Hunt for the Sika Deer in the Doupov Mountains

The hunt for the Sika deer is exceptional in its own way, since it is not a native animal to our land, but it was imported and implanted by our ancestors. It gotten to the Czech countries at the turn of the 19th and 20th century, when noble families put them in their game reserves to diversify their hunting possibilities. They were bred mainly in the West of the country, in the area of Prague, but also in central Czechia. At the end of the Second World War and after it, they escaped from the unmaintained game parks into free nature and they adapted well to the Central-European conditions. A significant population lived originally only in Western Czechia, near Labe. They multiplied and spread into other regions. Naturally, the most beautiful hunt is during the mating season at the turn of September and October, when adult males create their territories and through specific whistling and puffing gain the favor of the female deer. They are smaller than our deer, but they fight viciously with their smaller antlers with many tines, which often end with severe injuries. A professional hunting guide can identify through its vocalization if it is an older or a younger buck, i.e. if it’s worth going after him. The hunt itself takes place in the morning and in the afternoon, as is the case in our lands. It is a combined hunt - mainly by stalking, but in some cases also by still hunting. It depends on the situation and the physical capabilities of the hunter, when “close combat” is a big experience, but more about it in the story. In most cases, the guide uses a whistle, which he uses to scare the male from its environment - often dense growth. The mating season and the actual hunt for the Sika deer are an exceptional experience and every lover of a good hunt should experience it at least once. I caught my first Sika deer during the mating season of 2022 in the Doupov mountains near Karlovy Var and this is the story:

 

The planned hunt is approaching and I’m anxiously counting down every day. I cannot wait for new hunting experience, stories, friendship and exciting and funny moments, which I will remember for the rest of my life. And which I will maybe tell my grandchildren too. Yes, hunting is also about this. It is not just about the hunt, but about the whole atmosphere and feelings, you cannot describe in words, but I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. After a few hours’ drive from Slovakia, we are arriving at our destination, to a small, but authentic boarding house, where a group of hunters arrived the previous day. I’m welcomed by my friend Tomas, who at first glance looks like there was something to celebrate. And there was… The other trip they caught a rare old male and immediately he is escorting me to the social room to show it to me. I’m experiencing a small, but an intense cultural-social shock! There is not one, but three heads with branches in their mouths on a plate on the table and in front of them a burning candle. Different lands different customs a say to myself and I listen the story about the successful hunt, looking with one eye at this, for me, new tradition. “Gentlemen, thank you for a warm welcome. You got me with your story to the right operational temperature.”, I assess my starting hunting fever aloud and demand a key from my room by looking around. After short relaxation and changing into hunting clothes, we start our afternoon walk.

 

We got in the car and headed to the game reserve. With excitement I was observing the nature around us - beautiful colors of the fall were completed by the sun setting down. Perfection. The moment we got out of the car, we were greeted by the fresh air after the rain. We opted for still hunt, when after climbing to the perch I took my binoculars and started to check distances, as I usually do in a foreign environment. The time went on and we started losing hope that today’s hunt will be successful.   The guide remarked miserably: “Still hunt didn’t work for us. There are only females in this place. Let’s move to the forest for the so-called “close combat”. I hear a male from that direction, so we will try to find it and I believe, we will be successful.” There are questions in my mind: What will this hunt bring? Will it be successful? But I pushed all of them out of my mind the moment we silently entered the forest, stopped and took a look around if there are no deer nearby. There is twilight everywhere; only our breaths can be heard. I feel the tension flow throughout my body. The terrain was a little bit more difficult, but this did not bother us. We were stepping over the branches and rocks, we tried to thread in complete silence, as if we were only visiting the forest. We walk through the dense forest on the wet moss, we stop and for a while we observe. It was getting dark, but we were not giving up. We believed, things would work out in the end. We crouched down and whistled to try to lure the deer. We have repeated this several times. The tension was growing by the male answering by whistling and puffing, which was getting closer and closer. And then it came! A male stepped out from the shadow of the forest into the clearing; after a short “reading” I heard the agreed sign “yes”. I dove into the rifle put on a shooting stick, aimed and as I exhaled, a shot came out. In the scope I see that the deer is falling in fire after a well-placed hit in his chest. A moment of silence. We are approaching the animal. The curiosity is killing me and I’m walking faster. I see him. He’s lying on the ground. A smile appears on our faces. “It worked!” I note happily. I bent down to the deer and with a silent voice I whispered: “I’m sorry my friend.” The guide grabbed the deer by the antlers and examined him in detail. “Second head, proper selective catch.” He says. We both bend over him, put a branch on him and insert the last bite.

 

“I would like to congratulate you to your successful catch of a Sika deer. Thank you for a perfect hunt full of twists and flawless shooting. I hope you had a great experience. Hail to the hunt!“ he said, handing over a branch. I love this feeling most of all.

 

We completely enjoyed the dinner we spent with the other hunters. After all, we are bound by our greatest fashion - hunt. A lot of stories could be heard in the room we told each other. The head of the deer was displayed on the table with a candle in front of it. I will happily remember this hunt for the rest of my life. Hail to the hunt and the forest!