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Too many axis/exotics?
#7181529
05/28/18 02:02 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,857
Simple Searcher
OP
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OP
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I hope this isn't too long of a read, but here goes. I met with a few Texas biologist a while back that were really concerned with exotics becoming more prevalent in Texas. It seems that you can find almost any exotic that has found it's way off a HF anymore, warthogs and kudu included. I know most hunters get all excited (we see the pictures all the time on here) when they see an axis, fallow, black buck, etc. on their lease or property. The year round hunting and good meat is a big plus, but at what cost? It is to the point that some are managing their LF exotics in order to get bigger/more animals. I am all about having a HF and having exotics in a controlled atmosphere, but exotics on a LF seem like they might be getting out of hand in some areas. I drive down IH10 from Junction to San Antonio all of the time, I saw 8 dead axis on the last trip, (more than whitetail) most in the Comfort area. To see a herd on side of the road is no longer a unique site. From Comfort to Boerne I continually see more axis (dead and alive) than whitetail. I can't help but wonder if they can ever become an uncontrollable population, like hogs? It would seem that a drought year could be harder on whitetail when sharing their limited food source with exotics. I had a spot in Pipe Creek (near Bandera) that I hunted for 31 years, and the axis population continued to increase to the point that I would to see more axis than WT when I sold it few years back. Exotic populations are increasing, does anyone else think this is a concern?
"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181561
05/28/18 02:47 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,900
JJH
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They DO compete with WT so to properly manage a place, you must consider them when determining the carrying capacity of the area. They could certainly become too much of a good thing, and may have already become that in some areas. On the other hand, they are not near the threat that hogs are.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181572
05/28/18 03:00 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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I pretty much see it like you do. They could all go away on free-range as far as I知 concerned. But I知 afraid that horse is out of the barn.
As with hogs, the younger generation seems to love them. Again, something to shoot all year.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181573
05/28/18 03:01 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,477
hawk
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I've been on the same lease for 20 years. Until this year we've never had Axis. Now we're seeing them on a regular basis. At times as many as 30 in a group. Gonna be interesting to see how this plays out.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181593
05/28/18 03:25 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
dogcatcher
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We have none, I am okay with that, same as hogs, we don't have them and I do not want them.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181626
05/28/18 04:00 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,265
maximus_flavius
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1st World problems.........
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181657
05/28/18 05:38 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
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To me it depends on the area.
Where I hunt in hill country the whitetail are puny and I like seeing axis regularly
I知 south or east Texas I prefer not to see them
Admittedly I知 a fan of free ranging exotics and I like axis, Sika and aoudad. Just not in every local
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7181659
05/28/18 05:46 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
chital_shikari
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I知 a fan of free ranging exotics and I like axis, Sika and aoudad. Just not in every local X2. Add blackbuck to the list for me. My dad and uncle and I just did an axis hunt on a 100 acre property north of Comfort. We ended up with an axis doe and a sika doe and lost one axis doe. At both of the blinds we were covered up in white tail (I saw 30 white tail in the two sits). My dad and uncle only saw 2 axis, both of which they shot. I saw one axis on the property we were hunting and 5 or 6 on the adjacent property like 500yd away. I don't know if it means anything other than axis are smart and white tail know when they're not in season but I just thought I'd share.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181739
05/28/18 01:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,136
EddieWalker
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I don't know about axis, but there was a time when I thought it was a great idea to have wild hogs. Now I hate them, I'm tired of shooting them, and dealing with the destruction they cause to my land. My next step is to build a fence to keep them out!!!!
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181770
05/28/18 02:37 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
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Just nth of the big ranch there are two large hi-fence operations, both have lost multiple animals due to gates being left open or water gap wash outs. Last week there were 4 axis does and a fallow feeding in the barditch. The Aoudad on the ranch migrated in naturally (Well at least from where they were first transplanted almost 70 years ago.) and we'll allow them to stay but the others will be shot. We've got Muledeer slowly migrating into the area and they will be allowed to stay.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: EddieWalker]
#7181773
05/28/18 02:38 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
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I don't know about axis, but there was a time when I thought it was a great idea to have wild hogs. Now I hate them, I'm tired of shooting them, and dealing with the destruction they cause to my land. My next step is to build a fence to keep them out!!!! We shoot them as soon as we see them, yotes and buzzards gotta eat.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181784
05/28/18 02:49 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 13,591
1860.colt
emoji colt.45
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From what i've seen & experienced about hunting leases. Just deer alone, price was determined by how many deer per county. Buck only was cheaper than lease were ya had day or two for doe. Then add in turkey, price went up. Then the push for antlers, price went up. i got on lease for the 24-7-365 hog hunts for $200.00 year round hunt. WMA is best bang for your buck. Was Blessed when one opened up just down the road. With the increase ta minimiom wage. Price of living goes up. Starts with gas prices. outback grociery store.
i'm postaddic
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7181801
05/28/18 03:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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TPWD did a controlled test years ago at the Kerr wildlife mngmt. area. They put like 10 axis and 10 WT in a 100 acre trap. Not sure on the exact numbers. After a period of a couple of years they did a drive. Zero WT were found and a huge number of axis was all that was left. WT can't compete with axis.
Last edited by Erathkid; 05/28/18 03:17 PM.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Erathkid]
#7181993
05/28/18 07:30 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,496
Halfadozen
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TPWD did a controlled test years ago at the Kerr wildlife mngmt. area. They put like 10 axis and 10 WT in a 100 acre trap. Not sure on the exact numbers. After a period of a couple of years they did a drive. Zero WT were found and a huge number of axis was all that was left. WT can't compete with axis. That is spot on. I get invited to hunt a fairly large HF ranch (6K acres) near Camp Wood every year. The browse line is so evident due to way too many axis, and the ranch MLD tags have decreased dramatically. The landowner is now intent removing as many as possible.
Freedom is a fragile thing ...Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again. -- Ronald Reagan
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Halfadozen]
#7182013
05/28/18 08:00 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 13,591
1860.colt
emoji colt.45
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TPWD did a controlled test years ago at the Kerr wildlife mngmt. area. They put like 10 axis and 10 WT in a 100 acre trap. Not sure on the exact numbers. After a period of a couple of years they did a drive. Zero WT were found and a huge number of axis was all that was left. WT can't compete with axis. That is spot on. I get invited to hunt a fairly large HF ranch (6K acres) near Camp Wood every year. The browse line is so evident due to way too many axis, and the ranch MLD tags have decreased dramatically. The landowner is now intent removing as many as possible. Gives new meening ta axis of evil.
i'm postaddic
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Erathkid]
#7182025
05/28/18 08:30 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
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TPWD did a controlled test years ago at the Kerr wildlife mngmt. area. They put like 10 axis and 10 WT in a 100 acre trap. Not sure on the exact numbers. After a period of a couple of years they did a drive. Zero WT were found and a huge number of axis was all that was left. WT can't compete with axis. My family has a 300 acre high fence place with axis. We have never had any issues with them out competing the whitetail. In close to 20 years of having them we have always had to shoot 10xs as many whitetail to keep numbers in Check I think a lot of the kerr studies are situational not an absolute
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7182051
05/28/18 09:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,810
RattlesnakeDan
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If anyone wants some axis removed from their property or lease let me know. I will oblige.
Just like Jesus, sometimes you gotta kill some hogs. Lone Star Mesquite . com RattleSnake Dan's Shredding Service
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7182055
05/28/18 10:02 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,395
PKnTX
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As long as people are paying $3K and up to kill a buck and $500 and up for a doe axis it's hard to believe the populations are out of control.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: PKnTX]
#7182070
05/28/18 10:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
Creekrunner
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As long as people are paying $3K and up to kill a buck and $500 and up for a doe axis it's hard to believe the populations are out of control. Since when is there any correlation between what people are willing to pay and reality? E.g. Cabbage Patch dolls, emus, etc. To put it another way - perception is reality.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7182076
05/28/18 10:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,395
PKnTX
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As long as people are paying $3K and up to kill a buck and $500 and up for a doe axis it's hard to believe the populations are out of control. Since when is there any correlation between what people are willing to pay and reality? E.g. Cabbage Patch dolls, emus, etc. To put it another way - perception is reality. Point taken, just seems to me it would not be a bad problem to have. My perception of reality anyway.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7182079
05/28/18 10:33 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,102
Bbear
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I have a friend with a ranch around Menard that for years was seemingly covered with axis. They were starting out in the pay-for-a-hunt aspect and the majority wanted an axis of some type. I can remember seeing herds of 30-50 axis running across in front of the Ranger. Fast-forward and you see a few but from what the owner says, most moved off the place due to heavy hunting. MLDS tags for does have gone up each year since then. They definitely out compete with the whitetail. I've watched them run off WT bucks from feeders, both corn and protein. The axis are much more possessive and aggressive than the WT are.
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Pay it forward - Kids are the future.
Rifles are similar to boats and young women...there's no end to how much money you can pour into them without making them any more useful.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: Simple Searcher]
#7182127
05/28/18 11:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 29,105
TXHOGSLAYER
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It's the same as hogs. If people are paying to shoot them, then you don't have a problem. You have a business.
LETS GO BRANDON
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: TXHOGSLAYER]
#7182212
05/29/18 01:06 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,857
Simple Searcher
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It's the same as hogs. If people are paying to shoot them, then you don't have a problem. You have a business. My concern has little to do with the monetary benefits of hunting exotics, although I know it is a driving force behind the population. I am more concerned with the long term impact on the whitetail habitat. I know folks love axis/exotics, myself included, I just hope we can keep them under control.
"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
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Re: Too many axis/exotics?
[Re: TXHOGSLAYER]
#7182361
05/29/18 04:00 AM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
dogcatcher
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It's the same as hogs. If people are paying to shoot them, then you don't have a problem. You have a business. That is a good answer.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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