me, and have had cause to use it a few times over the years in thick cover where a rifle is just about useless.
Back up in the highlands soon, with my other two guides who work with me, bang on for the Sika rut.
I had my old BMH dog, Todd at the time, who was without doubt the best dog Iv'e ever had. Its a bit of a long story, but he bought it to bay in thick commercial forestry you couldn't even stand up properly. And it suddenly turned and charged down the tunnel straight towards me. It all happened in a few seconds, but i killed it at close quarters with my 357 revolver.
And I know many consider a side arm a waste of time, but believe you me i'm glad I had it with me, and have had cause to use it a few times over the years in thick cover where a rifle is just about useless.
Back up in the highlands soon, with my other two guides who work with me, bang on for the Sika rut.
Taffy597
Well-Known Member
Thanks Malc,
I’m Sika Stag stalking in Sutherland during the rut. First time Sika stalking.
Ive been lucky enough to call Dorset Sika stags with a sceery call successfully many times, I’ve never been charged by one intentionally, not that I recall, but have often had to shout to stop them for fear of me or a client being bowled over in the height of the rut. Coming in hot!
Dorsettaff
Well-Known Member
Sceery call for me. Use both the cow and bull elk calls. A gentle mewing on the cow call is very effective when they have their dander up! Have had sika almost run into the back of me when using them. Be very sparing with the bull call...very easy to "overcall" and scare them off.
Absolutely. Call as though a low tier stag so don’t frighten lesser beasts. Then build. Then be ready for an old bugger looking for a fight. Calling sitting on sticks ready above rank heather over a wallow often works well too. Wind obviously into your face. If it comes fast a strong call will get it in close and not standing in fringe looking
gareth_bryson
Member
I have the nordic one and have seen stags called in to within 20 yards with it.
CastleStalker
Well-Known Member
I've only used the Screery and had some success with it. On one occasion I had a cracking big stag sneak in behind me and the dog to around 15-20ft, to say it got the hackles up is an understatement. Big Sika stags are without a doubt very cautious beasts usually just staying out of sight on the tree lines which makes it all the more fun when you do eventually get a shot. Back at them in October and can't wait..
Deermanagement
Well-Known Member
Screery is ok but no match for the right sound out of a bugle tuned for Sika.
Will often use the screery in places where you can’t see to far and there maybe something close that’ll respond, but failing that, a few whistles on the bugle often produces where there’s no response from the former.
Will often use the screery in places where you can’t see to far and there maybe something close that’ll respond, but failing that, a few whistles on the bugle often produces where there’s no response from the former.
The Nordic is a great job, guaranteed to draw them in around here once the wind is your favour.
gareth_bryson
Member
Stags and Hinds Actually
Freeforester
Well-Known Member
Called one in with the Nordik last season in Easter Ross to within 7 yards, but the guest didn't have the rifle shouldered - might have had him easier with a slug in a shotgun. All the fun, none of the mess!
Willy showed me the pic of the stag that charged him in a plantation at the weekend , I was over with him and M and P.
He called it and it charged and didnt stop coming , he had to take a rushed shot and it fell into him as it was coming to its end still looking for a fight.
He had a look at it and even more impressively it was severely wounded from fighting with another stag,he likened the state of one of his antlers akin to stirring a pot of soup with a ladle .
Hardy animals.
Those boys are all using Nordic and the 243 and 270 still
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