Wil's Sika Stag

[DoveHunt]

After a quick morning shoot for wood ducks and a mid day soccer game Wil and I had a plan to try for Sika. It has been a while since I have targeted the little guys, but there are a few on one of the properties we hunt and with the reported extreme high tides and the Sika rut beginning we set out around 3pm after a quick lunch with mommy at Micky D's after a big win in soccer. Original plans where for Wil to hunt one spot out of ladder and me another a good ways apart along the marsh. The spot I was planning to hunt did not show much sign so I decided to hunt near Wil which was in a funnel with a marsh edge with wooded finger out in marsh about 70 yds away, large cutover with flooded section that, boarders a large mature woods. Edge hunting at its best! I set a climber about 60 yds from Wil on the edge of cut over and large woods.



High tide was to be around 6 and hopes where the deer would be pushed up out of the marsh. First sighting was a small white tail doe that came out of marsh and worked its way toward Wil. Took a while but I knew if it got close enough Wil was not going to pass it up. Sure enough the doe jumps and runs a little ways looking around. Text from Wil "shot and a miss" 25 yds. We have heard a couple bugles way off in the distance but nothing close. The small doe works her way over toward me all the way Wil texting me to “get ready”. Wil worried me to death about shooting the small doe, but I texted him saying it is getting prime time for Sika and need to be patient. Well a stag sounds off a few hundred yards off oddly enough up along the edge of the cutover and the big woods not toward the marsh, then nothing for some time. The small doe works over to about 10 yds from me in a small patch of phrag. Then another bugle about half the distance on the edge of cutover and big woods, all the while the small whitetail is just browsing around in the phrag with Wil sending me text to “take a shot”. Well then the whitetail sticks its nose up acting like it is smelling me, but shouldn’t be able to. Then the Stag lets out a bugle much closer and the little white tail just laid down and put its head down like it was hiding. After a few minutes a couple more white tail come out of marsh about 50 yds in front of Wil but quickly run back to marsh. Wil Text: “what was that all about”. Got me… Well with the exception of a few bugles way way off, not much else was happening.



I had bugled a few times with Doug’s Sika Seducer a couple times early in the sit, but was a little nervous to do any other calling since I could not remember what calls to use when or even how to make them based on Doug’s CD that I had listened to several years ago. I do remember from hunting sika years ago that they have an alarm call and I did not want to mess up and hit the wrong note trying to sound like a hind. With it getting later and not hearing the stag that seemed to be getting close for a while I figured what the heck and bugled with call facing Wil over by the marsh.



Sure enough I look up and running through the big woods right toward the marsh finger was what looked like a black wild boar, but realized it had to be a Sika stag and texted Wil to get ready. It disappeared and I guess it went out in marsh looking for fight so I bugled again and sure enough it busted out and ran right toward Wil and stopped where I could seem him at about 50 yds from me. I figured he has to be real close to Wil. My heart is pumping like made then I hear that sound that you love to hear as a bow hunter “arrow hitting like a hollow drum” then the sika bust down the edge of the marsh with Nockturnal in tow for about 30 yds before light disappeared, but stag kept going. Text from Wil “Smoked Him Dad...looked like a bear coming toward me”. Ok so we wait a couple minutes and I climb down to get Wil. We see a dim light out about 20-30yds and assume it is his arrow. Pick it up and it was the first arrow he shot at white tail. Very dim for some reason and Wil thought that nock never even lit, but I could see another one about 15 yds down the edge of marsh. Followed the blood step by step until there he was, there was no holding back. Fellas in Dorchester could probably here us across the river hoot in and holler in. Then a couple hugs and a few tears.



I have been one lucky dad this year to experience some unbelievable hunts with my Son Wil and I am so glad he has an absolute passion for the outdoors.

[SportFishStaff]

Awesome, Congratulations to Will and to you Dad for helping pass on the tradition to a new generation. That is one beautiful animal and the pics are priceless. Thanks Tim

[Agitated88]

That's a stud Sika...one heck of a trophy. So good to see the next generation enjoying the outdoors...

[weekender]

awesome read, congrats to both of you, WAY TO GO WIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! someday I hope to me you two. ck your PM Dovehunt

Beautiful trophy Wil, super shot. From one bowhunter to another, I am proud of you and your many accomplishments. I can't imagine how proud your Dad must be.

[Tenacious]

This is awesome!!! I'm showing my boy right now and telling him that's how it's done!!!

[Dave Sikorski]

Just when I thought the kid might be slightly mortal he goes as does this.

Great job SUPER WIL! I wish I could have been across the marsh to hear the echo's of your celebration.

Keep up the good work.

-D