In September and October we take a closer look at the herding species in particular Sika and Red Stags.
Regular readers will be aware of my passion and arguable bias in favour of Roe, you might be surprised therefore to hear how refreshing it is for me, that after a long summer on the Roe Buck, I am at last able in September to change tack. Instead of harping on about Roe deer I can, once again, pen some lines about our other glorious deer species. So a big hoorah! for September, because this month, and indeed next, we’ll be setting our sights on the larger herding species, in particular Red & Sika Stags.
The reason for this new focus is simple, by early September both Sika & Red Stags approach a crucial chapter in their yearly cycle, namely the rut. Having become progressively dissatisfied with their simple single sex way of life, the stags ‘break out’ in search of target rich, female environments.
With their new found appetite to attract Hinds, each species selects its own mating strategy. Whilst the iconic Red Stag adopts the bold approach and attempts to hold court over a harem of females, Sika Stags are inclined to a less direct approach and will patrol a territory which encompasses a popular route taken by Hinds. From here the stag will aim to entrap a group of passing females which he will then attempt to defend from other stags until he has had his way.
No doubt there are heart pounding, trigger finger twitching moments ahead, however most stalkers will delay their outings until late September early October when the very best of the sport is to be had. Personally to capture the optimum that both species can offer, I will be setting out for the highly vocal, whistling, wailing and grunting Sika Stag in late September and the magnificent roaring Highland Red in October, footage of both these events we hope to capture for you in our September and October films...fingers firmly crossed.
Finally a word about....no, not Roe, but at the lower end of the size scale Muntjac. By September Muntjac bucks, who have been growing their antlers during the summer will, like their larger stag counterparts, have shed their velvet and be exhibiting a different type of hard horn!
That said there is plenty of time for Muntjac when the summer undergrowth has diminished, so September is predominantly about fresh species and new challenge, as deer stalkers up and down the country take on the males of the herding species.
At County Deer Stalking we are delighted to now be able to offer stalking for Trophy Sika and Red Stags, please contact-us for more details or to read more about Sika & Red Deer Stalking follow these links: sika-deer-stalking / red-deer-stalking
IN Season in England & Wales: Roe Buck, Fallow Buck, Red & Sika Stags, Muntjac Bucks & Muntjac Does.
OFF Season in England & Wales: Roe Does, Fallow Does, Sika Hinds, Red Hinds, CWD Bucks & CWD Does.
IN Season in Scotland: Roe Buck, Red Stags, Sika Stags, Fallow Buck.
OFF Season in Scotland: Roe Does, Fallow Does, Sika Hinds, Red Hinds.
(Peter Jones - Editor)
