Texas Hunting Forum

Axis questions

Posted By: shakebaker

Axis questions - 11/17/15 09:52 PM

We are thinking about putting some Axis deer on our place. Just looking for some info from those that have. We have about 250 acres high fenced in Coryell County. How many would be a good start? What is the best time to bring some on our place? Also how do they interact with the whitetail and is there anything we should know before doing this. Thanks for any advice.
Posted By: don k

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 12:43 AM

Make sure you have a tall and good fence. They like to jump and tear holes in them. OH, and coyotes like them too.
Posted By: Gladesgator

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 01:35 AM

I have a 400 acre HF place and they do fine with the WTs. Cooler times of the year are best for transporting them with less stress.

I have had no issues with them tearing up my fence at all, have had them for 7 years. Here there were plenty of coyotes, they were hard on the Blackbucks but no evidence they were any worse on Axis than WTs. If, the coyotes are an issue put down predator wire on the ground out side the fence, ended 98% of our coyote problems.
Posted By: shakebaker

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 01:53 AM

Thanks for input. How many did you start with when you first brought some in? Not sure what the right amount would be.
Posted By: Curtis

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 01:55 PM

Too much for me to type right now, but feel free to give me a call. I do a lot of consulting for new ranches and basic set up for them to take exotics. 830-263-1139




Posted By: rickym

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 02:36 PM

I would start with a fairly young buck maybe 2 and 8-10 doe
Posted By: SingleShot85

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 03:32 PM

on 250 acres why mess with does..... I'd put all bucks and refresh every few years.... but that's just me....
Posted By: kdkane1971

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 03:35 PM

Originally Posted By: SingleShot85
on 250 acres why mess with does..... I'd put all bucks and refresh every few years.... but that's just me....


^ This would cut down on the fighting as well
Posted By: Curtis

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 03:54 PM

Originally Posted By: kdkane1971
Originally Posted By: SingleShot85
on 250 acres why mess with does..... I'd put all bucks and refresh every few years.... but that's just me....


^ This would cut down on the fighting as well


It depends on his carrying capacity, which probably isn't high in that area as it is here for us. We have excellent grazing here and our carrying capacity for axis is high. Refreshing new bucks every year would be a great idea as long as your bringing in new younger stock or ones that are in velvet. Younger stock meaning 1-2 year olds. Otherwise new mature bucks that are hard antlered will risk a death loss. They will fight with or without the does being there on that size of place. Just not worth it to bring in mature hard antler if your not in it to make money from hunting.

However, axis does cost too much right now to just put out and feed for fun unless that's just what your pocket book wants to spend.

He needs to determine if this is for fun, to sell hunts at some point, keep private, or and maybe sell a few exotics for live sale in a few years to recoup the cost later on.

Posted By: SingleShot85

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 04:04 PM

my point was not about fighting, i could careless if they fight that's what boys do, it was more about available space, why waste resources on a does and fawns......and as you suggested, buy young and cheep "grow" for 5ish years then harvest just keep the cycle going.... not all will be Boon'rs so meat hunts will be abundant either.....

its just one way, not the only way......
Posted By: Curtis

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 04:28 PM

Originally Posted By: SingleShot85
my point was not about fighting, i could careless if they fight that's what boys do, it was more about available space, why waste resources on a does and fawns......and as you suggested, buy young and cheep "grow" for 5ish years then harvest just keep the cycle going.... not all will be Boon'rs so meat hunts will be abundant either.....

its just one way, not the only way......


I agree, it is about the available space. With axis does they are highly sought after year around for the meat. More than WT does, blackbuck does, or fallow does. To me its a easier sale to control the herd size than it is for other species. I don't see it as a wasted resource when its so easy to trap and sell them live or as a hunt and recoup the cost when compared to how it is with other species. It just depends on what he wants to do and the volume he wants to start with.
Posted By: stxranchman

Re: Axis questions - 11/18/15 04:37 PM

IME with mixing WT and Axis, it does not work if you want to raise trophy whitetails. Unless you are pen raising WT to turn out annually. Axis will run WT deer away from feeders when their herd size is 7 or more coming to a feeder. I agree, if you have the desire to put them in your ranch then only put in bucks. When they die or are killed you are done. You can restock as or if needed. Like posted above coyotes love them and Axis are a magnate for coyotes. The does are not that protective of their fawns from what I have seen. Axis do not do well in prolonged periods of severe wet or icy weather. Their young die quickly in that. 70% of the fawns on the ranch I managed were born in Jan-Feb-Mar, some of the worst weather months in your north Texas area. With 250 acres it is all about space and habitat. You add in another species of antlered animal that is hard on trees and brush during a year round rut, you will soon have more open spaces than you might want. Axis take up space and habitat that could be utilized by WT. Axis are primarily grazers and do well on Klein Grass and will not leave that grass if it is available. 2cents
Posted By: shakebaker

Re: Axis questions - 11/19/15 04:20 AM

Thanks for all the replies and info. More was looking to have some for fun I guess as much as anything. Not planning on selling hunts or anything like that. Just wanted some on the place to maybe hunt at sometime when its not WT season and as much as anything just enjoy having on the place. Would consider something else like blackbuck as well if people think thats a better exotic to introduce on the place.
Posted By: striker918

Re: Axis questions - 11/19/15 05:34 AM

We have herds of 8-10 WT, Axis, Fallow, Blackbuck, and Sika on 200 acres high fenced. Half the property is thick terrain and the other half is flatter grassland. We planted native grasses, have 3 protein feeders and 6 areas for alfalfa in addition to the blind/corn feeders. Everyone gets along fine for the most part. I will say feed has to be available and plentiful which can impact your wallet. We also have 8 troughs of water fed throughout the property. It is solely for recreational use. It can be done but work has to be put in and it does cost a few dollars.
Posted By: striker918

Re: Axis questions - 11/19/15 05:40 AM

I'll also add the fallow can eat like no other. Considering cutting them in half.
Posted By: stxranchman

Re: Axis questions - 11/20/15 02:20 AM

Originally Posted By: shakebaker
Thanks for all the replies and info. More was looking to have some for fun I guess as much as anything. Not planning on selling hunts or anything like that. Just wanted some on the place to maybe hunt at sometime when its not WT season and as much as anything just enjoy having on the place. Would consider something else like blackbuck as well if people think thats a better exotic to introduce on the place.

You can still just by young stocker axis bucks and put them in as needed. I would not put in Black Buck due to the fact they fawn twice per year and population can get out hand quickly. I put 3 does(with one doe fawn born to them within a week) and 3 blackbuck males in an 90 acre LF trap in a 800 acre pasture. Within 5 yrs I had close to 90 head. Owners famous last words were "If they get out of hand we can shoot them and eat them". He never shot one. Had a buddy do the same thing with 10 does and a few bucks on 600 acres. 5 years later he started trapping selling them off, after a selling about 150 hd he was down to 35-45 head. He now is down to 15 hd after 10 yrs. They about ate him out house and home from about the 3rd year thru year 8. His WT have improved dramatically since he cut the BB numbers down. Only advantage to BB over axis is you can use hog panels to keep the BB off your feeders. That will also limit your fawns from eating protein till they are 5-7 months old minimum. If you are interested in raising trophy whitetails I would not put any exotics in with them. If you did I would only put in a few males of any species to start with to see how it goes.
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