Sika Deer (Japanese & Manchurian)

Sika deer are the worlds smallest elk. Native to far east Asia, from Northern China to Vietnam, the sika is a close cousin of the rocky mountain elk and red deer, and in fact, a spunky sika male will readily breed elk cows or red deer hinds, creating an animal often referred to as a Silk. 

There are approximately 20 subspecies of sika, with the primary differences being size & coloration. In the Texas exotic industry, you will commonly hear of 4 distinct subspecies being available, Japanese, Formosan, Dybowski, and Manchurian. As all sika will freely interbreed, true genetic lineage is often impossible to determine, so these names are more often used to describe physical characteristics, rather than true subspecies. However, Kent Creek Ranch carries Manchurian Sika from the Patio Ranch, which is the closest assurance of pure lineage available in Texas. Also available are the smaller Japanese sika. 

Japanese Sika

Japanese sika are a hybrid of any number of subspecies originating from the Japanese archipelago. These are the "native" sika of the hill country, and have been free roaming in the area for over 50 years, and are most commonly found in the thick cedar south of the creek in our free range pasture. Common characteristics are relatively small size - 120lbs for a large male, and dark, almost black coloration with melanism often prevalent. Sika bucks have a shaggy mane in winter coat, and a buff colored rump similar to that of an elk. Melanistic individuals will have a solid black rump. Antlers of the Japanese Sika rarely exceed 24 inches tall, with 20 inches along the main beam, and 4 points per side being considered a trophy.

Japanese Sika are highly nocturnal, and often can be quite common in an area with relatively few sightings. The best time to hunt them is during the rut in late September to early November, when the males can be seen chasing does into the mid-morning. Their mating call is a high pitched whistle, similar to the first few notes of an elk bugle. Females vocalize similar to an elk cow, using high pitched mews and alarm whistles.

Regardless of antler size, Japanese sika are one of the most challenging species to harvest on Kent Creek Ranch.

Manchurian Sika

As their name implies, Manchurian sika originate from the mainland of china, Korean penninsula, and far southeastern Siberia. The terms Manchurian and Dybowski are often confused. True ancestry is difficult to determine, as both originate from a similar region of mainland asia, and the Dybowski is thought to be a regional variation of the Manchurian sika.  The primary difference is that Dybowski sika retain the spots of their summer coat throughout the year (though more muted in winter), while the Manchurians adapt a grey shaggy coat in the winter with very little spotting present.

Manchurian sika are the largest subspecies, with males approaching 300lbs. Horns are of the typical 4x4 japanese model, but much larger, with main beams over 26 inches, long tines, and bases of 6 inches being the trophy hunter's reasonable expectation. Additional points are also relatively common, but not as frequently seen as in the Dybowski subspecies.

The ranch has a small population of Manchurian sika maintained in a breeding pen to ensure purity by keeping separate from the Japanese sika, with the intent to release them once the herd grows to a level that would prohibit interbreeding. Some escapees may be in our hunting areas, call for availability.