Sika Deer

New Zealand Sika Deer (Cervus Nippon)

New Zealand Sika Deer (Cervus Nippon)Introduced from Asia, the Sika Deer (Cervus Nippon), is sometimes referred to as the ‘Ghost Deer’ because of its elusiveness and its seemingly supernatural ability to move quickly and silently through dense bush and undergrowth.
Found only in certain areas of the North Island, the Sika population is a healthy one, due in a large part to the difficulty a Sika hunt can present to even the most experienced of hunters.

A typical trophy animal bears a 4x4 (8-point) rack. The Sika is smaller than a Red Deer but larger than the Whitetail or Fallow and it offers one of the most exciting and challenging hunting opportunities available anywhere in the world. The screech of an alarmed Sika is a sound guaranteed to startle anyone, and it will definitely stand the hairs on your neck to attention.

During their April/May ‘Rut’ the Sika stags are extremely vocal and aggressive. Their antlers remain hard from February through until September.

  • Photo 1 of 9Sika Deer New Zealand

    Elusive and flighty these deer love living in and around heavy native forests, feeding in the open areas morning and night.

  • Photo 2 of 9Sika Stag

    Still holding onto the spotty coats when they reach maturity these guys making very impressive should mounts, and their meat tastes great.

  • Photo 3 of 9Sika Deer hunting New Zealand

    Dave with an old mature Sika Stag.

  • Photo 4 of 9Deer hunting Sika

    Great free range Sika

  • Photo 5 of 9Trophy Sika Deer

    This a great Sika, with dark antlers and white tips any hunter would be happy with him.

  • Photo 6 of 9Trophy Sika Stag hunting

    This guy is a monster

  • Photo 7 of 9Sika non typical

    Wayne with his 5x4 Sika Stag in late March.

  • Photo 8 of 9Sika deer Trophy hunting

    Awesome Sika Stag with everything there hunted during the same time as the Red Stag rut early April

  • Photo 9 of 9Plannng the hunt on Sika

    After spotting a Sika Stag moving through the timber line the boys are planning the hunt back behind the ridge line.