The art of hunting sika

Hunting sika deer in the British countryside isn’t something you simply decide to do. A sika stalk is a privilege, with many hunters hearing about the best locations during conversations with like-minded folk at the village pub – and thenceforth keeping them secret.

I haven’t hunted deer anywhere in the world that are quite like sika. They have an ability to simply melt away – to disappear and then reappear somewhere else. There’s something quite mystical about them, even though they’re very prolific in the part of the country we were hunting in. I was accompanied on this hunting trip by our in-house engraver and head of Rigby Art, Geoffrey Lignon, and we were lucky enough to be there during the rut. No matter what species of deer you’re stalking, this annual event is always fantastic to experience, seeing the stags fighting and charging about, chasing hinds.

Good company in wild places

Geoffrey is just as passionate as I am about the animals we share our wild spaces with. He had never had the chance to see one of these mysterious deer in the flesh, let alone pursue one, and I knew the experience would inspire him and his work. He’s excellent company as well. That’s so important to me, as I believe we should always hunt with people we really care about and enjoy spending time with.

A hunt that’s shared with the right person is always an experience doubled, and this sika stalk proved to be one we will both remember for many years to come.

A sika stalk to remember

We hunted over two or three outings, one of which was genuinely among the best mornings of my life. It was one of those late autumn days when the sunrise lights up the leaves and hedgerows, and there’s just a hint of frost touching the earth. A day to savour, with endless blue skies overhead.

For me, hunting is about much more than just the final act of taking an animal. It’s the whole experience; the challenge and respect for the pursuit. We hunt for the pleasure of the experience, not just the outcome, and this hunt was delivering on every level. Everything just fell into place – excellent guiding, an abundance of deer and relaxed, engaged company.

We had stalked a stag through the wooded slopes, the morning light filtering through the trees in a golden haze. He was close – probably just 15 yards away – marking up on a tree, standing tall on his toes, utterly absorbed in his own world. We watched, barely daring to breathe, for five, maybe six minutes.

When he finally moved off and we followed, weaving through the undergrowth until the landscape opened before us to reveal a clearing alive with movement. There were 50 or more sika deer, rutting, fighting and chasing hinds, all totally oblivious to our presence. The stags were in full voice, their eerie whistles carrying through the woodland in sharp contrast to the crisp stillness of the autumn morning. Branches cracked underfoot, the damp scent of earth rising as we made our way through the trees.

A rifle made to be used

That’s when I was able to take a shot, from a good distance out, with my .275 Rigby Highland Stalker. It’s always a privilege to take that rifle out hunting – a truly trusted companion. Of course these rifles look beautiful, and this one surely does, but it really comes alive when it’s out in the field, where it’s made to be taken.

It’s amazing to think that the Highland Stalker was just an idea in my head eight years ago. To manifest that into reality took a great deal of hard work and input from the team at Rigby, so it’s quite something to be able to carry it and hunt with it. Yes, we make beautiful guns, but we are all about the people, the experiences and being outside.

Geoffrey and I both used my personal Highland Stalker, which made it even more special. And Geoffrey shot so well. We both took superb stags on this sika stalk, and he also took a wonderful, mature roe buck.

Why we really hunt

I remember being quite young and shooting on a pheasant drive for the first time, and saying to my father, “Well, I feel quite nervous.” He replied, “The number-one thing is to make sure you’re safe – that’s vital when we’re using any firearm anywhere. But the second thing is to remember why you’re here: to enjoy yourself. This is not a job, so don’t get stressed about it. As long as you are ethical, safe and enjoy the moment, that’s what matters.”

His words echoed in my head on this trip, and I think we all gave ourselves up to enjoying it and savouring the downtime. We don’t hunt to collect trophies. We hunt for the experience, the quiet moments, the interactions, the privilege of stepping into a world most will never see.

On this sika stalk, that experience was truly doubled, watching Geoffrey take his first deer with such respect. Experiencing something anew through someone else’s eyes is just as enjoyable – possibly more so – than doing it yourself. There is something profound in providing that opportunity and seeing someone take a shot not just with skill, but with understanding. It touches something deep in the soul.

What a way to spend a day.