Thread: Sika SUCCESS

I don't hunt Sika too often, usually one trip per year during the roar for the past 3 years and I've only ever shot a spiker, although I did miss a massive 8pt stag 2 years ago!
But I really enjoy bush stalking them so I'm going to spend more time doing it, rather than chasing reds and fallow all the time!

Last week I headed into the Kaimanawas on a solo mission, they were barely making any noise, so when I stalked in to about 12m on a young 6pt stag on day 2 I decided to take him, he hadn't made a sound and had no idea I was there so I was happy enough with my efforts there! Carried on stalking for the day but only seen hinds.



This week I went back in with a mate, camping in -2deg, first day and a bit we hunted together but seen nothing and only heard one roar so I wasn't setting my expectations too high for the following day! 3rd day I headed off high on my own and dropped down into the bush from the open tops to have the wind advantage.
One stag let out a single call at about lunch time, he'd only roar once every 30-60mins then shut up again. I roared a few times and he would usually reply once before going quiet again. He made noise often enough that I was able to pinpoint where I thought he might be. I snuck in across to the spur I thought he was on and over the next couple hours I patiently made my way down the spur, coming across a big fresh rut pad and getting onto 6 deer over this period, but none of them being the stag I was after.



Once I reached the bottom of the spur I thought he had either given me the slip or was actually over on the other side. Every few minutes I could hear movement off to my right, but I wasn't able to spot any animals. There wasn't a lot of bush light remaining and I was a long way from camp so I started looking for a spot to cross the creek and head back up the ridge to make my way back to camp when I spotted a hind out to my right.... followed by another deer with some antler!
They had no idea I was there. The hind went out of view quickly and I knew the stag was only going to present me with a small window of opportunity to shoot, I lined up the gap in the shrubs where the hind had been and the stag would soon cross and I managed to get this nice 8 on the deck for my days efforts...





Might have really got that Sika bug now I reckon!!
1.5hrs of bush bashing back to camp in the dark, but he got the last laugh with a tine just under my eye!