The sika deer is a medium-sized deer, standing 25 to 48 inches high at the shoulder, with a length of 59 to 74 inches and weighing 132 to 310 pounds; males are significantly larger than females. Coat colour ranges from grayish or chestnut brown to reddish-brown, with males developing characteristic white spots in the summer. The tail, which is 4 to 8 inches long, is primarily white, with a wide black stripe above, and males have white hairs on the rump which stand erect during the rut. Males typically have four-pointed antlers that reach a length of up to 2.7 feet before being shed in April or May.