Sika's....Lets do it!

[jcar315]

I am interested as well. I have been thinking about doing a Sika hunt but have never gotten around to it.

Please keep me in mind. Thanks!!

[Gehrke145]

This has been on my list for a long time!

[Plumber]

I was hunting them all day yesterday the rut is on these deer are hard to get too. the land will have your butt lost in no time.In some areas the g.p.s is spotty due to the trees .Iguess.we saw lots of deer am-pm .If you dont go where you need to be your wasting your time. coming out at night can be intimadating.scouting is a must.If you get lost your done.check your ego at the door .this is not an area to take lightly .this place is not your grandaddys farm.This place has its own type of bueaty.It is one of the best blue collar hunts out there.Be ready for a BITTER sweet time I love the place and would not change a thing!!!!!!!!

[jcar315]

At Blackwater how exactly does the "permit" process work? I have read the website but would be curious to hear from those who have gone through it. Any hoops to jump through?

[huntingwolf]

Hunting sika in october on Assateque Island is osome I have done it for the past two years. I camp on the National Park side of the Island and spend about a week in Mid October. Hunting the sika is great with the added benefit of being on the beach at night and listening to the sika bugling all night. Couple of things to think about would be researching to get a permit to use four wheel vehicles as acess I walk to my areas but it is a lot of ground to cover and walking in the sandy areas is a little trying at best. Also you need to be aware there are wild horses on the beach and they rome free and they can be mischifous at time and tear your camp up, but I am sure once you do this trip you will be hooked like me. The picture on my avatar is on the Island Hunt trip  

[griz#1]

Jcar315,just stop at blackwater visitor ctr. on key wallace drive and pay the 20.00 dollor fee for your bow permit and go hunting.you will get a map of the area with permit.

[chesapeakeblend]

Don't forget Fishing Bay wildlife management area has them and there are no permits required.  Better have a canoe/boat though.

[reddogge]

The terrain is marshland and the trees available to climb are loblolly pine trees.  Lots of scrub brush, water, hollys, mud.  You can get lost in a 100 yard walk, believe me.  Not for the feignt of heart.

[kbetts]

I'm glad to hear "tell it like it is" comments.  The marsh is unforgiving.  A beauty like no other but full of surprises.  Honestly, the thing that concerns me most is getting turned around.  You may not be lost in the mountains of the west, but you will definitely be alone with little or no elevation to aid you.  Gotta be a marshrat.

[Joe D]

Bill(Huntingwolf) How does the hunting on Assateague Island compare to the hunting at Blackwater? I sure am attracted to the sleeping on the beach with the horses and the bugling Sika's at night experience.

[Steve Kendrot]

Blackwater and assateague are two different hunting experiences. I've not hunted assateague, but live and work in Dorchester county. I love the marsh hunting. Comments about getting lost are on the money. Don't go without a gps, compass and map. There are tens of thousands of acres of state and federal land open to hunting in Dorchester. Blackwaters archery permit is over the counter and can be purchased any time. Their archery season is more restrictive than the state season so check dates before you plan to go. Fishing bay WMA, Taylors island WMA, and several thousand acres of Chesapeake Forestlands are all excellent sika hunting. A boat would open up a lot of opportunity, but is not required. Sika deer aren't quite as mysterious as folks might have you believe, but you will work for them and simply applying whitetail tactics may not give you the results you hope for. I think they are easier to hunt off the ground than whitetails.  They respond well to calling which adds an exciting element. They love thick cover and stick to it for travel corridors. They bed out in the open marshes and move into the woods at night. Stands on the edge of the marsh but close to thick cover like phragmites or Myrtle bushes will afford a good view to scan the marsh but provide the cover they like for close shots when they come in. They are a hardy critter and their habitat is not conducive to blood trailing. I have regrettably lost a few well-hit sikas for unexplainable reasons. Last winter I made what looked like a great shot on a doe. I let it sit overnight and the next morning tracked it over 1.2 miles. Double backs, loops and crossed it's own trail half a dozen times. Tracked it with my GPS. Finally lost it when it went out on the open marsh and lost blood. Grid searches are next to useless unless you've got a dozen people holding hands as you cross the marsh. If you don't step on them you won't see them.

They are a ton of fun and am just thankful the whitetail and sika rut don't coincide with each other. I'd hate to have to choose between them! Good eats too!

[Keefer]

I agree 100% with Steve not because I know him but he has hunted them and know's BlackWater pretty good and he lives a mile or so from there...I myself used to hunt Assateaque with several friends nearly every weekend in the early 80's and ninty's but haven't been there for about 8 years or so but I can tell you one good thing ...If you hunt the Bayside past the sand dunes it's an area to pack knee boots and hipboots but you can get around some of the Myrtle bush without getting lost...If you stay late just remember to listen for the GPS that God has given us and that's the Breaking of the Ocean waves and it will lead you out of the marshy side...Remember your route in and hunt with a buddy near by so you can have someone to help drag a sika out with you...These guys sometimes are seen in heards of 3 or even up to about 12 or more and what an exciting time you will have...The first time you hear that Bugle/whistle will stay with you forever...The rangers will sometimes check you and don't speed through the park before entering the beach...They have a list of gear you must have on your 4x4 so check the list before going...No A.T.V such as quads  but I think a hand cart is O.k. but I've seen some people just carry their deer out in one hand...If you see Steve's Sika he got last week then you've seen the average size Sika ( Sorry Steve I didn't mean for yours to sound average  :D  ) BUT I've seen some six point stags that were almost Black in color and could of been 125 to 150# on the hoof and that's rare and would be considered a giant...I've gotten two with bow down Assateaque and one with gun but every time I had a great time...God Bless, Keefer's <")))><

[kbetts]

I'm already thinking of using a canoe.  I believe it would be easier to get around and if you follow the waterways, less chance of getting lost.  Most guys I've talked to about Assateaque used wheelbarrows with balloon tires in the sand.  Of course this was a few years ago when they opened the campground to hunting and guys were hauling out four at a time.

[Plumber]

this should be a 2010 trip PLANING an SCOUTING a must if you really want to snag one of these critters. It is too hard of a trip to just go down there an wing it.Assateague an other areas all have different rules.an alot needs to be hashed out before a hunt can take place to be effective

[kbetts]

Plumber, you are 100% correct sir.  I definitely will not be going in blind.

[Keefer]

Plumber, There is an area we called the Flats down there...Almost to the end and I remember some Brick Pillers or something and we hunted way back around the bay side and came to an area of Marsh, Big Pines and Lots of Briars...Back in the mid 80's this and a place called Hunkafers or something like that was the Hot areas but lots have changed since then...I do remember when we used to drive a washed out road then and in the 90's you could only use the beach then park and walk a few miles...The good thing is the Island is about 2 miles wide or less and what about 16 miles long...My friends and I are always wanting to go back again but with Children and work etc. It is hard to get one good day in but I'm up for it....If we can get Mike Mittin to go I think He could write about it in another book or better yet could do some Video footage to add to the next "Primal Dreams" Sika footage would be very neat to see in that Video...Could even get the  The Two twin "Weasel Brothers" out as well...I meant Wensels  

[Plumber]

sounds great we should all get togeather those of us that are 1-3 hrs away maybe meet for breakfast make some plans an get things squared away as far as lodgeing etc. divie up the planing get all our ducks in a row.an help any out of state guys who may want to come we should come up with a reasonable number of people so things dont get too over the top.

[kbetts]

As long as where we have breakfast serves scrapple.

[lpcjon2]

I am from South Jersey and was on Chincotegue and saw a brochure about them looked on the fish and wildlife web page and really got interested. I want to do the pack in and camp hunt I would go if you are interested.

[Joe D]

Steve, are you available for hire as a guide?         Seriously though, I really think us out of staters are going to have to hire some people that can guide us or at least point us in the right direction when hunting. I know for me it's a three hour drive so doing any type of productive scouting could be next to impossible, however i would come down a few times to scout with someone who already has some idea of the lay of the land. Anyone have any ideas how we can tackle this problem for out of staters? By the way, I'll buy breakfast, and I'll bring a brick of scrapple for Kyle. What brand do you like?