Thread: spring sika

Currently, I am struggling to schedule a spring sika hunt. As my research has not helped too much, I am hoping that maybe you guys can give some advice.

In most years, when has the majority of the snow melted on the Kaimanawa tops? More precisely, in the Umukarikari/Waipakihi area.

When do sika stags typically start casting their antlers? I have come across sources that say October, while others say November to December.

Thank you!

Casting antlers September 20 th

The most mature Sika stags shed earlier

Ferny ridge in the Kawekas has a lot of Sika at the moment and will produce plenty of animals if your find excessive snow elsewhere

Are you looking for a stag still in antler?

Most spring hunts are about meat, and easy spikers wandering around dumb and lost without mum

September can be brutal in the tops - not just snow but rain, wind and general shittiness from above.

I would aim to be hunting mentioned areas November or preferably early December for "Spring Sika". The higher altitude areas are delayed in spring growth typically found earlier in October at lower altitudes.

Hunting September/October can be hard work as Ross Nolan has mentioned above.

Thank you for your input!

My thought was that sika stags shed later than reds do (at least here in Europe), so that a spring hunt for sika stags would be possible if the snow has melted soon enough and weather permits. However, this doesn't seem to be the case at all.

A meat hunt is not my main focus, as I would not be able to take the meat back home anyway, unfortunately.

Hunt them in late march if just after hard antler, better weather and might be roaring by then too

Originally Posted by hunterAT

Thank you for your input!

My thought was that sika stags shed later than reds do (at least here in Europe), so that a spring hunt for sika stags would be possible if the snow has melted soon enough and weather permits. However, this doesn't seem to be the case at all.

A meat hunt is not my main focus, as I would not be able to take the meat back home anyway, unfortunately.

You should organise a hunt with someone on here HunterAT. Then the meat from any animal wont be wasted.

Originally Posted by The bomb

Hunt them in late march if just after hard antler, better weather and might be roaring by then too

Thanks, this was pretty much my conclusion, too. However, for March/April I already have different plans. I will be in NZ for several weeks, but on the South Island and my schedule doesn't allow for a trip to the North Island.

In a different year...

Originally Posted by tac a1

You should organise a hunt with someone on here HunterAT. Then the meat from any animal wont be wasted.

That would definitely be an option.
I actually know a non-hunting family in that general area that would be happy to take some meat. So the meat wouldn't be wasted in this case. Not being able to take any meat home myself, a meat hunt is just not top priority nonetheless. After all, a stag would also provide meat.