My son and I are going on a TPWD hunt next week near Junction. He can shoot axis and whitetail. I have seen axis, but never hunted them before. It seems like when I have seen them, they were in large groups.

Do axis travel in big groups more so than whitetails? Also, do bucks and does generally travel together or separate?

Thanks!

To answer your first question, yes, mostly. Not always "big" groups, but groups nonetheless. You'll occasionally see a doe wandering around by herself, or with just a fawn/young one. Bucks and does travel together a lot.

Hope you and your son have a great hunt.

They're free range all over my area, and almost always in a big herd.

I have found them to be more skittish than whitetail, especially the bucks. Elusive critters! (my theory is because they can be taken any time of year...)

Axis are very social and interact with each other a lot - much more so than whitetail. So it is very common to see them in groups. In fact, it is more rare to see a single than a group. Larger herds can be in the dozens, and smaller groups in 2-5. Smaller groups tend to be does, and singletons tend to be younger bucks or older bucks.

They feed in those groups, and often coordinate feeding. Very often they will send a "sacrificial doe" out to the feeder first, or to cross an open area first - while the rest of the herd hangs back in the brush and sees what happens.

They often travel single-file.

Because of their social behavior, you almost always are dealing with many pairs of eyes and ears. Very common behavior for groups is to have some of the herd feed/graze while others (usually the biggest bucks) stay off to the edges and keep watch. For this reason, they can been very, very spooky and difficult to hunt. Their ears are more sensitive, and their eyes are WAY better than whitetail (and I have heard they see in more colors than whitetail, perhaps having even full color vision).

If you see axis - especially a group of axis - don't wait very long to take a shot, or you will be sorry as the herd all thunders off. If you know the herd has big bucks, and you see them walking single file - the biggest buck is often trailing the line. But be ready, because those big bucks have a habit of waiting until the end of the line, then scampering quickly past the rest of the animals in the line to the head of the list and the first to disappear into the brush.


On a TPWD draw hunt, where you only get one chance - I would shoot the first axis you see, and be very quick about it.

If a large group of axis shows up - they have an annoying habit of bunching up where you cannot get a clear shot at any single animals - then off take off together in a bunch. More than a few times I've had 25-30 axis out right in front of me for 10-15 minutes and never been able to get a clean shot.

If you are near Junction, there are tons of axis around there. If you are put in a blind or section near a creek or river, you'll probably see axis as they have a fondness for using drainages for highways.

Oh, and I would shoot a crappy axis over a good whitetail any day - and twice on Sunday.

P.S. Keep the hides on axis - I know inexpensive places to tan the hides, and if you don't want it - there will be plenty of others that do!

Axis over whitetail fir too many reasons to list. It may be challenging to find one hard horned right now.

Interesting responses. I prefer Axis over whitetail for a lot of reasons too...but I thought I was pretty much alone in that!

If you are hunting S LLano chances are you will see an axis for every whitetail if not more axis than whitetail. You will possibly get multiple shots on axis. Our property is less than 10 miles as the crow flies and we are covered with axis. On the river in the state park and WMA they are even more thick. A guy I know hunted there a few years back with his daughter and she was able to shoot two axis in one sitting.




In our area a large group would be between 12-20 but typically we see groups of 5 or so. Bucks are typically in herds with the does and there will often be several good bucks along with one outstanding buck in a group. The herd is typically led by a doe so if you see a doe and have time you might want to wait a few moments to see if a few more are tailing her.

Great info guys! Thank you so much! We are leaving Sunday and can't wait! We are camping and the lows are going to be in the upper 20's/low 30's. Ought to be an adventure!

Anybody know of an inexpensive place to get an Axis hide tanned around the Fort Worth area? I definitely would like to do that!

I used to go to rocksprings a lot, and the only time I would see Axis was at night when going to town or coming back, like 3-4 every few hundred yards. And unfortunately they were either on road or on someone elses property.

For hides, go to North Texas Tannery in Denton. Only place I'd take one.

I second every word. Great info and axis tastes better, looks better, and IS better than whitetail

Well, how'd the hunt go?

Indeed, very good axis observations.

Yes, we are all interested in knowing!

They go nuts for molasses and alfalfa hay. I have seen them pass on corn feeders without so much as a second glance. However, put down some sweet horse feed or alfalfa hay and they WILL come to it. As stated by others, be ready to shoot quickly, as they spook easily. Best meat you will ever eat, IMHO.

Yep. They have done all of mine.