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Free Range Axis Range #5546031 01/16/15 03:54 AM
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Kobus Offline OP
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What's the range of most free range axis in Texas? I know around where I'm at in Kerrville there are a good amount of them. Where are they popping up at new? How far will they spread? Will they outcompete all whitetails eventually? Will they spread to Mexico and possibly other states?

Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5546305 01/16/15 12:59 PM
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Where ever they are they seem to out compete WT deer. Two winters ago I was at a ranch in South Texas taking some photographs of some really poor looking WT deer. The place was way overgrazed and the deer herd was struggling except for the three different small groups of Axis I found. All appeared to be fat and slick.


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Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5546358 01/16/15 01:45 PM
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I know their as far south as bracketville, ive seen them right by the 1604 loop in san ant. And heard they go as far north as Gatesville, but im sure theirs more pockets of them. I know a guy that shot one in s.texas near Cotulla but it was a single doe.

Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5546404 01/16/15 02:08 PM
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I don't know how many are free range in South Texas but many of the h/f places have them so I'm sure some have managed to get loose!


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Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5546468 01/16/15 02:42 PM
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I HFed to keep in my Ibex. I had no Axis. Now I have no idea how many I have. It changes all the time. I got 2 more a few weeks ago that now hang out with my goats. They will eventually take over at least the lower Eastern two thirds of the US.

Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5546694 01/16/15 04:13 PM
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Oh wow. How do you think they will take to mexico if they reach it?

Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5547212 01/16/15 09:08 PM
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If you look at their native range Axis can be found up to 30' N and 3600 ft elevation. I would expect at lower elevations they would range somewhat north of 30'. Looking at a Texas map 30' N just about goes through Kerrville. Kerrville is in the USDA's plant hardiness region 8A but near the border with 7B. With a lot of free range Axis in Edwards county that is mainly in zone 7B I would think that you could use the 7B zone a a good analog for how far north they can range. Axis don't do well in true desert or heavy forest so those are also limiting factors.


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Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: nsmike] #5549682 01/18/15 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted By: nsmike
If you look at their native range Axis can be found up to 30' N and 3600 ft elevation. I would expect at lower elevations they would range somewhat north of 30'. Looking at a Texas map 30' N just about goes through Kerrville. Kerrville is in the USDA's plant hardiness region 8A but near the border with 7B. With a lot of free range Axis in Edwards county that is mainly in zone 7B I would think that you could use the 7B zone a a good analog for how far north they can range. Axis don't do well in true desert or heavy forest so those are also limiting factors.


Think this is spot on. Anywhere you have mottled parkland in that range, they could do well. I personally doubt you'd see them widespread free range in Deep South Texas, seems like they do poorer on natural range (not protein supplemented) the further south you go from highway 90.

Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5550228 01/18/15 10:38 PM
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I heard of some around Crockett but they might have been fugitives from a hunting high fence..... I would like to see them in Ohio but -17 degrees might not set well.



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Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5550714 01/19/15 02:13 AM
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There was a place up in Northwest Pennsylvania not too far from Youngstown where there was an axis doe who lived a few years free range until someone managed to bag her.

Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5551316 01/19/15 02:25 PM
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Can't personally vouch for them but here is a video of some on the Trinity River in Dallas County https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWmfX1jHZBg

Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5551781 01/19/15 05:31 PM
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I think Axis can survive cold weather but I remember talking with a land owner outside of Eden about an Axis hunt because he had some photos of some great bucks. The landowner was very honest with me and said his Axis that were to be hard horned that summer were stunted because of an long and sever cold snap in Feburary/March that basically froze the bucks horns and they never properly developed. Everything he had at that summer was stunted. Something to think about when growing antlers in the dead of winter. Baker


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Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5574382 01/31/15 05:29 AM
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How is the axis hunting west of Barksdale between 55 and 674?


Looking for a new lease in the 2016/17 hunting season in South Texas or Edwards Plateau. It would be three people that are family members that have been hunting together for years.
Re: Free Range Axis Range [Re: Kobus] #5574406 01/31/15 06:09 AM
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Yes, I have seen the herd in Dallas county twice with my own eyes. They are within city limits and are doing fine free range.

I have also seen free range axis near Okalla, just south of Copperas Cove.

Also seen some north and south of Abilene, but I think those were escapees and not sustaining free range.

However, I have never seen any real big antlers in the northern part of the state. Even on HF ranches, they seem to be smaller racked than those in the hill country - generally.

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