Thread: Sika antler

Question for the sika experts. When do sika stags strip velvet? Was hunting this time last year and all the sika stags I saw where carrying velvet. When are they likely to be hard underneath? Also is there any rhythm or reson to who strip first? Eg big stags strip first or the younger ones?

Big stags first as a general rule

They are 7 days late this year by the looks of it

shot a large spiker yesterday in kawekas, 600mm long spikes... 3 tips. solid underneath

Mature stags should be fine now however there is always an exception to the rule. The mature stags will shed antlers earlier, consequently growing hard antler earlier. If some havent begun to strip now they will in the next week or two before leaving to their rutting areas. Look for dry looking velvet with well defined points.

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Big stags first as a general rule

They are 7 days late this year by the looks of it

So what day are they will they strip? Im planning a trip

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Some have already stripped. A couple of stags the mates got on the main Kaweka range over a week ago were hard as and stripped out fine too.

Any mature stag will be already stripped or hard under velvet now, i normally do not take any Sika stag until after the 3rd week of Feb.