Sika deer videos, photos and facts - Cervus nippon | ARKive Top Sika deer biology Primarily nocturnal (2) or crepuscular (1) , the sika deer can also sometimes be seen foraging during the day, grazing singly or in small herds (1) (2) . The sika deer is not a particularly gregarious species, and adult males tend to be solitary for most of the year (2) (3) , only gathering together once their antlers have been shed (2) . Male and female sika deer occupy different areas for most of the year, and only come together during the mating season (3) . Sika deer do not migrate large distances between summer and winter (6) , but this species is known to migrate to lower valleys in the winter (1) . Interestingly, the sika deer is a good swimmer, and is also capable of jumping over objects up to 1.7 metres in height (2) . The sika deer is a herbivorous species (6) , feeding on many different plants (2) including grasses, browse and even fruit (1) .

In the summer, this species’ diet tends to consist primarily of grasses and herbs , whereas in winter months more woody plants are consumed (2) . The shoots and bark of coniferous trees may sometimes be taken (3) , and the sika deer has been reported to feed on crops in the spring and early summer (2) . As in other deer, male sika deer rub their antlers against trees both to remove velvet and as a territory marker (5) . The antlers are cast in May (2) (5) , and grow throughout the summer (5) . The breeding season of the sika deer, known as the rut, typically occurs in the autumn (1) (4) , from about September to November (3) (6) or December (2) . Males establish and defend territories (3) (4) , using their forefeet and antlers to dig holes up to 1.6 metres wide and 0.3 metres deep in which they frequently urinate to signal territory boundaries (2) . Fierce fighting often occurs between rival males (2) (4) , who all try to drive available females into their territories where mating takes place (2) .

Successful male sika deer may mate with as many as 12 females, and may be so intent on finding females that they do not feed until later on in the rutting season (2) . The gestation period of the sika deer is around 30 weeks (1) (2) (3) (4) (6) , after which time the female gives birth to a single calf (2) (3) (4) (6) , rarely two (3) (6) . The timing of birth varies slightly with geographic location, but young are typically born between April and July (1) , mostly in May and June (2) (3) (6) . Young sika deer grow rapidly, and are weaned by late summer (4) , approaching the weight of the mother by eight months of age (2) . Female sika deer may be sexually mature at six months of age, and tend to first breed as yearlings (2) (6) . The sika deer has been reported to live for up to 12 years in the wild (2) , but individuals in captivity have been known to reach 25 years old (1) (2) .

Top Sika deer range The sika deer is native to Japan, China, Taiwan (1) (2) (4) (5) (6) and other adjacent regions of the eastern Asian mainland (5) , including south-eastern Siberia (6) . Although once found in both the Republic of Korea and the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (1) (2) , the sika deer is known to be regionally extinct in the former, and potentially extinct in the latter. There are several subspecies of sika deer, which all have different distributions (1) . The sika deer has also been widely introduced to countries outside of its natural range (1) (2) , including Austria, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand (1) (6) , the United Kingdom (1) (5) (6) and the United States (1) (2) (4) (6) . This species was first introduced to the United Kingdom in 1860 when it was released into deer parks (5) (6) , and has since become established in the wild following escapes or deliberate release (5) (6) .

The sika deer increased its distribution on the British mainland by 5.3 percent per year between 1972 and 2002 (6) , and continues to expand its range in Scotland (3) (6) , as well as in many other countries to which it was introduced (6) . Top Sika deer habitat Showing a preference for habitats with acidic soil (3) (5) (7) , the sika deer can be found in a variety of habitats including heath (3) (5) , coniferous forests and plantations (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) . This species tends to be found in forests with a dense understorey, but is known to forage in grassy areas (1) and in dense woody thickets along the borders of freshwater (2) or brackish marshes (4) . In its introduced range within the United Kingdom, the sika deer occupies a range of habitats, including mature broadleaf woodland, bogs, saltmarshes and offshore islands (6) .

Top Sika deer threats Globally, the sika deer is not considered to be at risk of extinction, and there is a large and growing population in Japan, as well as a stable population in Russia. However, in the rest of its native range, the sika deer appears to be at risk from several factors, with fewer than 1,000 individuals of this species thought to remain in China. Key threats to this species include habitat loss, water pollution and hunting for meat and antler velvet, which is used in traditional medicines. In addition, a loss of genetic diversity through the fragmentation of the sika deer’s habitat is a cause for concern, and competition with feral animals such as goats may pose a further risk to this species (1) . Collisions with vehicles are also considered to be a threat to the sika deer (2) , but these also pose a risk to humans (5) , and the species is responsible for a number of road traffic accidents each year (6) . In many parts of its introduced range, the sika deer is having negative impacts on the local environment, as well as on the economy, particularly in areas where it is found in high numbers (5) .

The sika deer causes serious damage to timber crops and to woody vegetation in forests (5) , by browsing on tree shoots or by stripping bark during antler rubbing (3) (6) . The sika deer is also reported to cause significant changes to the species composition and vegetation structure in wetlands and areas of open heathland (6) . In addition, hybridisation with the native red deer (Cervus elpahus) in areas such as the United Kingdom is posing a conservation risk to both species by threatening their genetic integrity (1) (3) (5) (6) . In Eastern Europe, the sika deer is also known to be a vector of diseases including bovine and avian tuberculosis, as well as a carrier of intestinal parasites which can affect native wildlife (6) . In optimal habitat in the United Kingdom, the sika deer has been found to be capable of expanding its range by three to five kilometres per year (6) . Top Sika deer conservation The sika deer is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List as it is abundant in Japan and increasing in number, and there is also a stable population in Russia.

However, conservation action is required elsewhere in its range where the species is not faring so well. Past management activities for Cervus nippon keramae have included the construction of drinking water facilities for the deer and the filling of mine shafts which have been known to pose a threat to the species. Conducting new assessments of the mainland subspecies has been identified as a conservation priority, and other proposed conservation measures include combating poaching, securing areas of protected habitat, the removal of feral species such as goats, and the development of a conservation education programme (1) . The sika deer does occur in a number of protected areas, including China’s Tiebu Nature Reserve and Russia’s Lazovsky Nature Reserve, as well as in Taiwan’s Kenting National Park as a result of a special deer restoration project established in 1984 (1) . Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition Sika Deer* Order Artiodactyla : Family Cervidae : Cervus nippon Temminck A small to medium sized deer that, due to extensive hybridization in Texas, is highly variable in size and coloration.

In general, sika are all "compact" in form; appear "dainty-legged"; and have a short, trim, wedge-shaped head. Males carry antlers that average 28-48 cm in length, although exceptional racks may be up to 74 cm in length. Sika antlers have 3-4 points branching from a main beam; there is no palmate growth as in the fallow deer. Females have a pair of black bumps on the forehead, their placement corresponding to that of the maless antlers. Coloration is drab brown to a deep, mahogany brown mottled with numerous white spots. The degree of spotting is highly variable, however, and in some individuals spotting may be absent. The head, as well as the hair tuft over each metatarsal gland, tends to be lighter than the body. A distinctive, white rump patch is evident, especially when the animal is alerted.

Texas sika range in size from 76-89 cm shoulder height and 45-80 kg for the smaller Japanese and Formosan varieties to 89-109 cm shoulder height and 68-109 kg for the larger Dybowskis variety. Female Dybowskis sika stand about 81 cm in height and weigh 45-50 kg. Distribution in Texas. Formerly, sika were native from southern Siberia and the adjacent Japanese island of Hokkaido south, along both the mainland and islands, to southeastern China and Formosa. Sika have rapidly disappeared from much of their range due to habitat loss. Sika have been introduced in 77 counties of central and southern Texas, with free-ranging populations known from 12 of these counties. In 1988, the total statewide population was estimated to be 11,879. Habits. Sika are woodland deer characteristic of broad-leaved and mixed forests where snowfall does not exceed 10-20 cm and snow-free sites are also available.

Large forest tracts with dense understory and occasional clearings are ideal; the patchwork of brush cover and open grassland found in the Edwards Plateau and South Texas regions are well-suited to these deer. Sika feed on grasses, leaves, twigs, and tender shoots of woody plants depending on seasonal availability. In Texas, the spring preference is for grasses, although browse may also be consumed regularly, and browse use increases after the flush of spring growth has passed. The most important food for sika in Texas is live oak, with hackberry, wild plum, mustang grape, Texas sotol, and greenbriar also serving as important browse species. Favored grasses include Texas wintergrass, fall witchgrass, and meadow dropseed. Forb use generally increases in summer, and is lowest in winter. Sika males are territorial and keep harems of females during the rut, which peaks from early September through October but may last well into the winter months. Territory size varies with type of habitat and size of the buck; strong, prime bucks may hold up to 2 ha.

Territories are marked with a series of shallow pits, called "scrapes," into which the males urinate and from which emanates a strong, musky odor. Fights between rival males are sometimes fierce, long, and may even be fatal. The time of fawning is primarily May through August. After a 7� - 8 month gestation period a single fawn is born; twins are rare. Zoo longevity records typically range from 15-18 years, although an exceptionally long lifespan of 25 years, 5 months is known for one animal. * nonnative species Sika Deer - Deer Facts and Information Sika Deer Sika Deer – Cervus nippon The Sika Deer can be either small or medium in size, depending on the area where it happens to live. You will notice that they all have small legs and a very small head. The males have antlers that generally have either three or four points on them. Some do have more though if they are in a more dominant role. While the females don’t grow antlers they do have two black bumps that grow in the same location on the head. They do range significantly in coloring too.

Most of them are either a light tan or a medium brown color. They can also feature white spots that don’t go away after they are mature. Others feature a darker color that is almost gray and they don’t have any spots at all. In spite of the color differences they are indeed the same species of deer. DNA testing confirms they are all Sika Deer. Full grown males can range in weight from 150 to 240 pounds. Most of the females weigh about 70 to 100 pounds. Sika Deer Distribution Texas and Oklahoma are the main location of this type of deer and there are many hybrid programs there. The result of this is better genetics and larger sized Sika Deer. The woodland areas are where you will find them living. They also tend to be in areas where they don’t have to worry about too much snowfall as Austria and Germany that makes it easier for them to survive through the harsh winter months. However, some of the Sika Deer are known to live in the open grasslands out there. This is believed to be a shift from their normal habitat though. They have moved to find food and to find a habitat where they are able to freely move around without the scent markings of other deer.

Sika Deer Behavior The Sika Deer is extremely territorial and that can make it very hard for the young males to find a territory of their own. They will often form bachelor herds until it is time for mating to take place. Then they can become aggressive towards each other and fight to be able to mate with females. Sika Deer Feeding Sika Deer are very opportunistic when it comes to the foods they eat. As a result they seem to do very well finding enough to survive on. The specifics of what they will eat depends though on the region where they reside. Some of the common types of food that they are known to eat include grass, leaves, shoots, and twigs. They also eat many woody types of plants but they are only offered during specific periods of the season. When grass is readily offered though they will bypass other foods to consume that one. Sika Deer Reproduction The fight for mating is very heated among the bucks. They want to be able to form a harem of several females that they will be the only one to mate with. They have to show that they are strong enough to do so first.

This is why they may be ready to physically mate around two years of age but they can be two or three times that age before they really do so. The fawns are born 7 months after mating has taken place. It is very rare when more than one fawn is born at a time. The young are hidden in time to allow them to get used to the surroundings and to gain their strength. The mother will come back to check on them often and to feed them milk from her body. (Photo taken by Mistvan) Sika Deer - Chesapeake Bay Program Chesapeake Bay Program Cervus nippon Sika deer are reddish-brown with white spots on the back. (Philip Hay/Flickr) The sika deer is a small, brown elk that lives in quiet marshes and forested wetlands on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Appearance: The sika deer varies in color from reddish-brown in the summer to dark brown or black in the winter. It has white spots on its back and a white rump. Males have narrow antlers and a dark, shaggy mane on the neck. Sika deer grow to about 2.5 feet tall at the rump.

Males usually weigh about 90 pounds, while females usually weigh about 70 pounds. Habitat: Lives in isolated marshes, wetlands and swamps and thick loblolly pine forests. Mostly nocturnal. The sexes live separately except during breeding season: females usually live in small groups with their young, while males live alone during fall and winter and in groups of other males during spring and summer. Range: Native to Japan, Taiwan and eastern Asia; found throughout the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, mostly in southern Dorchester County but also in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. Females have a home range of about 150 acres, while males have a home range of nearly 500 acres. Feeding: The sika deer feeds at night on plants, grasses, marsh vegetation and crops such as corn and soybeans. Predators: No natural predators in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but humans hunt sika deer for their meat. Voice: These deer communicate with one another using at least 10 different sounds. When alarmed, they emit a distinctive short, high-pitched “bark." Females use soft bleats and whistles to communicate with their young and other females.

During breeding, males emit a long, multi-pitched wail. Reproduction and Life Cycle: Breeding occurs in autumn, beginning in late September. After about seven months (usually in May), the female gives birth to a single calf. Most sika deer breed in their second year, but about one-quarter breed in their first year. Other Facts: Although they are called deer, sika deer are actually a member of the elk family. They are also called sika elk or Asian elk. Males are called “stags” and females are called “hinds” or “cows." They were first introduced in the Chesapeake Bay watershed on James Island in Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1916. Previous studies have suggested that although they are an exotic species, sika deer are not considered invasive because they do not directly compete with native wildlife for food and habitat. Recent research , however, has suggested that the increasing number and expanding range of sika deer may be of growing concern for the success of native white-tailed deer populations. Sources and Additional Information: Texas Sika Deer Hunting - Trophy Sika Deer Hunts - Texas Exotic Hunting and Lodging - Kerrville Texas View our Trophy Sika Deer Hunt Packages!

The antlers of an adult male are usually 8 tines but antlers having 5 or 6 tines per side sometimes occur. Females carry a pair of distinctive black bumps on the forehead. The Sika Deer are closely related to Red Deer, Central Asian Red Deer and elk. The Sika deer found in the Texas Hill Country stem from several different races including Manchurian Sika deer, Dybowski's Sika, Japanese Sika, and the Formosan Sika. Formerly, Sika was native from southern Siberia and the adjacent Japanese island of Hokkaido south, along both the mainland and islands, to southeastern China and Formosa. They are disappearing rapidly from their range due to habitat loss, but Sika were introduced to 77 counties of central and southern Texas in 1939, with free-ranging populations known from 12 of these counties. The last count in 1988 showed the total Texas population to be in the upward 11,000. Smallest is the Japanese sika (Cervus nippon nippon), which is native to the main islands of Japan.

It stands about 31 inches (79 cm) at the shoulder and weighs about 105 pounds (48 kg). The summer coat is reddish-brown with many white spots, changing to dark brown without spots in winter. The sharply defined white rump patch is broken by a narrow, dark tail stripe. (Another small sika deer found in Texas is black year-round without white spots or rump patch. It has always been called Japanese sika and is thought to be a color phase.) Mature bucks have four points on each antler and a beam length of 16-18 inches (41-46 cm). Considerably larger is the Formosan sika (C. n. taiouanus) of Taiwan, with a shoulder height of 38 inches (97 cm) and weight of about 175 pounds (79 kg). It is a very beautiful animal, with a summer coat of bright chestnut with prominent white spots, becoming a little more drab in winter with the spots less prominent. The white rump patch has a noticeable black border and the black tail stripe is more pronounced than in the Japanese sika.

Antlers have four points on a side and 18-22 inch (46-56 cm) beams. Listed as endangered by the USF&WS (1979) and the IUCN in its native land, it may actually be extinct in the wild, surviving only in zoos and private herds in other parts of the world. Larger still is the Manchurian sika (C. n. mantchuricus), which is native to southern Manchuria and Korea. It stands 38-40 inches (97-102 cm) at the shoulder and weighs as much as 240 pounds (109 kg). The summer coat is a rich chestnut-red with rather faint spots, and a white rump patch bordered with black. This changes in winter to deep brown on the body and bluish-black on the neck, with the spots barely discernable. Trophy antlers will measure 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), with four points (sometimes five) to the side. Largest race in Texas (and in the world) is the Dybowski or Ussuri sika (C. n.

hortulorum) from the Ussuri region of southeastern Siberia and eastern Manchuria, and northeastern Korea. (It should be noted that most biologists now consider Manchurian and Dybowski sika to be the same animal.) Shoulder height is as much as 43 inches (109 cm) and weight may be 250 pounds (113 kg) or more. The summer coat is reddish-fawn, with small white spots that extend onto the neck and often fuse into rows on the flanks. The coat turns dark yellowish-brown in winter, with spots barely visible or not at all. There is a vague dorsal stripe, the white rump patch is bordered with black, and the upper surface of the tail is reddish with a black stripe. Antlers measuring 28-36 inches (71-91 cm) have been recorded in Siberia and Manchuria, usually with four points to the side, but sometimes with five or even six. All races of sika will interbreed and-because few ranchers in the United States have kept the subspecies separate-the result is a multitude of hybrid forms.

While sika deer on some ranches may appear to be purebreds of this or that subspecies, there is no way to be certain. For this reason, all North American specimens are combined for Record Books including Safari Club International. Typical sika deer antlers have four points to a side-the main beam plus three tines. A strong brow tine grows close to the burr, a trez tine (no bez tine in sika deer) grows from the top or front of the main beam, and an inner top tine grows on the inside of the beam to form a forward-facing terminal fork. Some sika stags will have additional tines, which usually are basal snags or extra top tines, and these tines are always non-typical. Sika Deer meat is probably the strongest flavored venison meat, which leaves much interpretation to be made. The Chinese fancy the meat, while many Americans dislike its strong gamey taste. Book your hunt with Texas Hunt Lodge today and get your beautiful trophy Sika deer! Special Offers History | Sika Show and Competitions History The Sika Show and its history The Sika Show aims to bring together hunters and those in the industry.

At the show, exhibitors can develop new business opportunities and reinforce existing ones, and hunters can find the latest in outdoor products and services, and connect with interest groups, organisations, and each other. Highlights of the show are the competitions for Sika heads, roaring, photography and taxidermy judged by the best in the industry. There are archery and air rifle try-outs for youngsters, black powder displays, Douglas scoring demonstrations, antler displays, deer jaw ageing demonstrations, a range of activities for kids, a taxidermy display, and a selection of fresh wild food stalls. The two-day event has been running for more than 20 years in Taupo, New Zealand. The Sika Show grows bigger each year, and now attracts more than 4000 hunters and their families as well as others with an interest in recreation, wild animal management, and wild food flavours. While the show focuses on the Sika head competition and other categories of hunted animals, the organisation is keen to use the event as an opportunity to promote other messages to the thousands of people who visit the show each year. One of the many aims of the Sika Show is to educate people about responsible and ethical hunting practices, especially to young people new to the sport.

An important element of the Sika Show since the beginnings in 1993 has been the collection of jaws. The jaw collection data gathered by Hunters & Habitats and the Sika Show provides valuable information on the population, demography, and condition of Sika in New Zealand. An overview of the Sika Show’s history, written by Alex Gale, author of the must-have book The Sika Hunters It’s interesting how ideas take root and grow. The Sika Show, as it is now known, is a prime example: it began with a conversation between Neil Philpott, noted Sika hunter from Taupo and wildlife biologist Cam Speedy, then working for DOC, over how to access better data through jaw analysis, on the health of the central North Island Sika herd. Since then it has grown into the largest annual outdoor trade show of its kind in New Zealand, now spread over two days and attended by hunters from all over New Zealand and even some from Australia.

While its original goal was to provide data, this goal has been vastly widened and the Sika Show has had a profound effect on the hunting scene in New Zealand, drawing together diverse groups of hunters and those in the industry, and adding a sense of coherence and solidarity to what was a very fragmented sport. Hunters by nature are individualists who don’t find it easy to work together and, while we still have a long way to go, the Sika Show has helped immensely. How it all began… The inaugural Sika Show, first promoted as the Sika Trophy Competition, was held in 1993 in the Spa Hotel in Taupo on Sunday 23rd May and was just for Sika. The Taupo Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association and some NZDA members from other local branches provided the Douglas Score measurers, as they have done every year since. A total of 89 Sika heads were entered, 86 complete with jaws, from as far west as Mount Tongariro and as far east as Puketitiri in the Hawkes Bay. These were to have been shot between the period 1st April and 20th May.

There were 57 eight-pointers presented for measuring and twenty-three of these scored over 150 DS. Only two of those made the record book benchmark of 170 DS, the overall winning head being an 11-pointer taken by local Turangi hunter, Ken Drummond, scoring 182 2/8 DS. Dr Wayne Fraser, a deer ecologist with Landcare Research who was to be analysing data obtained, spoke before the prizegiving. It’s an interesting fact that the three major sponsors for this inaugural Show were Fly ‘n’ Gun Shop, Taupo, Sporting Life, Turangi, and the Department of Conservation, Turangi. Cam Speedy was working for DOC at that stage and was a major factor in DOC’s participation. Sadly Cam didn’t find ongoing support from the DOC hierarchy for this initiative with hunters which was sad, because hunting is a major sport in New Zealand, one that DOC should be promoting. (This is changing – editor!) A $2,000 rifle was donated by The Fly and Gun Shop and Sporting Life and was won by Harold Magon of Kerikeri. In all, sponsors donated fourteen prizes which were drawn at random from all valid entries.

The three top heads were offered a free mount, courtesy of local Taupo taxidermists Vern Pearson, Peter Livesey and Richard Abraham. Because Richard won the second prize he kindly donated the free mount to the fourth place getter. This generosity of local taxidermists has remained a feature of the Sika Show over the years. 1994 Sika Show There was significantly increased interest in this Show held on Monday 6th of Queen’s Birthday weekend, with an estimated 500 people packing the Spa Hotel. The 146 stag heads measured, taken between 1st March and 31st May, represented a 75per cent increase over entries from the first year and included 65 eight-pointers. The most notable feature, apart from increased interest, was the number of heads that made the record book: seven as compared to two the previous year. Even the next three heads were at most 1 1/8 points short of the record book! The biggest head entered scored 213 1/8 DS and was shot by Bruce Bates of Ngamatea Station, but was judged a hybrid.

The winning head that scored 191 2/8 DS was shot in the Kawekas by Steve Clark. These were the days of Buller boots and Swanndris, with hunters standing around with a jug of beer in one hand, yarning with other similarly clad local hunters. Again the show was sponsored by DOC and The Fly and Gun Shop of Taupo, and was supported by an increasing number of businesses and organisations. Consequently twenty-one hunters shared in some $6,000 worth of prizes, the top prize being a Savage .243 and scope drawn at random, as were most of the other prizes. 1995 Sika Show Again the venue was the Spa Hotel and the date Queen’s Birthday weekend. In total 136 heads were entered, compared to 89 the first year and 146 in 1994. Of the heads registered, 109 were presented together with jaw bones for measuring, but there were only 36 heads with eight points or more, compared to 65 the previous year. Only four heads made the record book, but again a number were just under.

Mike Spray of Papakura, with a head scoring 184 DS shot in Ecology Creek, was the winner. Once again there were a number of prizes offered by sponsors and, in total, 21 hunters shared these prizes valued at over $8,500. 1996 Sika Show This year’s Show had a number of changes. It had been offered to NZDA Taupo and Bob Neckelson took the idea to the Taupo NZDA committee, but it was rejected on the following bases: NZDA was not a commercial entity. There was no enthusiasm for the extra work, even with obvious national benefits. Some of the committee were quite half-hearted and others were really against the club taking it over. Bob comments that “by the turn of the century opinions had changed, but by then the opportunity had long gone”. Mark Bridgman had been involved with the Sika Show since its inception as a sponsor and as a helper, but now he and his team from Hunters and Habitat took over the organisation and it was advertised as the Heli-Sika Hunting Competition, indicating the higher level of commercial interest.

There was also a significantly increased level of general interest, with over a thousand hunting and outdoor enthusiasts appreciating the Sika trophies, the increased number of trade exhibits and the giveaway prizes. Cam Speedy continued to be involved and indeed he has been at every Sika Show since, in some capacity. Again held at the Spa Hotel in Taupo in 1996, 84 heads were registered, taken from as far south as the Sparrow Hawk Range in the Ruahines to Stoney Creek in the Ahimanawas. While the number of heads entered was down on previous years, this was due to the stricter criteria in that only heads of six points or more were eligible. However, the quality of the heads was noticeably better, with ten scoring over the 170 DS criteria, making them eligible for the NZDA record book trophy register. The talking point of the Show was undoubtedly the head entered by Glen McRae, the best since the Show began and the best Sika head shot in the previous twenty years.

According to Cam Speedy, the higher quality of the heads was partly due to the good growing season in early spring, enabling stags to increase body condition before casting their antlers, therefore allowing a more significant component of their spring nutrition to go into velvet production. The effect of the ash from the September 1995 Mount Ruapehu eruption was unknown, but an increase of trace elements and minerals as a result of the ash may have helped improve antler production also. He also commented that with four of the top ten heads coming from the Clements Road area, this again is evidence that habitat quality has had an influence. This area has shown a lower deer density achieved by intense recreational hunting pressure and, while the fewer numbers may not have suited all hunters, the trade-off is better habitat quality and therefore more nutrition available to remaining animals, thus producing better trophies. A further example of this was derived from data from hinds’ jaws supplied by Monroe Reweti from the Motiti area of the Waiotaka Catchment in the back of Lake Taupo Forest.

This area had been 1080 poisoned in August/September of 1995 and, as a consequence, there was a major decline in deer numbers and, I might add, opossum numbers. The next two years saw significant improvement in forest condition and this was reflected in the deer present. Monroe had provided six hind jaws from the area, four of which were less than four years old (ie. still growing when the area was poisoned) and all were 5-10per cent larger than the herd average for their year class. 1997 – 2009 It is worth noting at this point the development of Hunters and Habitat and their involvement with the Sika Show over the years. This organisation started in 1995 because of disaffection with NZDA and a recognition of the need to promote hunting, obtain data from Sika jaws for management purposes, and for game management itself. Led by Mark Bridgman, the club has provided the significant part of the manpower and organisation. Mark, in fact, is now the key mover behind the show and personally helped fund it for a number of years.

Other members of H&H have also contributed funding, as it has only been in the last two years that the show has been making a profit. Groups such as Safari Club International and the Taxidermists’ Association have also contributed in different ways, but the inspiration and drive for the development of the show since 1997 has come from Mark Bridgman. In 2000 the Show was shifted to the Great Lake Centre, in the centre of Taupo, due to increased interest from hunters, the public and the commercial exhibitors. At the same time the Show was extended to include heads from other species. In 2003 the Show was again shifted, this time to a larger venue, the Taupo Events Centre, and then in 2004 the single day event was extended to two days.

This move was to make it more worthwhile for the commercial exhibitors, some of whom came from as far away as Alexandra in New Zealand and Queensland, Australia and also to meet the needs of the growing interest of hunters who by this time had begun to see the Sika Show as an important yearly meeting place, almost akin to the old time ‘meeting of the tribes’, where they could meet old acquaintances, spend money on hunting bargains and new innovations, and be inspired by the great heads on show. It was around this time that the name was changed again to ‘The Sika Competition and Outdoor Trade Show’, generally abbreviated to ‘Sika Show’ for short. The transition of the Sika Show, from a small sideshow at a local bar, where the male clientele often looked as if they had just come straight from a morning hunt, to the largest hunting competition and outdoor trade show of its kind in Australasia, has not been an easy one. In fact, only two years ago, some members of Hunters and Habitat committee were not in favour of continuing with the Show, such were the demands and lack of financial return for the key parties involved.

However, reason and vision prevailed and, as so often happens, the show was at a critical point and since then has continued to expand and grow from strength to strength. To achieve the current high standard in a country where the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude is often prevalent in government organisations and commercial exhibitors alike, has necessitated some strong leadership and vision, and Mark Bridgman has supplied these. Both Government agencies and commercial exhibitors have at times needed some firm direction as to what is acceptable both in terms of preparation and presentation. To put it bluntly, in Mark’s words, “It’s about dragging organisations into the commercial and public relationship realities of the 21st century.” While the core interest of the Show has always been Sika heads and the various commercial trade exhibitors, other interesting events such as a fashion parade of outdoor clothing, a climbing contest carrying a small pack up the climbing wall of the Events Centre and a colouring competition for the kids have created some interest. Perhaps New Zealand outdoor clothing manufacturers or distributors are not very adventurous for surprisingly there was little interest in the fashion parade, with Swazi being the notable exception. It was great fun though seeing Davy Hughes and team being models!

While efforts have been made to make the Show more user-friendly to women and families, it will always remain a hunting show, although it must be noted that more women are taking up hunting. There have been discussions in the past as to whether to broaden the base to include fishing, but it was felt that that would dilute the purpose of the event. So what happens over the four days the Events Centre is booked? On the Thursday the main arena is set up by a great team of volunteers, mainly from Hunters and Habitat, with some support from the Taxidermists’ Association. Booths are erected, the video screen and display areas for heads and tables for the public are erected, and then on Friday the exhibitors arrive and their equipment and goods are ferried in. A professional security firm is hired to police the event as there are firearms and expensive equipment such as binoculars on display. Then in the evening the exhibitors and helpers are invited to a catered buffet meal with all drinks supplied. When the Show starts at 9 am on Saturday, the doors open to a continuous stream of interested parties.

While it is still obviously a male dominated arena, there are mums pushing strollers or carrying babies, couples young and old and a good representation of the general public. It is easy to spot the hopeful hunters … they come clutching a head or two and are directed out the back where the heads are processed and scored by the team from Deerstalkers’ Associations and Sika jaws collected. The heads are then taken out for display. Last year, 2008, over 4,500 people attended the Show over the two days and there were a total of 39 Sika heads entered, of which thirty-five were in the Open Category, three were in the Women’s Category and one was in the Bow Category. This seems a big drop from 1996 when there were 84 heads entered of six points or more, but my feeling is that whereas in the past hunters would bring in heads of any size, now they are becoming more discerning and only bringing in the better quality heads. I would also like to think that more hunters are not just shooting anything with antlers, including smaller eight-pointers, but waiting for that bigger stag.

During the weekend the public are able to entertain themselves by checking out the various trophies on display or viewing and purchasing from the wide variety of exhibitors and there’s even a food and drink area where they can relax and be educated or entertained by short DVDs on the main screen, watching presentations such as a promotion by Food Safety, New Zealand, a hunting trip in Africa or Alaska or one of a fellow Kiwi hunting Sika. It’s all good fun with an old-time distinctively Kiwi rural feel about it. Certainly not for the non-hunter or those not enamoured with the great sport of hunting, as you may see the demise of a trophy bear or a magnificent trophy stag. The ultimate prize, the trophy for the top Sika head entered. This trophy was sculptured by Chris Short who won it himself in 2006 with a stag that scored 209 DS. With regard to the heads themselves, the main focus of the Show, there is great anticipation among hunters as to who will win first prize. While all entries have to be in by 3pm on the Saturday, some hunters leave their entries until the very last, hoping to slip in unobserved.

A comparison of the heads over the years is interesting: whereas for the first three years, 1993 to 1995, the very best head scored 194 DS, in 1996 and 1997 the Show was won by heads scoring over 200 DS. In the years 1998 to 2000, the best head scored 195 DS, but thereafter each year has produced a winning head of over 200 DS. Only one hunter has won the coveted trophy twice – Glen McRae, from Taupo, whose winning head from 1996 of 212 3/8 DS was the first head entered over the 200 DS mark and one of the biggest Sika trophies ever shot in New Zealand. On the Sunday afternoon, beginning at 2pm, comes the climax of the weekend: the prize giving. As you will see below, there is a huge array of prizes, with the great finale being the award of prizes for the top five scoring Sika heads, including the trophy for the top Sika head itself. The generosity of the sponsors is seen in the prizes that are awarded to winning participants.

Then, when the prize giving is over, hunters may linger for a while to catch up with an old friend before heading home, no doubt with the unspoken dream that next year they may be the lucky hunter who takes home the coveted prize or, at the very least, shoot a record book stag. With the crowd dispersing, the exhibitors and helpers focus on their final act – the big clean up. Then it’s all over until the next year. The planning for that is already well under way. One interesting comment re the prizes – in the early days there were random prizes for the general public and one year a guy won a pair of expensive Meindl boots and then sold them to the first taker for a half dozen cans of beer! Nowadays even random prizes are restricted to actual entrants, whether they bring in a head, a photo or a jaw. A show of this nature would not be complete without its controversies, and it’s fair to record that many of these revolve around the heads themselves. Some heads entered come from hybrids, meaning they are a cross between a Red deer, generally with larger antlers, and a Sika, thus giving an unfair advantage.

The scorers have the unenviable task of making a decision that determines the ultimate fate of the category, and when a head is moved to the hybrid section, the end result is often a very disappointed hunter. The alternative, of course, is to have quite a few irate hunters, as has also happened. Then there are heads shot under the spotlight and entered, and, even worse in the writers opinion, are so called ‘hunters’ who shoot their ‘trophies’ behind the wire, often illegally or with the aid of a guide and then enter these heads in the competition. Unfortunately when there are prizes of a high value sometimes ethics go out the door. Sadly more Kiwi shooters, for they are not hunters, are going the way of the Americans and buying into this canned ‘hunting’. Canned ‘hunting’ has its place as commercial entertainment, but it’s not hunting as we know it. In future years there may be a category for this type of activity, but in my opinion this will be a retrograde step as the bigger the chequebook, the bigger the head. Some Kiwis seem to have forgotten what hunting is all about.

Finally, there are often disputes or rumours as to where some heads were taken and some landowners have even attempted to have winning heads DNA tested in an attempt to prove the animal (all wild animals belong to the Crown) was shot on their land. Never a dull moment. The Sika Show has been the most significant event that has happened in New Zealand hunting circles in the author’s hunting lifetime, in his opinion. The Show is a place where key relationships are built, and then built on from year to year. Supported by virtually all the main players in the hunting scene, it has brought together those at grassroots level and those at a commercial and political level, and in so doing has delivered a degree of trust, unity, strength and, dare I say it, new direction to a very fragmented, individualistic and often suspicious hunting fraternity. And, while some hunting organisations have been slow to face the changing realities of the New Zealand hunting scene, what has happened with the Sika Show has not only been in response to those changes, but has helped shape them. We may have the best hunting in the world and the best Sika herd, but we surely have among the worst game management, and that has to change!

What flows from the Sika Show will play a significant part in that. As to the future, the Sika Show and its South Island offshoot, the Tahr Show, will continue to play an increasingly important part in New Zealand hunting. From a small event in a country bar it has grown to be a main player in the New Zealand hunting scene. It has an exciting future. (The author is grateful to Cam Speedy for providing information about the first four Sika Shows, taken from articles he wrote for the “Taupo Target”, a magazine originally marketed by DOC for hunters and fishermen.) ADW: Cervus nippon: INFORMATION introduced Habitat Cervus nippon is primarily a forest-dwelling deer that particularly prefers forested areas with a dense understory (Nowak 1991). However, these animals are able to adapt quite well to a variety of other habitats such as freshwater marshes (Maryland) and grasslands (New Zealand) (Nowak 1991).

In addition to their environmental adaptability, sika deer are found at a variety of elevations from sea level to 1800 m, and populations participate in seasonal altitudinal migrations of up to 700 m depending on such factors as snowfall and its subsequent melt, reproductive periods, and plant defoliation (Feldhamer 1980). The summer ranges of these animals are generally higher and larger than their winter ranges (Nowak 1991). Habitat Regions 0.00 to 5905.51 ft Physical Description Cervus nippon is a small to medium-sized deer with a head and body length of approximately 950-1,800 mm, a tail length of about 75-130 mm, and a height (measured at the shoulder) of 640-1090 mm (Feldhamer 1980, Nowak 1991). On average, males grow until they are 7-10 years old, while females stop growing at age 4-6 years (Nowak 1991).

This results in the sexual dimorphism of males averaging 8.7% larger than females (Feldhamer 1980 and Nowak 1991). The pelage of C. nippon ranges from chestnut-brown to reddish-olive and exhibits a great deal of variation resulting in colors such as yellow-brown, gray-brown, tan, black, or gray depending on the subspecies (Feldhamer 1980, Flerov 1952, Nowak 1991, Putman 1988, and Whitehead 1972). In addition, the coats of these animals are mottled with white spots arranged in seven or eight rows on the upper sides of the back (Feldhamer 1980, 1997, Nowak 1991). Moreover, the mid-dorsal area of C.

nippon is darker than the rest of its coat, and this forms a line from head to rear, terminating at a large, white, erectile rump patch often used as a distinguishing characteristic of these animals (Feldhamer 1980, 1997, Nowak 1991). The metatarsals of these deer are surrounded by tufts of grayish-tan hairs, and the hooves of adult males average 60 mm in length and 40 mm in width (those of females are slightly smaller) (Feldhamer 1980). The winter coat of sika deer is very dense with 50-70 mm long hairs, while its summer pelage is composed of much finer, straighter, and shorter (30 mm) hairs (Feldhamer 1980 and Putman 1988). The chin, throat, and belly of sika deer have an off-white or gray hue (Feldhamer 1980 and Nowak 1991).

Finally, both sexes have a shaggy neck mane that darkens in the winter (Feldhamer 1980 and Nowak 1991). Two molts occur annually in sika deer (Feldhamer 1980). In northern temperate climates the molt into winter pelage takes place over a 2-4 week period beginning in September, while the summer molt requires approximately 3 months and begins in March (Feldhamer 1980). Interestingly and for unknown reasons, it is the older deer that molt first (Feldhamer 1980). Antlers are only found among the males of this species (Nowak 1991). In the Northern Hemisphere, males are in velvet antlers from May until August, but hard antlers predominate by early September, just in time for intrasexual selection activities like fraying (Feldhamer 1980). The growth phase of antlers is about 130 days beginning immediately in May when they are generally shed (Feldhamer 1980 and Flerov 1952).

It should be noted that older males shed their antlers before their younger counterparts (Feldhamer 1980 and Flerov 1952). The antlers of sika deer are narrow, erect, and directed slightly posteriorly (Brown 1983, Feldhamer 1980, and Nowak 1991). Each is fairly short - measuring about 300-660 mm in length depending on the subspecies and local conditions - and has 2-5 tines (prongs) (Brown 1983, Feldhamer 1980, Nowak 1991, and Putman 1988). A 25 mm diameter at the base of each antler is common, while a spread of 400-500 mm is the maximum observed length (Feldhamer 1980). An upswept brow tine arises approximately 25 mm above the coronet (burr), while a bay tine is absent (Brown 1983 and Feldhamer 1980).

Also, a forked, or sometimes palmated, tine surmounts the tray tine and faces forward (Brown 1983 and Feldhamer 1980). Finally, experimentation with antler growth and development have revealed that these processes can be entrained in deer previously sensitized to decreasing day lengths by increasing day lengths (Brown 1983 and Feldhamer 1980). The skull of C. nippon is relatively short, with a rounded frontal-parietal region (Feldhamer 1980). The nasal bone does not extend beyond the maxilla, the lacrimal vacuity is fairly shallow, and the paroccipital processes extend below the occipital condyle (Feldhamer 1980). Overall, the cranial measurements of adult males averaged 8.9% larger than those of females (Feldhamer 1980). The dental formula of this species is 0/3, 1/1, 3/3, and 3/3 (Feldhamer 1980).

The upper canines of sika deer protrude from the maxilla anteriorly, while the lower canines are incisiform (Feldhamer 1980). The molariform teeth are hypsodont and selenodont (Feldhamer 1980). Other Physical Features 37.40 to 70.87 in Reproduction Cervus nippon is polygamous, and a successful male will gather as many as 12 females on his territory over the course of the mating (rutting) season (Feldhamer 1980, Nowak 1991). In addition, during the rutting season males quickly deplete their fat stores and may lose up to 20-30% of their body weight (Feldhamer 1980, Flerov 1952). Females, however, do not lose weight during the 6 week rutting season and may associate with a number of bucks in order to gain access to a number of feeding locations (Feldhamer 1980).

Mating System polygynous Both sexes reach reproductive maturity at 16-18 months (Nowak 1991). Sika deer breed in the fall (September and October), and births of single offspring occur in May and June after a gestation period of approximately 30 weeks ( 1997 and Nowak 1991). The newborn young weighs about 4.5-7.0 kg and is nursed from 1 of its mother's 4 mammae for up to 10 months on an increasingly fatty milk (contains approximately 13% fat at the inception of the lactation period and 30% fat at its conclusion) (Feldhamer 1980 and Nowak 1991). The birth of calves usually takes place in forested areas or open fields, but small outlying patches of cover may be used in some cases (Feldhamer 1980). Some researchers have proposed that interbreeding between Japanese sika deer and red deer has occurred, yielding hybrid animals with an adaptive advantage over their purebred relatives (Putman 1988).

Key Reproductive Features AnAge Behavior Cervus nippon is primarily nocturnal (Nowak 1991). In addition, sika deer are not particularly gregarious (Nowak 1991). Adult males are solitary for most of the year but sometimes band together, while females and their young form groups of 2-3 only during the calving season (Nowak 1991). Males mark the boundaries of their territories by digging holes up to 1.6 m wide and 0.3 m deep with their antlers and forefeet and urinating in them frequently (Feldhamer 1980 and Nowak 1991). In addition, thrashing of the ground cover with their antlers serves to define an individual's territory as well (Feldhamer 1980 and Nowak 1991). When territorial disputes occur between males, antlers and hooves are used as the primary weapons (Feldhamer 1980 and Nowak 1991). When running at slow to medium speed, C.

nippon uses a stiff gallop, making bounds of up to 3 m in length (Feldhamer 1980). At slightly increased speeds they exhibit a stiff-legged, quadrupedal hopping with all 4 hooves about 0.3 m off the ground simultaneously (Feldhamer 1980). With this gait bounds of 6 m in length have been reported, and these deer were able to clear obstacles up to 1.7 m in height (Feldhamer 1980). Cervus nippon is also an excellent swimmer and readily enters the water to escape predators or for other purposes (Feldhamer 1980). Surprisingly, these deer are capable of swimming up to 12 km in the sea (Feldhamer 1980). Key Behaviors social Home Range During the summer adult males begin to establish territories that average 4.76 hectares (henceforth abbreviated "ha") but can range from 2 - 12 ha (Nowak 1991).

It should be noted, however, that nonterritorial males - 4/5 of the male population - have an average home range of 11.74 ha (Nowak 1991). Communication and Perception Cervus nippon is a highly vocal species, and as of 1991, 10 different sounds have been recorded (Nowak 1991). These noises range from soft whistles used by does to communicate with each other, to "goat-like bleats" from does to fawn, to "soft, horse-like neighs" from fawn to does, to "loud, blood-curdling" screams produced by males, to an alarm call described as either a "sharp scream, a high-pitched whistle followed by a gutteral bark, or a chirp-like sound" (Feldhamer 1980, Nowak 1991, and Whitehead 1972). Sika deer also usual postures and touch in communication. They use chemical cues to convey information on reproductive status and territorial boundaries (see Behavior, above).

Communication Channels humans ( Homo sapiens ) Ecosystem Roles Sika deer are important as large prey animals for larger predators and in manipulating native vegetation through browsing. Economic Importance for Humans: Positive Sika deer are valued in China for their antlers, which are used in traditional medicine. They are also an important food and game animal. Positive Impacts body parts are source of valuable material Economic Importance for Humans: Negative Because of their taste for soy beans and corn, sika deer have undoubtedly caused some problems for farmers of these crops (Feldhamer 1980). Negative Impacts crop pest Conservation Status The following subspecies of C. nippon have been classified as endangered: C. nippon taiouanus of Taiwan, C. nippon keramae of the Ryukyu Islands, C. nippon mandarinus and C. nippon grassianus of northern China, C. nippon kopschi of east-central China, and C. nippon hortulorum of southeastern Siberia, Manchuria, and Korea (Nowak 1991, Whitehead 1972).

These animals have been subjected to unregulated hungint for food and commerce, and their forest habitats have been usurped by agriculture (Nowak 1991). In addition, predation by wolves, feral dogs, foxes, and lynx has taken a toll on populations (Feldhamer 1980). Although some sika deer are still present on farms in various locations, the above subspecies may have almost entirely vanished from the wild (except for C. nippon keramae, which still survives on three uninhabited islets) (Nowak 1991). In modern times wild-living populations of sika deer are known to have been established in the British Isles, several countries of mainland Europe, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas, New Zealand, and Jolo Island (Nowak 1991). uses sight to communicate viviparous reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female. References Brown, R.D. 1983. Antler Development in Cervidae. Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kingsville. Feldhamer, G. A. 1980.

Mammalian Species: Cervus nippon. Volume One. The American Society of Mammalogists, New York City. Flerov, K.K. 1952. Musk Deer and Deer. The Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. 1997. The Assateague Naturalist Webpage. 1997. The Britannica Webpage. Nowak, R. M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. Fifth Edition. Volume Two. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Putman, R. 1988. The Natural History of Deer. Cornell University Press, Ithaca. Whitehead, G.K. 1972. Deer of the World. Constable & Company, Ltd., London. Horns and Antlers - Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch Horns Animal horns come in all shapes and sizes. They have a core made of bone, with a cover made of keratin (same material human hair or fingernails is comprised). Animals use their horns to defend against predators (great way to protect the family). If an animal’s horn is broken or damaged, it will remain that way forever. It does not grow back.

Horns are permanent; they are not shed, but grow with the animal throughout its lifespan. Fun facts about horns: Rhinoceros’ are the only mammal with a horn on its nose, which continuously grows throughout their lifespan. Rhinoceros’ horns are missing the bony core, but like other horns, consist of strictly stainds of matted keratin. Giraffes’ horns, or ossicones, have a bony core, but do not have a keratin sheath. Instead of the keratin sheath, the ossicones are covered by a thin layer of hair. Animal antlers come in all shapes and sizes and have branches and points. Like horns, they are also used for protection. Unlike horns, only male deer species at the Wildlife Ranch grow antlers, for which they shed and grow back each year. Antlers are not permanent. Unlike horns, only male deer species at the Wildlife Ranch grow antlers, for which they shed and grow back each year. Antlers are not permanent. Antlers begin growing as cartilage, covered by hairy skin referred to as velvet.

Coinciding with rut or breeding season, the hormone change in male species will cause the cartilage in the antlers to turn into bone. This process is called ossification. Once antlers have turned to bone, the velvet will dry and fall off the antlers. Months later, the animal will shed their antlers. Animals will only be without their antlers for a few weeks before the process starts again. Fun facts about antlers: A deer’s age cannot be determined by the size or number of points it carries on its antlers. Caribou are the only animal species where both the male and female have antlers. Sika Deer | Deer Farming Articles | NADeFA Sika Deer History Sika deer were initially found in southern Siberia and the Japanese island of Hokkaido in the north along both mainland and island chains to southwestern China and Taiwan. They were located by western zoologists in the middle of the 19th century, when they found many (more than 70) subspecies, especially in the Asian continent. The Chinese chemists bred and cross-bred sika for centuries and used virtually every part of the animal. In Japan, however, herds ran free throughout the country.

Those in the north had large body and antler size, while those in the southern region were smaller. The first sika were introduced in America to Maryland in 1916, and into Texas in 1939. SPECIES SPECIFICS General Sika deer tend to range in color from mahogany to black. They are rarely white with very few documented cases of white as opposed to albino. All colors carry a distinctive black dorsal stripe from the base of the skull to the tail. Most animals have some degree of spotting with the mahogany color generally carrying white spots and the darker colors having either white or black spots or black flecking. When alarmed, they will often display a distinctive flared rump much like the American elk. All sika are compact and dainty-legged with short, trim, wedge-shaped head and a boisterous disposition. Sika stags have stout, upright antlers with an extra buttress up from the brow tine and a very thick wall. A forward-facing intermediate tine breaks the line to the top, which is usually forked. Occasionally, sika develop some palmation. Females carry a pair of distinctive black bumps on the forehead.

Antler length can range from 11 to 19 inches to better than 30 inches depending on the species. Stags also sport a distinctive mane while in the rut. The average weight for an adult stag is 160-220 pounds. Sika are study animals and seem to do well in the north as well as the hot, dry southwest. Sika deer have a calm disposition, however, they are prone to biting when put in a trying situation. Nutrition/Health Sika deer respond well to palletized feeds, corn, hay, and do well foraging on their own in a free range situation. However, water is extremely important and providing an area for wallowing and splashing is a must. In the wild, sika prefer forest type vegetation and feed primarily at night. They are true ruminants and feed on plants, grasses, leaves, bark and off the ground. Like their red deer cousins, sika deer are susceptible to stress-related disease if poorly managed. Reproduction Sika deer have seasonal synchronization of birth, body, growth, activity cycles and growth stasis to correspond to feed quantity, quality and availability. For example, maximum nutritional demands for females occurs during lactation.

The precise timing of breeding and birthing insures that maximal lactational demands coincide with the most lush and plentiful growth of forage (May, June, and July). The summer is the time of fawning and lactation, and the time of maximum weight gain for the yearlings. For the mature stags, it is the time for antler growth and regaining of body condition and fat reserves which were depleted during the previous autumn rut and winter. For sika deer, birthing usually occurs between May and August, with a gestation period from 222-262 days. Twinning is rare in sika deer. The sika rut is often referred to as the “roar”. The rut generally starts in middle to late September with hinds beginning to cooperate in early October to as late as December. Stags must be separated during the roar as they become intolerant of each other and will cause great harm to other nearby males. One stag will service 15-20 hinds.

Question: A sika is what type of animal?
Answer: Deer