Ciekot: Catch sika hunting fever on Delmarva, but wait for the best time
If you're a hunter on Delmarva chances are high that in early October, you're likely to get a case of sika fever. These little elk, which have taken over much of the marshlands of the Shore, are amazing animals to hunt, take you to beautiful places and are running around with some of the best venison you can imagine. They are in full rut right now, too, which makes this the most exciting time to chase them.
To catch the best sika action you need to be either a bowhunter or, later in the week, a muzzleloader hunter. Archers get the best of it as their long season allows them to take advantage of the best weather conditions. With sika, as with most critters, it pays to have the patience to wait for the best conditions if you want the best results.
I'm a diehard sika hunter and I can't wait to get out and start hunting them in the fall. When the bow season opens in early September I'm ready, but over the years I've learned that hunting them too early or when the weather is wrong generally produces an unfilled tag and disturbed deer later when the peak action hits. So with experience I've learned to wait.
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Last week when the temperatures felt more like summer was a prime example. It was time to sika hunt according to the calendar. The deer were certainly rutting, because they do it when it's time no matter the weather. But hot days and warm nights shut down most daytime deer movement, the bugs were thick and any attempt at tackling the marsh was certain to result in a case of the soaking sweats. So, grudgingly, I waited.
Then the right conditions finally came, at least almost. The nights weren't dropping into the upper lower fifties on the thermometer like I prefer, but clouds, drizzle and east winds were forecast to keep the days cool. Sika deer move well under those conditions and it was time to hunt.
For once planning and experience worked. I headed into my best public land spot, untouched for the season under the best weather in weeks, and I caught the sika active and unaware. They were bugling across the marshes, stags were moving in the middle of the day and they were responding to calling. After a total of two and a half hours in the stand I'd bugled in, with the infamous Sika Seducer call, a tall five-point stag to 3 yards under my tree stand. A shot, a short track job and a long drag back to my kayak and the hunt was over.
Experience, planning and waiting for the right conditions can make all the difference.
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Muzzleloader season coming up
Next up in Maryland is the October muzzleloader deer season. Thursday, Oct. 19 through Saturday, Oct. 21 is the general three-day season, open for either sex deer, while the following week, Oct. 23-28, is the antlerless only segment. This is traditionally one of the best deer hunting times of the year, with sika in peak rut and whitetails just getting cranked up with pre-rut scraping and rubbing activity. Load your muzzleloader and get out there for this hunt; you won't regret it.
Outdoor Calendar
Oct. 14-21: First segment of Maryland regular duck season
Oct. 16, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28 & 30: Delaware special antlerless deer season days
Oct. 17: Opening of Virginia snow/light goose season
Oct. 19-21: Maryland early muzzleloader deer season
Oct. 19-21 & 23-28: Assateague Island National Seashore muzzleloader deer season
Oct. 21: Delaware and Virginia youth waterfowl hunts
Oct. 21-22: 18th Annual Rocktoberfest Tournament, Bahia Marina, Ocean City, 410-289-7473
Oct. 23-28: Maryland early muzzleloader antlerless deer season
Through Oct. 29: First segment of Virginia mourning dove season
Through Dec. 20: Chesapeake striped bass season, main bay and all tributaries, two fish daily, 20 inches minimum, only one over 28 inches