Not only have these studies and successful harvest rates increased interests in the sika deer, but the animal's trophy value has elicited much interest from hunters seeking a challenge. Hunters interested in harvesting this elusive exotic of Maryland will find the field-dressed weights of yearling females to average 45 pounds with 53 pounds the average dressed weight for the yearling males. These animals are dark brown to black in color and some have white spots paralleling their back. Adults stand about 2 feet at the rump. They also have a round white rump patch that flares when the deer are excited or alarmed.
Males generally have a dark, shaggy mane running down their necks.
Since sika deer are extremely nocturnal and inhabit marshy terrain, hunting can be very challenging and sometimes difficult. Therefore the sika rut, occurring in mid-October, is considered to produce the best chance to harvest an adult sika stag. These bugles usually consist of a series of three whistles, heard primarily during early morning and late afternoon. The rut generally results in increased movement by the sika males, allowing for these stags to be seen during all possible hours of the day and creating a better opportunity for the hunter. A hunter can also increase his or her luck by hunting on edges and gaps within patches pf phragmites located between marsh and woodland terrains.