Sika Deer Hunts

Texas is King when it comes to hunting opportunities. Here in Sutton County, the Texas Hill Country we have several free range exotics for hunters to pursue year round. That's one of the unique opportunities here in Texas, you can hunt big game anytime of the year!

Sika deer grow their antlers through the months of April through August, similar to the whitetail deer here in the Hill Country. Typically mature bucks will grow either 3 or 4 points per side. They rut during October, and that is when you will hear Sika stags calling most similar to a bugling elk. Their high pitched calls can be heard through the oak filled hills and valleys which inject excitement knowing there are sika bucks nearby. Their dark chocolate coats make them easily identifiable when they show up, make no mistake, these highly tuned exotics are super sensitive to anything not natural in their environment. Often making the whitetail deer in the area look like they don't know what they're doing. Many times hunts have been spoiled by sika deer sensing something isn't right and blow your hunt while whitetail deer stand around and wonder what got into them. Sika deer are a well earned trophy to take with archery or rifle gear.

Bowhunting sika deer can be a nerve racking experience. Getting these small elk like creatures within bow range along with all the other whitetail and exotics that come into range is a challenge. Well placed blinds, ladder stands, tripod stands, and playing the wind allow us to give archery hunters this opportunity. A key habit we've noticed over the years is that a mature Sika buck will be likely stay in the same area and is more pattern able than most exotics. These smaller home ranges, allow us to monitor the same bucks consistently hitting the same feeders via trail cameras. This allows us to slip in with hunters when the winds right, and generally harvest these sika bucks on the first day of hunting. This pattern ability is the only flaw these mature Sika bucks have in their program. And for this reason, Sika deer hunting in Texas makes for a great trophy exotic hunt during the Fall and Winter months. Sika deer can also be hunted with rifles, crossbows, muzzleloaders, and handguns as there are no restrictions on exotics here in Texas.

Actually, our second animal ever harvested on this ranch was a sika buck by a hunter from Tennessee. He booked a mid January Bowhunt and the very first afternoon, harvested a big axis buck in velvet. The following morning at the same location, shot a beautiful sika stag that was a regular in that area. Another hunter I set with shot a nice 4x4 sika buck with a .300 Win Mag and after running 50-60 yards crashed into a mesquite tree blowing his one antler into three pieces. These bucks make a great mount and this one needed some epoxy to get his antler back together. Sika deer are one of those animals not on many peoples radar until they see them in person. They trigger that intrigue in hunters when they lay eyes on one for the first time, a true free range animal that creates a exciting, and new perspective in todays hunting world.

This unique free range animal is doing very well on our ranch. We see a lot of sika, both bucks and does everyday on the ranch. Our free range sika deer population is one of the strongest in the area. Supplemental food and several year round water sources hold lots of exotics. This allows you to experience a true free range exotic hunt loaded with plenty of wild game. A over the counter 5 day special hunting license can be purchased for $48, and can be purchased online through the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. That's all you need to hunt one of the most unique trophy exotics here in Texas. Our staff, and hunting lodge welcomes you to come and enjoy some of the finest low fence sika deer hunting in TX.