Evening all. I was undecided weather to go out this evening but as the rain seemed to have stopped I thought I would head out and see if I could knock a fallow buck or two over. I headed over to one of the permissions that I am trying to thin out. On arrival I spotted a heat source in one of the little spinneys which turned out to be a doe so I headed down to the big wood where I had seen another couple for heat sources. As I passed a gap in between two hedges that opens up to a big field of stubble where I scanned with the thermal and saw a roe doe and what appeared to be a fallow sorrel still in velvet. Had a glass and could not believe what I was seeing so got the rifle off my shoulder for a bit more magnification. A Sika stag, what's so strange about that I hear you say. Well the land I was shooting over is in Lincolnshire and the last I heard we don't have Sika in Lincolnshire. According to a quick Google search, it appears that Normanby park had some in the 70's but not for long and there was supposed to be a sighting at Gibraltar point in 1993 but this was presumed to be a young fallow. Well this was definatley a Sika as you can see from the pics. I am absolutely made up as I thought I would have to have a trip up north or over to the emerald isle to add one to the list. Now granted he is still in velvet so I need to try and sort that out (if anyone has any ideas on how to do that I would appreciate any help)
Sika in Lincolnshire
- Thread starter Matthew Thompson
- Start date
That's a Manchurian sika, not the more usual Japanese, so I guess it's probably an escapee from somewhere.
Matthew Thompson
Active Member
I thought so but there aren't any parks round here that have them on 
Congratulations I stalk a few parcels of land in Lincolnshire and never seen or heard of a sika near them
Sol
Well-Known Member
I commented on the Facebook post but if not get him into the freezer today if you want too preserve the velvet It rots very quickly, I personally would keep the velvet and get it shoulder/pedestal mounted Its a really unusual specimen for the area.
Not to mention def Manchurian blood in it as well.
Not to mention def Manchurian blood in it as well.
Matthew Thompson
Active Member
Just going to prep as a scull mount to match the rest. Don't have a chest freezer so couldn't fit him in the upright one anyway.
Matthew Thompson
Active Member
Just going to prep as a scull mount to match the rest. Don't have a chest freezer so couldn't fit him in the upright one
Thanks buddy but I prefer a skull mount. Just need to figure out how to get the velvet off.
My question is when will you cook and eat some of him as personally i think that is way above the head part, a friend shot 5 in Norfolk last year.
My opinion counts for nothing, but personally I do think a skull mount and taking the velvet off would be somewhat of waste of an interesting specimen. Either way, good luck and enjoy the venison.
Sol
Well-Known Member
The better question Is though why do you want the velvet off? the tips are very bulbous meaning the deer was still growing Its velvet, when you strip the antlers the tine ends will be very rounded and brittle
a lot of antler staining comes from blood the velvet will be bone white as the bloods drained before the velvet has been damaged (e.g deer stripping velvet whilst alive) and very porous so It would require very careful staining to get a nice colour as the bone will just suck the stain up instantly and go dark.
A Taxidermist could inject the antlers and preserve them well, and with it being a Manchurian It would be nice to preserve that unique orange colour but just my two 0.02$
Matthew Thompson
Active Member
The issue I have is keeping it until I can get it to a taxidermist. As I have no chest freezer to put it inThe better question Is though why do you want the velvet off? the tips are very bulbous meaning the deer was still growing Its velvet, when you strip the antlers the tine ends will be very rounded and brittle
a lot of antler staining comes from blood the velvet will be bone white as the bloods drained before the velvet has been damaged (e.g deer stripping velvet whilst alive) and very porous so It would require very careful staining to get a nice colour as the bone will just suck the stain up instantly and go dark.
A Taxidermist could inject the antlers and preserve them well, and with it being a Manchurian It would be nice to preserve that unique orange colour but just my two 0.02$
Matthew Thompson
Active Member
He is in the chiller at the moment and I will be going to sort him on Sunday. Can't wait to try some as never tasted Sika but hear good things
Some folks think the fat off them is bitter or sour.
It’s my personal favourite
An even better question is had it been later in the season and been a doe then would most of the replies would been posted!The better question Is though why do you want the velvet off? the tips are very bulbous meaning the deer was still growing Its velvet, when you strip the antlers the tine ends will be very rounded and brittle
a lot of antler staining comes from blood the velvet will be bone white as the bloods drained before the velvet has been damaged (e.g deer stripping velvet whilst alive) and very porous so It would require very careful staining to get a nice colour as the bone will just suck the stain up instantly and go dark.
A Taxidermist could inject the antlers and preserve them well, and with it being a Manchurian It would be nice to preserve that unique orange colour but just my two 0.02$
just my one pence worth
Idve definitely replied it’s been shot 2 miles from where I stalkAn even better question is had it been later in the season and been a doe then would most of the replies would been posted!
just my one pence worth
And if it had been on BASC ground cried as well lolIdve definitely replied it’s been shot 2 miles from where I stalk
Matthew Thompson
Active Member
Taking it over to a local taxidermist this afternoon so he should be able to save the velvet with a scull mount
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