I've been hearing what sound like an elk-cow-type-bleat a few mornings now that I think may be axis (Bandera County). Does anyone have first hand experience on what an Axis deer sounds like? I tried to find sample audio files online but haven't been able to locate any.

Yeah it could be an axis or it could be a red deer. I get hunters on the ranch that tell me they heard something like a coyote such and such direction and I remember hearing it as well and I know it was a axis buck. The bucks do that for locating each other in the herd to challenge and its a lot more frequent during the late spring and summer months. However, they can mate at any time of year as long as there is a hard antlered buck around and a doe that is in heat. Red Deer are in rut pretty heavy right now so that could be possibly what you were hearing as well.

Thanks for the infor Curtis...I didn't hear anything this morning but I'm thinking it's probably an axis. I've seen them in the area before I've just never seen them and heard them at the same time.

Yes the Axis at my place will make a short elk type noise. I myself wondered what it was until last year I had one do it at me. I have yet to figure out why. Its pretty neat to hear, mostly in the mornings at my place to.

The cow elk sound that you are referring to (if syllable's applied to sounds) would be two syllable's. Axis deer will make a single syllable sound very similar to the second syllable of the cow elk estrous call. I would almost guarantee that is the noise you are hearing. They will make the sound year round.

The sound is a one syllable sound. Almost a honk but shorter and elky. I'm pretty sure I am hearing axis deer. We have a small herd pass through the place from time to time.

could be a sika deer also ,they also sound like an elk

Where would I get alfafa hay around San Antonio/Bandera?

Local farm feed stores all over the state usually carry alfalfa hay for horses and such. Try asking where ever you would go to buy protein feed or deer corn.

have we not considered...maybe it is an elk?
only kidding, If you ever spook axis or walk up on them they will make this sound. As a young boy i remember stalking an axis with my bow and I nearly wet myself.

Adg

You may be referring to their alarm bark possibly. They make a few different sounds. One is a type of howl used for challenging in rut and locating. The other is a sharp bark. They also can make a grunt sound when courting or for a mama calling her young to her. It's similar to what whitetail make. Blackbucks also make the same grunt sound and snorts.

Yeah, Sika have one too that scares the hell out of me more than axis. Once I was putting a hunter in stand and had a sika buck do that loud scream somewhere behind us in some of the brush. Scared the hell out of me.