Since I was a child my grandfather and uncles would tell me about the strange little deer found in the marshes of the Eastern Shore. They said they were miniature deer from Japan, and called them “sick-uh” deer. They said they were brought to Maryland in the early 20th century, quickly escaped the island to which they were initially confined, and spread throughout marshes of the middle bay.
As an adult I learned that they are indeed an Asian species of deer known around the world as “seek-uh” (sika), but also that the deer living on the Chesapeake Bay are specifically a subspecies of the deer from a small island in southern Japan called Yakushima. Though sika are found throughout Asia (and have since been imported all over the world), subspecies from the mainland are somewhat larger than the Yakushika- as they are known locally- subsequently brought to Maryland, an example of Foster’s rule wherein island bound creatures shrink over time.
These were my first writings in pursuit of… <whispering> yakushika…
Got out to Taylors Island to scout on the 2nd, and then to hunt on the opener on the 8th…
Took the Gheenoe and mud motor to scout and found the ramp I planned to use closed and under construction. Instead of a 1+ mile run into the heart of the WMA, I had to go about 4.5 miles. (The Gheenoe only goes about 5-6 mph). Still, the ride in isn’t bad, though this also made it difficult to get into Blackwater NWR, where I got a permit to hunt as well and planned to scout. I ultimately bailed on Blackwater.
On the scout I found lots of trails and droppings, and two good recent droppings. The little salt pond here is the first place I keyed in on. Attached is a screenshot on the onX with some waypoints around it.
So, I went in early and heard splashing on the way in; I clearly bumped a few. I got set up and waited til shooting light. Shortly after I gave a few soft calls and waited a few minutes. After seeing and hearing nothing I called again, a little louder, and almost immediately a sika jumped out from the marsh up into the meadow surrounding the pond. It bounded with all four legs springing at once, casually, as if to get a vantage to see in my direction, but it just kept going. It bounded a few times, and then slowed to walk. It didn’t seem spooked, or interested. I called once more to try to turn it around, and it looked back for a moment before continuing on. It emerged from the marsh 39 yards away. 25 is my ideal max, though I’d somewhat comfortably take a shot to 30, but not beyond.
My immediate reaction to seeing it was “damn, that’s small.” I couldn’t tell if it was a hind or a stag, though I sort of think it might have been on the bigger side (even though it was clear how small it was, the body seems stocky/ solid in my recollection).
I waited for a while but there was no action, and then eventually followed the way it went, north west and then north through what I’m calling the “alley’ created by the 3 hummocks there. The alley is an extended dotted meadow, strewn with trails. It is sika alley. I’m gonna shoot one there. I spooked two just before getting to the alley, and then didn’t see any more.
I went back in the evening and got into a good position on the ground, with good wind coming down the alley from the opposite direction… but didn’t take enough water (trying to travel light I only took one bottle back in and didn’t check that it was full) and it was scorching. By 6 i was out of water and *parched*. I decided that I’d risk getting sick just to stay through shooting light, and if I got one at the end, I’d almost guarantee it. So accepting that I fucked up, I left at that point.
All in all it was promising. I plan on going back next Saturday. Tho that will be my last try before duck season.
Oh yea, on the scouting day (the 2nd) I took my shotgun because goose, dove, and rail were in season… I flushed a king or clapper rail (I’m not that proficient in telling them apart yet), but wasn’t carrying my gun. I saw where it landed and poled the Gheenoe up there with the gun in hand and then kinda kicked around but it was gone.
Would like to do some of that kind of marsh “upland” hunting.