My son and I hunted and the accommodations were excellent, the staff was excellent as well. The hunting was tough. We drew in the middle of a cedar thicket and after 20 hours of sitting without seeing a mammal other than a squirrel, we took off.

Just curious if anyone had luck this year? We thought it would be an excellent place to be drawn, but actually didn't see many animals the whole time.

General consensus of that place is that animal wise it’s gone way down hill. It’s not the crown jewel of exotic hunts it apparently used to be. Sure there may be the occasional animal shot but it’s more dumb luck now than it used to be. I’ve heard various rumors as to why the axis herd has gone to nearly zero but no clue if any of them hold any water.

had the same experience as you several years ago. sat for hours with the kids and didn't see a thing. the staff that ferried us to and from the blind told us the earlier hunts were better for harvests.

I was out there for an adult exotic hunt back in 2021. I did not see any whitetail or axis deer either. Once the first two hunts of the year happen, the few exotics that are left, leave the hunt areas and go to the other side of the park until the hunting season is over. Sure, an exotic or two may be shot during a later hunt but it's a very poor hunt. You have to stay in your assigned blind and DO NOT GET OUT OF IT. The staff drops you at the blind and picks you up at the blind. No walking around. During my hunt, there were 2 exotics killed by two different hunters out of 20 hunters. The other 18 hunters did not see anything and the two hunters that did kill the exotics were the only deer seen and they shot them.

Garner is in a such a good location and it's a big place. Every other park like that is at least overrun with whitetails and garner barely has any whitetails.... When we went on a youth hunt there only 2 animals were killed out of 20 boys. I wonder if all of the volunteers that live out there full time for free poach the place. It's very similar to south llano river yet the hunting is a million times worse. How is that possible?

GrantW what rumors have you heard?

Didn’t they bring in a hunt squad 10-12 years ago with hopes of killing off most of them? Heard they had a processing trailer and such?

Yeah they did, but the only axis herd I ever see there is just below the ranger station, I would imagine no hunting is allowed right there.

My son drew this hunt a few years ago and had some success. He shot a small whitetail buck the first evening hunt. When they dropped us off at the blind the next morning, there was a heard of 10 or so axis near the feeder that walked off as we were getting in. They came back that evening and my son was able to shoot an axis doe. There were a few other axis shot including a nice buck that was in velvet. Overall it was a fun hunt, and my son was super excited to take a few animals!

Why doesnt the staff move stands around so the axis cant get away from them?? Seems like they would want to help thin the herd of axis if they are trying to provide for the native species.

Anyways just my 2 cents.

We don’t see Axis quite like we used to 2 & 1/2 miles due north of Garner on the Frio.

Neither do I, and I'm a bit west of there.

Live Axis bring pretty good money. Females from around $500 to $750 each. Males from $350 to over $2000 depending on horn length. So, there is a lot of live trapping going on everywhere Axis are found. I know of at least one live trap within a couple of miles of me.

I hear lots of folks are trapping. Especially anyone with land on the North or South Llano River. I guess the free market is correcting another problem.