Our primo sika camp is located in Ireland, but we know that’s not in everyone’s budget. If you are desperate to hunt sika and you enjoy hunting public land, then Assateague Island on Virginia’s Eastern Shore might be for you.

While Maryland is the classic sika state, access has been getting harder with some public areas switching to limited draw, private leases going through the roof, and the nonresident sika stamp increasing from $25 to $200. Virginia is much simpler with no draw to worry about and reasonable nonresident fees. It’s also several hours farther away from the majority of sika hunters coming from Pennsylvania.

This is a true public land hunt comparable to Coues deer. It is a challenging hunt in unique terrain. Where else can you stalk along sand dunes a few hundred yards away from the Atlantic Ocean? Success rate is low but not terrible. Every year on opening night of archery, we’ve seen at least one solid stag in the skinning shed and multiple hinds, spikes, and forks. For most hunters, 5 days is enough time to get a shot within 60 yards. Even though we have much “better” hunts available to us, we can’t help but come back to Assateague year after year.

That being said, it’s not for everyone. Sika are one of the toughest deer species, and their aquatic habitat makes for very difficult blood trailing. With briar patches that would make a grouse hunter curse and mosquitoes that rival Alaska in August, Assateague becomes a one-and-done for many nonresidents. That’s why Sika Week has a built-in contingency plan. We provide you with roughly 1,000+ acres of whitetail hunting over two private land areas: (1) doe-only on the lodge property, and (2) either sex on a farm lease 15 minutes away. So if Assateague isn’t your cup of tea, you have top notch deer action to fall back on. The whitetail lease alone is worth the camp rate!

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which administers Assateague Island, does not issue special use permits for guided hunting, so we worked up a turnkey package that gives you everything you need to DIY. ** To avoid even the appearance of guiding, we cannot accompany you to Assateague or give you season-specific information like scouting reports **

Includes:
- Airport transfer from Norfolk International Airport (ORF) or Salisbury Regional (SBY)
- 6 nights lodging with laundry service
- 3 daily meals with drinks (beer/wine/liquor in moderation)
- 5 days 4x4 vehicle rental with fuel
- Whitetail farm lease (QDM property)
- Use of walk-in cooler, chest freezers, and full set of butchering tools
- Gear rental: Climber, tree sticks, saddle, ground-blind, hammock chairs, seats
- Additional rentals options (not included): gun/crossbow, thermal scope, boat, etc.
- Towing & emergency assistance
- Projected cost of nonresident license & tags
- Hosts have over a decade of experience hunting Assateague, taking sika successfully with all legal methods: bow, crossbow, muzzleloader, shotgun, and rifle

Our package is meant to provide the perfect DIY hunt at the same price point it would cost to arrange everything yourself. You’ll have a 40 minute drive from our gate to the park gate, so we send you with coffee and breakfast burritos to-go. We also pack you a cooler with lunch and drinks to maximize your time in field. Come home to a hot shower, a home-cooked meal, and a campfire where you can relax with a few drinks and compare notes. We even fill up the truck every night, so you don’t have to worry about fuel or anything else but the hunt.

$1,650 per hunter for Sika Week - Archery
5-day hunt; DIY; up to 5 sika and 2 whitetail per day
[1st week of October]

$1,950 per hunter for Sika Week - Muzzleloader
5-day hunt; DIY; up to 5 sika and 2 whitetail per day
[1st week of November]

$2,250 per hunter for Sika Week - Rifle
5-day hunt; DIY; up to 5 sika and 2 whitetail per day
[3rd week of November]

Est airfare: $250-650
Suggested tip: $100-200