Axis Deer Hunting

Young, 25-Inch Class Axis Buck

Overview

Axis deer hunting is offered on a private ranch in southwestern Texas. The Axis hunts will be conducted from March through October each year. We’re talking about completely free-ranging, spot and stalk hunts, in stunningly beautiful country.

Axis hunts will be conducted with only 2 hunters on a 1 on 1 guided hunt or 4 hunters on a 2 on 1 hunt. The goal is to offer a high success hunt with an enjoyable hunting experience attached. Axis deer are under most people’s radar, but they offer an affordable, challenging hunt and are absolutely beautiful trophies.

Johnny Hughes

Axis Deer

An Axis deer is a moderately large, spotted deer originally indigenous to India and Sri Lanka. Significant populations of Axis deer no longer exist in these countries. There are more than 50,000 Axis deer currently living in Texas, which makes it the official Axis capital of the world. The vast majority of the Axis deer live in the limestone hills and creeks of the Edwards Plateau region of central Texas. They have literally exploded in population here over the last 25 years.

Axis deer are gregarious and rarely are seen by themselves. Unlike whitetail deer and elk, mature Axis bucks may be found living with herds of young and old animals of both sexes at any time of year. Anatomically, they are more closely related to the elk than native deer and many of their habits and actions very closely resemble elk. During the rut, Axis bucks have a bugle-like roar similar to elk as well.

The most interesting aspect of the Axis deer is rutting bucks with hard antlers can be found at any time of year. Each buck seems to have a reproductive cycle which may or may not synchronize with other bucks in a herd. Consequently, when some buck are going into rut, others may be in a non-breeding condition without antlers. Correspondingly, does experience estrous cycles throughout the year and breeding can occur year round. However, the largest breeding season occurs in late May through September.

The varying rut creates a unique hunting opportunity as it is possible to hunt hard-horned or velvet-horned bucks at the same time. Anything is possible.

El Jefe – Brad LaBounty

The Hunting Area

The 7,500-acre Wade Ranch is located in southeastern Sutton County, Texas. The nearest town, Sonora, is 30 miles away. The ranch is located in the Edwards Plateau region of Texas. Elite has had an exclusive hunting lease on this ranch the past four years. The Axis populations have been properly managed on the ranch to produce trophy-caliber hunting.

The Wade Ranch has been owned and operated by the Wade family since the 1930′s. The entire ranch is contiguous which creates an uninterrupted hunting area of almost 12 square miles. All animals in the immediate region are completely free ranging. In other words, they can leave anytime they wish.

The ranch has been under an extensive land-management plan since it’s inception. All cedar and mesquite has been systematically removed over the last 70+ years. On the entire ranch, you probably cannot find 50 cedar or mesquite trees growing. The live oak trees are the jewels of the ranch. They are interspersed with abundant openings of grasses and forbes, creating perfect habitat for deer. There is cover yet enough openings to offer excellent hunting options as well.

Axis deer have proliferated on the ranch over the past 20 years along with the native whitetails. You could not hope for a better population of Axis or a finer ranch to hunt.

Keith Rand

The Axis Deer Hunts

First and foremost, let us clarify exactly what type of hunting we will be doing. There are hunting methods unique to Texas, such as hunting over bait out of blinds, and driving around the roads in vehicles looking for deer. It is legal and accepted as tradition on many ranches…

With that said, we want to make it perfectly clear, that we will NOT be hunting over bait unless that is the preferred method of the client. In addition, there will be no hunting from vehicles. Vehicles will provide only the access. The entire hunt will be glassing from prominent points and then spot and stalk on foot.

The ranch is ideal for rifle hunting. The only way to kill one of these elusive deer with a bow is to sit over a feeder or water and wait. The challenge of the hunt is not killing any buck with a bow. It’s killing a GOOD buck with a rifle.

Riker Graham

The Wade Ranch is truly a unique ranch that offers superb spot and stalk rifle hunting. The hunting experience will be second to none. The exact hunting strategies we would use on a rifle elk hunt in New Mexico are used for Axis deer. If you like elk hunting, you will like Axis hunting.

A year-round, supplemental mineral and feeding program will be used to varying degrees to ensure healthy animals and to enhance the population of game on the ranch.

Fallow deer, Sika deer, Blackbuck antelope and Aoudad sheep exist in this area in small numbers. Should any of them be encountered during an Axis hunt, it can be taken on a kill-fee basis.

Hogs are not numerous on the ranch, but should you encounter one, you may take it at no extra charge.

Joseph Graham

Expectations for the Hunt

You will need only a moderate level of physical conditioning to enjoy this hunt.

What are reasonable expectations? If you will hunt with us, we will get you a shot opportunity at a 25-inch or better Axis. How much better is where the hunt comes in. Long brow tines and good mass characterize the better bucks in this area. We plan to hunt for 30-inch and better deer.

If you are in decent shape, will hold steadfast on your minimum, and will stick with the hunt for the duration, the following shot-opportunity percentages are what any of our guides feel they can produce for a 1 on 1 hunter, any given week:

Tom Moleski

Accommodations/Meals

Bunkhouse lodging is provided on the ranch. Cool, air-conditioned comfort for the hot, Texas days. Food and meals are the responsibility of the hunter. However, bring enough to feed the two guides and they will be more than willing to prepare evening meals for everyone. You will be amazed at the culinary capabilities displayed for you by a couple of guides, but Jake and Johnny like to eat well, so they learned to cook.

Kitchen facilities are available in the bunkhouse.

Airport Information

Air service is available by flying into either San Angelo or San Antonio, TX. You will need to rent a vehicle and drive to the ranch. The drive time is approximately 1 1/2 hours from San Angelo and 2 1/2 hours from San Antonio.

2013 Axis Deer Hunt Prices

4-Day Axis Deer Hunt – $2200 (1 on 1) or $1800 (2 on 1)

Any other exotic taken on any Axis deer hunt – $1000 kill fee

2013 Axis Deer Seasons

July 26-29, 2013

Aug 1-4, 2013

Aug 7-10, 2013

Sept 1-4, 2013

Sept 7-10, 2013

Sept 13-16, 2013

Oct 7-10, 2013

Oct 13-16, 2013

Oct 19-22, 2013

2013 Axis Deer License Fees

Axis Deer License- $48 (Available over-the-counter)