Across the swampy marshes of the Mid-Atlantic, the first whistling bugles of the rut are echoing as Asian elk, known locally as sika deer, begin their mating rituals. Hunters can legally hunt Yellowstone elk in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Tennessee, yet the odds of drawing a license are minuscule. In Maryland and Virginia, you can hunt the diminutive sika deer for the cost of a permit and hunt on public land without a guide.
Challenging the Swamps
Just as hunting elk in the West often involves adjusting to high elevation and steep terrain, a sika hunt will be perfectly flat, yet the swampy environment can be just as difficult to traverse. Most hunters use climbing tree stands or saddles to get an elevated shooting platform because the swamps are often filled with phragmites, a tall plant as thick as dog hair that deer love to move through. Sika deer stags make a whistling, five-note bugle and splash noisily through swampy conditions, rather than crunching leaves.
Whitetails Too
A Maryland non-resident hunting license is one of the best deals in the outdoors, offering the opportunity to hunt up to three whitetail bucks, two sika stags, as well as does, wild turkeys, and small game. A non-resident adult license costs $160, a senior NR license costs $65, and a youth license costs just $80.00. Although the primary habitat for sika deer is a swamp, marginal areas also support both species, including the Assateague Island National Seashore, which hosts its own distinct seasons for whitetails and sika.
Mid-October Rut
Many hunters consider mid-October to be the optimal time to harvest a sika deer, as the males become more active during daylight hours and bugle to announce their presence. Maryland offers a three-day muzzleloading season for deer, October 16-18, in which bowhunting is not allowed. If you embrace primitive firearms, you can combine two hunts into one. Maryland’s Finest is an excellent resource for out-of-state hunters, featuring the top whitetail deer, bears, and sika stags in the state, as well as information on how to hunt them.
Family Vacation
Most elk hunts and some deer hunts occur in remote areas that require tents and primitive camping. Sika hunts are located adjacent to some of the nation’s best tourist attractions and popular beaches. Yes, you can camp on Assateague Island, but you can also book an off-season hotel room with an ocean view. Cabin and home rentals are also an option, as well as excellent seafood from local markets and restaurants. The entire area has cell service, making the use of mapping apps an ideal way to scout likely sika habitat from your motel room. Maryland Tourism has a myriad of great family options.
Here’s a Video Showing what a Sika Deer is Like