Sika stag down

Popped up and into the kawekas over the weekend, On the first arvo my mate shot his first sika at 300, just a tasty little male yearling. The next morning, we headed to another spot and as I peered down across the river I saw a spiker lying in the bush chewing away on his cud. After I took the shot and left him laying there with his last mouthful of cud in his teeth, I saw 5 other hinds split from around him. 5 minutes later, I decided to look up into the hills behind me where there were a few scrubby faces I had always thought deer should be on, I spotted some big white tips through the scrub and patiently watched and waited for roughly 20 minutes, trying not to just guess where his head and neck was. After a 20 minute wait, this boy fully presented a head and neck shot. I sent the 168gr berger vld from 301m away into his neck, dropping him on the spot. It wasn't until I got upto him, when I realized how big he was for a Sika. Est 180ds

Primo!

Cracker!!!.:cool:

Very nice

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Well Done :cool:

Yup

What a beast! Did you fly in?

Walked in mate. Put the hard yards in

That's great. Now I 'spose you will go to that spot we talked about and strike a 40" 12 straight away :) I hope you do.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

That's great. Now I 'spose you will go to that spot we talked about and strike a 40" 12 straight away :) I hope you do.

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This sika is my first stag for the year, so many times this year I have let other people shoot to make sure they get animals. I'll head out to that spot at some point, I wouldn't mind getting a decent red and shoulder mounting it! Only got 2x sika now and a fallow that were worthy. So a red would be nice at some point!

Lars what an awesome stag, and that rifle looks very pretty. Is that the 7mm saum getting it done?
Is it the lucky moustache that landed you the big one? Is the mtm bipod working well?

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Originally Posted by Tim Dicko

Lars what an awesome stag, and that rifle looks very pretty. Is that the 7mm saum getting it done?
Is it the lucky moustache that landed you the big one? Is the mtm bipod working well?

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Hey Tim, the lucky mo definitely helps mate. The msngear bipod is great, so many adjustments are available with kit.

Yes, the 7mm saum I had jaco build for me is a great rifle. Will have to get my 300norma mag out next, but that would have taken the head off this stag!

Definitely a nice rig, Which mtm bipod is it? i bet the 7mm saum is the go to out of the to out of the norma and the saum. i find myself picking my 7mm over the 30 nosler. suppressors are a bit more enjoyable to shoot.

Very nice. It will be interesting to see what he scores.

Yeah, I prefer the 7mm saum, but enjoy the 30p norma also when going up on big.open tops around tsraruas and ruahines. Anything with a but of bush, and semi long stuff is the saum and anything pure Bush only is the 338br

Mtngear mountain lite

Bloody nice stag! bloody nice rifle! bloody well done!

Ripper Sika stag, well done.

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Originally Posted by Larskramer

Walked in mate. Put the hard yards in

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Good on ya, hes a cracker!

Stunning

B

Nice stag.
I'd be interested in seeing a picture of his skull pattern once he's boiled out.

Definitely a top shelf stag well done.

Thanks guys, super stoked. Especially after messing up shooting a monster 12 red during the roar, and another monster 8 sika pre roar up waipakihi river.

Nice Stag

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Nice stag.
I'd be interested in seeing a picture of his skull pattern once he's boiled out.

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Same here. Nice stag

@Larskramer. Have you had it scored yet?

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Originally Posted by Shearer

@Larskramer. Have you had it scored yet?

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My guess is 160s with red influence showing through a small amount.
None the less still a great stag, well done. (My guess could be well off but just doesn't look to have the length?)

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Originally Posted by Larskramer

Popped up and into the kawekas over the weekend, On the first arvo my mate shot his first sika at 300, just a tasty little male yearling. The next morning, we headed to another spot and as I peered down across the river I saw a spiker lying in the bush chewing away on his cud. After I took the shot and left him laying there with his last mouthful of cud in his teeth, I saw 5 other hinds split from around him. 5 minutes later, I decided to look up into the hills behind me where there were a few scrubby faces I had always thought deer should be on, I spotted some big white tips through the scrub and patiently watched and waited for roughly 20 minutes, trying not to just guess where his head and neck was. After a 20 minute wait, this boy fully presented a head and neck shot. I sent the 168gr berger vld from 301m away into his neck, dropping him on the spot. It wasn't until I got upto him, when I realized how big he was for a Sika. Est 180ds

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bloody well done that man

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Originally Posted by Nick.m

My guess is 160s with red influence showing through a small amount.
None the less still a great stag, well done. (My guess could be well off but just doesn't look to have the length?)

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im 6ft 2 @ 110kg.... currently its with jase @ ruahine taxidermy, as soon as he gets a min hes going to run the tape over it for me. His first thought at looking said late 170s. no red influence in it at all coming from 3x known sika gurus.

Not trying to take away from your success at all mate, it’s an awesome stag but I think if you have a read in the link below you will find a couple things that your sika gurus haven’t considered and a few others here have seen. I personally find it interesting trying to identify the little traits and build my knowledge on it. Should look mint when Jason is finished with it, good stuff.

https://www.nzdahastings.org.nz/wp-c...uide-Notes.pdf

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Originally Posted by stagstalker

Not trying to take away from your success at all mate, it’s an awesome stag but I think if you have a read in the link below you will find a couple things that your sika gurus haven’t considered and a few others here have seen. I personally find it interesting trying to identify the little traits and build my knowledge on it. Should look mint when Jason is finished with it, good stuff.

https://www.nzdahastings.org.nz/wp-c...uide-Notes.pdf

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If it was me I would get the skull back from the taxidermist and give it to someone with the credentials to evaluate it on the withey system. Then at least he will know for certain. There is definitely some strong red genetics in it just by looking at the antler formation, but without seeing the skull it's anyone's guess. Nice animal nonetheless. Good on you for bringing it up stagstalker, not an easy thing to do.

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Originally Posted by stagstalker

Not trying to take away from your success at all mate, it’s an awesome stag but I think if you have a read in the link below you will find a couple things that your sika gurus haven’t considered and a few others here have seen. I personally find it interesting trying to identify the little traits and build my knowledge on it. Should look mint when Jason is finished with it, good stuff.

https://www.nzdahastings.org.nz/wp-c...uide-Notes.pdf

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roger that, jase sending me a pic today of bleached head.

Attachment 227179

Need to see the skull upclose. Lovely stag either way

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Originally Posted by superdiver

Need to see the skull upclose. Lovely stag either way

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Back of the skull between pedicle and neck.

MY personal opinion is unless you are entering head in a national competition where genetics are important. Dont do it. Its a nice Sika and can remain a nice Sika regardless of what one else says. Its not record breaking as far as the books go and so who cares in reality if there is some red in there. Id happily mount that as a sika if I shot it and why wouldn't you.

An example. Some years back I did a solo hunt with my bow for Tahr. I ended up shooting a 14 year old bull that would not have survived another year going off of his condition in summer and his teeth. It was a bloody awesome feat and Im proud of it. It will measure somewhere near 12 inches but I have never measured it. Why? because its just as likely to go 11.75 as it is 12 or 12.25. Im happy with it being about 12 and 14 years old despite others wanting to know exactly what scores.

If any of that makes sense.

looking at photos..and that scoring chart above...there is a gap between brow tines and coronets..coronets are rounded...the skull LOOKS to be shorter than your suppressor ...suppressors arent much more than 13 1/2" thats three ticks.... the skull joins being T or Y is the missing bit of puzzle but agree 100% with whanahuia

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

looking at photos..and that scoring chart above...there is a gap between brow tines and coronets..coronets are rounded...the skull LOOKS to be shorter than your suppressor ...suppressors arent much more than 13 1/2" thats three ticks.... the skull joins being T or Y is the missing bit of puzzle but agree 100% with whanahuia

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It beats my shouldered mount sika, by a long shot. So either way I'm happy and am getting it shoulder mounted!!

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Originally Posted by whanahuia

MY personal opinion is unless you are entering head in a national competition where genetics are important. Dont do it. Its a nice Sika and can remain a nice Sika regardless of what one else says. Its not record breaking as far as the books go and so who cares in reality if there is some red in there. Id happily mount that as a sika if I shot it and why wouldn't you.

An example. Some years back I did a solo hunt with my bow for Tahr. I ended up shooting a 14 year old bull that would not have survived another year going off of his condition in summer and his teeth. It was a bloody awesome feat and Im proud of it. It will measure somewhere near 12 inches but I have never measured it. Why? because its just as likely to go 11.75 as it is 12 or 12.25. Im happy with it being about 12 and 14 years old despite others wanting to know exactly what scores.

If any of that makes sense.

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If it were mine I'd want to know it's pedigree. Just for my own satisfaction.