I went to hunt axis in Sonora with Mike and his guides Colt and Casey. Let me preface this by I was there with a group in April on a doe hunt and this exact ranch we would see 8-12 axis bucks per sit…it was STUPID how many animals were there, it made me very excited for what this weekend’s hunt was going to be. Boy did I get a rude awakening. We hunted Friday afternoon, Saturday all day (hunted water in the heat of the day) and Sunday morning…there were 4 axis seen at 2,200 yards Friday nite, that was it. To say it was a grind is an understatement. Mike and his guides never doubted we would run across one and said several times…we got until Sunday nite and things can change and happen fast. Just keep grinding guys…

Boy was that the understatement of the weekend. Sunday morning they made some moves and I saw a younger group of 3 and got within about 600y before we decided even the oldest one wasn’t exactly what we were looking for. About 9:00 we could see those bucks were still on their feet feeding we decided to get another vantage point and see if we can spot and stalk one up. I bet we drove 200 yards and saw a nice mature axis with a doe that had been below us and we couldn’t see, he had the bell shaped antlers I was looking for. I wanted that traditional axis look not the high and tight you see sometimes.

We continued to drive past slowly all the while Casey is telling me how we are going to drive down and stalk back too them. We get out and I grab the BigHorn 300wsm, I built myself just for this trip, and my tripod then off we go. We hiked a few hundred yards up through the mesquites and cedars knowing we had to be close the excitement started to build a bit. All of a sudden, we see them trotting right in front of us at about 30-40 yards and he looked huge and was exactly what I was looking for. I’m thinking well crap, this gig is up we’re headed back to the truck. We press on toward where they crossed and then started in behind them. We round this cedar and I see the doe he was with across the draw headed up the other ridge. Tripod up, rifle put up there…asked Casey what her yardage was and he gives me 356y…I crank in 2.5 minutes and about the time I look through the scope he walks out…Casey gives him his best axis roar and he stops on a DIME. As soon as he looked at us I squeezed the shot and off he went. I was confident I hit him and knew it was front but wasn’t exactly sure where. We decide to give him 20 min or so just to make sure and both agree. As we stood there and talked Casey said he for sure saw the bullet splash on a rock. Throughout the weekend we had talked rifle stuff and he knew I was running the 155 scenar at 3300 and then said…well I guess you could’ve zipped through him…we both laughed and finally decided it was time to go look for him. We crossed the draw and headed about 1/2 way up the ridge to where he was standing…we started looking around and right off the bat he finds a chunk of meat on a clump of grass…neither were real encouraged about that sign but knew the trail he ran up and followed on up. We had went about 15 yards and came to where two cedar limbs came together…Casey split them and sort of twitched backwards, I noticed and said is he alive right there…he started laughing and said he’s LAYING right there dead as a door nail. Then the celebration started. Then he took some photos…here they are:




Bottom line…Mike’s guys worked their [censored] off, his accommodations were clean and the food was delicious. If you are on the fence on booking something with Mike…don’t hesitate, great group of guys and we always have fun when we hunt with them. Thanks for another good trip but she made us earn it this go round.

It all happened so fast that when I got home I looked at my scope to see what power I was on when I shot him…6x, we spend all this damn money for these high powered scopes

Speaking of grinders , where were the other two hunters?

Congrats Judd, way to stick with it. As for the scope at 6X for the shot, you did dial the yardage and I would rather have the scope down for a longer shot than up too high for a close shot. You did good getting him.

Got my Texas elk with Mike the last few minutes of the hunt, it can happen late in the hunt.

Beautiful

Well done!

Nice one. I’ve hunted that ranch in Sonora twice. I’ve never seen so many whitetail on a ranch anywhere. I did a 2 day meat Axis hunt there a few summers ago and never saw an Axis. Still had a lot of fun and the guide smoked one of the best briskets I’ve ever had.

Great job Judd. Beautifull trophy and great eating.

Mike runs a great hunt. I've been on one Whitetail hunt, Covid had me cancel couple years ago. I'm always trying to put together another hunt with Mike.

Congratulations.

Awesome Deer!!!1

Its going to make a great mount , congratulations .

Congratulations! Nice looking animal!

Great write up Judd That is a beautiful deer

Thanks...really was a great trip and good time with buddies.

Great job Judd….and Mike and crew!

Mike and his guys are good people. I need to get back just haven't had time.

Great report, congrats on a fine Axis.

Good write up, obviously you had to work butt off for it and well worth the grind, congrats on a very nice Axis

BTW what was the temperature out there?

Nice! Congrats Judd!

Great story, thanks for sharing!

That's exciting, Judd, super job!

Mike and his crew are great to hunt with.