Sika Deer
The Sneakiest of the Deer Species.
Introduced from Asia, the Sika Deer, 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 4×4 (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 and May ‘Rut’ the Sika stags are extremely vocal and aggressive. Their antlers remain hard from February through until September.
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
JAN
HIGH
MID
LOW
Our latest Sika Deer stories…
Arapawa Ram Hunt in New Zealand: Season, Trophy, Combos
Arapawa Ram Hunt in New Zealand: What It Is, Trophy Expectations, and Best Combo Adds An Arapawa ram hunt in New Zealand is one of the cleanest “add a unique trophy” plays you can make, especially when your main target is red stag or fallow deer. This guide...
Fallow Deer Rut in New Zealand: Best Dates, the “Croak,” and Rut Pad Tactics
Fallow Deer Rut in New Zealand: Best Dates, the “Croak,” and Rut Pad Tactics The fallow deer rut in New Zealand is the window when bucks get vocal, territorial, and visible, often giving you the best odds at a mature trophy in a short trip. This guide covers when...
Sika Deer Rut in New Zealand: Dates, Tactics, Tips
Sika Deer Rut in New Zealand: Best Dates, the “Scream,” and How to Hunt It The sika deer rut in New Zealand is one of the most intense windows you can hunt, tight cover, close encounters, and vocal stags that can sound unreal in the dark. This field guide covers...
Hunting License in New Zealand: What Visiting Hunters Actually Need
Hunting License in New Zealand: What Visiting Hunters Actually Need Need a hunting license in New Zealand? In most cases, you will not need one single national licence for big game on private land, but you may need specific permits and licences depending on where...






