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Too many axis/exotics? #7181529 05/28/18 02:02 AM
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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?


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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181538 05/28/18 02:23 AM
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I can see that

Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181561 05/28/18 02:47 AM
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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.

Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181572 05/28/18 03:00 AM
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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.


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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181573 05/28/18 03:01 AM
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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.

Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181593 05/28/18 03:25 AM
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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.


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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181626 05/28/18 04:00 AM
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1st World problems.........

Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181657 05/28/18 05:38 AM
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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


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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: txtrophy85] #7181659 05/28/18 05:46 AM
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Originally Posted By: txtrophy85
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 wink but I just thought I'd share.

popcorn

Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181739 05/28/18 01:50 PM
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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!!!!

Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181770 05/28/18 02:37 PM
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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.
Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: EddieWalker] #7181773 05/28/18 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted By: EddieWalker
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.
Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181784 05/28/18 02:49 PM
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popcorn 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.
2cents 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. confused2 outback grociery store.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7181801 05/28/18 03:15 PM
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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.

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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Erathkid] #7181993 05/28/18 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted By: Erathkid
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.


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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Halfadozen] #7182013 05/28/18 08:00 PM
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Originally Posted By: Halfadozen
Originally Posted By: Erathkid
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.
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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Erathkid] #7182025 05/28/18 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted By: Erathkid
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


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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7182051 05/28/18 09:50 PM
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If anyone wants some axis removed from their property or lease let me know. I will oblige.

smile


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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7182055 05/28/18 10:02 PM
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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.

Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: PKnTX] #7182070 05/28/18 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: PKnTX
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.


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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Creekrunner] #7182076 05/28/18 10:31 PM
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Originally Posted By: Creekrunner
Originally Posted By: PKnTX
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.

Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7182079 05/28/18 10:33 PM
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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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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: Simple Searcher] #7182127 05/28/18 11:43 PM
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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.




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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: TXHOGSLAYER] #7182212 05/29/18 01:06 AM
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Originally Posted By: TXHOGSLAYER
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.


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Re: Too many axis/exotics? [Re: TXHOGSLAYER] #7182361 05/29/18 04:00 AM
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Originally Posted By: TXHOGSLAYER
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. up


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