We just got a new lease and it has axis on it. I've never seen axis therefore have no idea what's a big axis vs what's a "average" size buck. I got a couple pictures of 1 buck that I think is big but in reality it might be just an average buck. Whats the consensus?

Congrats

Looks like a shooter for a free-ranger but average...could use another season of growth. On our lease, axis are hard to hunt so if you have your sights on one you’re lucky. And if you don’t shoot it the neighbors will. Anything with a main beam over 30 inches are trophy plus like to see 8+ inch eye guards and 6+ inch cottles (6 total points) with good mass all the way through. I think the top axis is about 28 inches. If I shot it I’d be proud but wouldn’t put it on the wall.

^^^^^ concur.
Those are good average free range bucks, with the top one having the better rack.
That bottom boy has a big body though ...lotsa meat. He may be on the decline.

Those are good quality bucks to shoot. Especially on a free range ranch, property size would tell a lot of us, a lot more.

The bucks drift through a lot more than whitetails. Better shoot when you have the opportunity.

agree with above

If you didn't shoot him you probably waited too long. I don't know about where you are, but here if you see one like that you shoot.

Mason and property is 400 acres. One side bordered by high fence that these came from (were let out a few years ago as property ownerhship changed hands and new owner didn't want them). One side is llano river and the rest is 800 acres that is not hunted. I havent seen them in person as i was just up there Friday evening and Saturday morning chdcking cameras and setting up two more bow stands.

We do not manage axis or any other exotic, they get a bullet on site. That buck would be meat in the freezer, even if he was only 10".

I'd say that top one looks pretty good, the second one looks like he might have broken an eye guard or as someone pointed out, he's on the decline. He is big bodied for sure. I'd probably take either one if given an opportunity, especially with a bow.

If it were me and I saw either while hunting, I would take it. I had a few photos of Axis bucks on my place in Brown County during the spring/summer of 2015. They showed daily for a week or so, and never seen again.