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Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
#2658823
10/13/11 07:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,830
Grosvenor
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OP
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I've received a couple invitations to hunt free range Axis and Blackbuck in the hill country. They are cool looking animals but I have absolutely no idea how to field judge Axis antlers or Blackbuck horns. Anyone care to give me a quick lesson on what to look for? I assume you age them just like whitetail, but I need some help identifying trophy class animals.
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: Grosvenor]
#2658936
10/13/11 08:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 9,776
mustafa
THF Trophy Hunter
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this may be totally wrong and if so sorry for giving you the info. With blackbuk you can count the curls. 4+ curls decent 5+ real good?
Team Barbacoa Pro Staff. Dallas Safari Club Life Member
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: mustafa]
#2658947
10/13/11 08:30 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 500
Bill Waldschmidt
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Tracker
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Axis bucks can be in hard horn any time of the year. They grow and shed antlers on their own clock so in one herd there may be a newly shed buck, a hard horn buck and a buck in the velvet. Usual antlers are 22 to 27 inches. Trophies range from 30 to 36 inches. Axis have a typical antler structure of three points on each side consisting of a main beam, one secondary point halfway up the beam, and a brow tine. Four points on a side are not uncommon.
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: Bill Waldschmidt]
#2659130
10/13/11 09:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,905
txtrophy85
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axis are really hard to field judge.
a small one can look big.
as for blackbuck.....i don't know how to tell you to judge them, I've looked at them so long I know a big one from a small one.
for me a good one is 20+ inches
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: txtrophy85]
#2659205
10/13/11 10:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,738
passthru
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: passthru]
#2659309
10/13/11 10:38 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,127
buck-snort
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shooter axis in velvet
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: buck-snort]
#2659335
10/13/11 10:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,154
KWood_TSU
THF Trophy Hunter
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Usually the darker the coat is on a black buck, the more mature he is. I wouldnt shoot anything under 18" though. On Axis, look for long main beams. Then after that, look and see if you want long caudles or brows.
Also, I wouldnt rely on the curls to judge a black buck.
Amat Victoria Curam - Victory Loves Preparation
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#2660041
10/14/11 02:30 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,349
erniejs
THF Trophy Hunter
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If you like it shoot it , dont really matter on the score if you like it
We get old too fast and wise too slow
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: erniejs]
#2660575
10/14/11 12:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
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If you like it shoot it , dont really matter on the score if you like it + one
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: don k]
#2660625
10/14/11 12:43 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,830
Grosvenor
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If you like it shoot it , dont really matter on the score if you like it + one I hear you, but where I'm headed I'll have the opportunity to hunt for some big animals. Why not learn what to look for and try to harvest something truly exceptional?
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: Grosvenor]
#2662596
10/14/11 10:07 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,700
JROD
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curls have nothing to do with length on a blackbuck. Study some online. Blackbuck are a lot smaller than people realize. They can fool you.
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: JROD]
#2663076
10/15/11 12:12 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,947
Curtis
THF Trophy Hunter
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If you are looking at a mature blackbuck and the tips of his horns are over his back when his head is down then he should be 18" or better. Or a better way, use the ears to judge the length. The ears are 6" long. 3 times the ear length and you have 18" How's that?
For axis deer take into account the body size of the animal first. They can fool you easily because they have a deeper brisket and a high scapula. The older the buck the deerp their chest is and the taller their back looks. 4-6 year old bucks really start to show it as a hump on their back. Once you know you have a mature axis buck then take a look at the horns. A young 3 year old axis buck with 27" antler will easily fool someone into thinking they are looking at a 30" trophy buck just because his body size is that much smaller.
All axis look taller when walking away so don't judge them by that. You need to see an axis buck's profile to see how far back the horns sweep and head-on to see the width. Ears are about 7" long and about 15"-16" tip to tip when in the alert position usually. Or, if your hunting at a feeder, take some white(or whatever color is easiest to see from far away) tape and mark a 15" span on the legs. You will be able to use that as reference if you are lucky enough to see an axis buck at that feeder.
Does any of that help?
Also I want to add that the black coat of a blackbuck not only indicates maturity but also his dominance in the herd. They are very territorial so if you find a fresh poop pile, hang around that area or put up a trail camera to see when he's coming by. They mark the borders of their territory with large poop piles and will refresh them daily.
On your axis buck. You will want to shoot him in the shoulder, not behind it. Their vitals are lie farther forward than a whitetail. If you get a good quartering away shot, then you might be able to save more of the meat and put the entry behind the shoulder or on the back edge of it.
Last edited by Curtis; 10/15/11 11:40 AM.
Double Arrow Bow Hunting www.doublearrowbowhunting.comBow hunters welcome! Whitetail-Axis-Blackbuck-Fallow-Barasingha-Scimitar Oryx Located in Gonzales County. Visit our Facebook page for current updates!
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: Curtis]
#2663158
10/15/11 12:38 AM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5,082
Elkhunter49
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5,082 |
If you are looking at a mature blackbuck and the tips of his horns are over his back when his head is down then he should be 18" or better. Or a better way, use the ears to judge the length. The ears are 6" long. 3 times the ear length and you have 18" How's that?
For axis deer take into account the body size of the animal first. They can fool you easily because they have a deeper brisket and a high scapula. The older the buck the deerp their chest is and the taller their back looks. 4-6 year old bucks really stat to show it as a hump on their back. Once you know you have a mature axis buck then take a look at the horns. A young 3 year old axis buck with 27" antler will easily fool someone into thinking they are looking at a 30" trophy buck just because his body size is that much smaller.
All axis look taller when walking away so don't judge them by that. You need to see an axis buck's profile to see how far back the horns sweep and head-on to see the width. Ears are about 7" long and about 15"-16" tip to tip when in the alert position usually. Or, if your hunting at a feeder, take some white(or whatever color is easiest to see from far away) tape and mark a 15" span on the legs. You will be able to use that as reference if you are lucky enough to see an axis buck at that feeder.
Does any of that help?
Thats as good an explination as I've read. Thanks for the response. Baker
A true friend reaches for your hand but touches your heart.
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: Elkhunter49]
#2732829
11/08/11 09:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,085
Don Dial
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My Trapping buddy Todd Mishnick in Ft Stockton and his wife and son killed 3 blackbucks on a ranch he was trapping near San Angelo...one was 29in, one 30in, and one 33in. I've killed sev. in Tarpley, old with large bases, moused ears ect..none much ovr 18 or 19 in..and had hollow teeth. Axis are easy..usually losing horns at the end of the yr. Rut in late summer thru Sept. one with 30in apprx wide and 33in high or higher is a real keeper..Don
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: Don Dial]
#2733970
11/09/11 02:58 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 391
Axisking
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
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Posts: 391 |
Don
That's some big ol' blackbucks....wow
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: Axisking]
#2734480
11/09/11 05:46 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,095
Mountain hunter
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Shoot what you like and don't get hung up on size.
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: Mountain hunter]
#2737182
11/10/11 01:24 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,085
Don Dial
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The blackbucks were mounted for free by a taxidermist in Kerrvl. who wanted to carry them to the shows....Guess who never saw his mounts again.....
Also on a BB he should have 4 to 41/2 curls....The big ones I described above..were measured straight up/not around the curl
Don
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: Don Dial]
#2737212
11/10/11 01:29 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
chital_shikari
Minor in training
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Minor in training
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547 |
Who cares, there's no bag limit!!! J/K...LOL If it looks big body wise and you want good meat take it...if it looks small body wise and looks like it has big antlers than take it.(axis bucks) does..the bigger the bigger... BB i have no clue.
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Re: Field Judging Axis and Blackbuck
[Re: chital_shikari]
#2746099
11/12/11 10:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,085
Don Dial
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You eat many Blackbucks....Meat is Bloodyred...stringy....tough and not eye appealing at all....I am not real particular..Have made Chili out of all most anything...For table fare, I would'nt shoot...If you are going to mount one, or you are culling some, by all means...work on 'm...They don't kill real easy, but go down if shot in the right spot...DD
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