By Judy Jurek
Exotic animals live all over Texas. Just keep your eyes open and you’ll see. It’s an irrefutable fact these creatures are here to stay. The Lone Star state’s vast and varied terrain resembles many foreign animals’ home turf, so much so, some species are more prolific here than in their native countries.
The axis, along with nilgai, and aoudad, present unique challenges to hunters pursuing them because each has sharp vision, acute hearing, and keen sense of smell. All three have readily adapted to specific topography and food sources. All three may be hunted year-round, providing additional targets during whitetail and mule deer seasons, and with additional recreation when these seasons are closed.
Let’s focus on axis to see how it’s one of Texas Trophy Hunters’ favorite exotics.
Rust colored with white spots and a dark stripe down their backs makes for one attractive feature of male and female axis deer. Their distinctive antlers make outstanding wall mounts while their gorgeous hides get turned into rugs, purses, clothing, furniture covers, and more. Many people, including international chefs, swear axis is the best tasting venison.
A mature buck may reach 250 pounds or more, but in Texas they usually weigh much less. Female axis in Texas usually weigh 80-95 pounds. The life span in the wild for bucks is 5-6 years, while females may live 12-13 years. They’re grazers and browsers and more aggressive than whitetails when competing for food sources. In some areas, more assertive axis displace white-tailed deer.
They’re herd animals, so if you see one, you’ll likely find more around. A single hard-antlered buck may prowl for a receptive female, but they often tend to stick with family units. Always on alert, they’re quick to vacate an area. Bucks bellow during rutting. A funny snort-yelp-screech warns of danger or gets sounded while searching for others.
Perhaps their most desirable trait, axis bucks may be in any state of antler growth throughout the year. Bucks may be seen freshly shed, in velvet, or in hard antler. A buck’s birthday determines when he will have hardened antlers. Females come in heat year-round, but in Texas, August is the peak of the rut. However, breeding and fawning occurs in all months of the year.
A good buck’s main beams tape between 28-31 inches. Thirty inches or more is considered a trophy. The record is 41 inches. Brow tines may run 8-10 inches with caudles 5-8 inches. A few unique ones may produce extra points, forks, or even a drop tine. Damage occurring during early velvet can lead to unusual antler formation.
Axis are everywhere in the western Hill Country, having proven themselves prolific and adaptable. I recently lost count at 76 axis while watching a pasture bordering a Bandera RV park. Gillespie County has announced an axis control program being initiated as a contest. No bounty gets paid, but anyone submitting a frozen axis ear gets entered for prizes. Axis are the most populous of Texas Trophy Hunters’ favorite exotics, and maybe the best tasting.
Jason Shipman photo
