Sika Deer?

[outlook8]

Are these Sika deer? Looks like there are different types, any idea what kind these are? When do Sika generally drop their antlers, and when are they hard-horned? Any good to eat?

This is Hill Country, low-fence, Edwards County.

Thanks.







Chris

[diamond10x]

Definitely looks like sika to me. I've had it twice, both times from a buddy that shot them. My guess is they will probably be hard horned in August?

First time I had it, my buddy didn't get the hide of until 2 days later after letting it hang and it tasted like it smelled, like a rutting bull elk. The other time I was with him and we got the hide off within an hour of him shooting it and it tasted pretty good.

[ballgame]

yes those are sika.

I think they taste great. They have a "richer" taste than a Whitetail.

[AntlerCollector]

Yes and they are delicious

[txtrophy85]

they will be hard horned around the 1st of September. they drop around February.

I shot one this past season and it was delicious. Loved eating that guy. They are smelly animals however I shot him gutted him and he sat in a cooler for a day or two then I picked him up and took him to the processor

[kd350]

Yes... as said before, they are very tasty

[Rack Ranch]

If ever a question, look at their butts, Sika have a white rump patch.

[texan16]

Sika for sure, they are very good eating.

[DRT]

Lucky . . . Dang fine table fare.

[denimdeerslayer]

To me it taste a little better than axis.

[Muygrande]

Look like Sika and they are phenomenal to eat. I was on a ranch that had over a dozen types of exotics including oryx and axis and they strongly preferred eating the sika over everything else. Bucks can get a little gamey when they are really rutted up.

[chicken fried]

I believe they are related to Elk and Red Stag.

[outlook8]

Sounds like I need to make some room in the freezer!

[Patton]

Yes they are sika. Eats even better than Axis in my opinion. They are more closely related to elk than they are to whitetail. Bucks will be hard horned in late August and drop in February. Mature bucks will typically have 8 points; they rut in October. The bucks/bulls bugle somewhat similar to an elk but it’s one constant high note, usually 3 times. There is a growl towards the end but you have to be semi-close to hear it. Also there summer and winter coats can vary a lot with the summer sometimes being orange and spotted, winter coat is usually dark brown or black and bucks will get a mane.

[PantherCity]

Sika is tasty

I've read they can reach 25 years old, so maybe a rutty 25 year old bull might be pretty rank.