Axis Deer Hunting In Texas

Texas Trophy Whitetails, LLC has exclusive hunting to some of the best axis deer hunting in the Country. With over 8,000 acres of private land located within the largest free range axis herd in the world, we can offer first class trophy exotic hunts for Gold Medal axis deer. Axis can be hunted year round however the best time to try and harvest a big axis buck is between late May through July. This is when axis deer start to rut and can be best described almost like elk hunting, axis bucks roar kinda like a red stag which can be exhilarating echoing through the rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country. These bucks will be moving early morning and mid to late afternoons searching for females which allows hunters to catch big bucks traveling more during daylight. Hunting over water during the hot summer months can provide non stop action with amazing opportunities at some giant axis bucks!

Our first 5 hunts on the new ranch ended quickly with several bucks gross scoring into the top 10 SCI record book. My first hunter on the ranch we never even made it to the blind we planed to sit that afternoon. With the blind in sight I noticed the horizontal back line of a axis deer feeding on the edge of a thick draw bordering a open pasture the blind was set to overlook. I glassed the animal and noticed he had good length on his beams and had some mass. We put some large oak trees between us and the deer and closed the distance to within 75 yards. The buck had laid down and now all we had to do was wait him out. Maybe 20 minutes went by and the buck stood up and starting grazing under some live oak trees on the edge of the draw. The hunter made a perfect shot and the buck went 30 yards.

My second hunter, who called while hunting another ranch Southeast of us and told me he wasn't getting the hunt he was promised by the outfitter, and was looking elsewhere for a free range axis hunt. I told him what we offered and that I had 3 days before out next clients arrived. He said he would arrive that afternoon, I told him we would start hunting the following morning. Heavy rains blanketed the Texas Hill Country that night so I picked a blind we could walk to close to the house on the 10 square mile ranch. Our morning was very active with plenty of axis bucks roaring in every direction of our blind. Whitetail deer and Rio Grande turkey's entertained us for the first hour of our sit. With so many axis bucks being vocal we decided to still hunt our way back to the house. It didn't take long and we where right on top of a trophy axis! We first spotted him while waiting for a couple whitetail bucks to clear in front of us. They where feeding along a dry creek wash and looking over their backs I noticed a set of axis antlers in the shadows under a large oak motte. When the whitetails cleared we had a turkey and several other whitetails within sight we had to avoid being detected while getting into position. We made our way out of the sun lit landscape and into some shade of another oak cluster, merely 50 yards from the buck. Once we got settled in for the shot, the buck bedded down and the wait began. The axis had no idea we where there and we had the wind in our face. The only problem we where facing was all the other deer walking around us headed downwind of our location. Several tense moments unfolded as deer alert to out location walking right past us made the buck get up twice, look around, only to bed back down always blocked by a standing oak tree preventing a shot. This went on for over 2 hours. Finally the buck stood to reposition himself into the shade as the sun rising cast shadows that kept moving, thank goodness. The hunter connected on a beautiful buck at 40 yards.

The 3rd hunter harvested his 35" axis buck as I was walked him into a blind/water trough/feeder set we intended to sit for the morning hunt. I dropped off a axis doe hunter and because our blind was a few miles away on the same 10 square mile ranch, it took us a little longer to get to our blind then expected. Fortunately for us, the hunter connected on a giant axis buck while walking to the blind only 100 yards before we reached our location. Another Giant fell while sitting a section cross fence overlooking four different water troughs from one natural blind we built. My last hunter on this new ranch harvested another Gold Medal axis buck before we even got to our blind overlooking a big food plot and protein feeder. While driving to our destination I decided to check a water trough I hadn't been too. That decision resulted in the hunter taking down a 165-3/8" giant with 37" beams. His trophy axis will surely make the top 10 SCI record book and is only 9" off the world record. This ranch is loaded with really big bucks and we can't wait to continue this success for our clients on future axis deer hunts with us.

This new ranch we axis deer hunt on is 10 square miles and can easily be considered one of the best free range axis deer hunting ranches in the state of Texas. We limit the hunting pressure and there is a healthy population of axis bucks above 8 years old. Since axis don't mature until 8 years old it's important to have a management plan in place to ensure there are plenty of bucks that meet this age requirement. Once you establish this age structure, you will see some amazing bucks! Our first year on the ranch we harvested 5 bucks, two bucks will make the top 10 SCI record book for axis deer if entered. Again, one buck is only 9" off the world record axis deer. There are plenty of big bucks on this ranch and it's very possible the next world record could be living on this ranch. With more water sources then most ranches, several food plots, open pastures for grazing, thick bedding areas, and 10 connected square miles of managed private land, there are some true giants calling this ranch home.

We also have several more ranches we run our axis deer hunting trips on. Several bucks taken off these ranches have also scored into the top 10 SCI. We are set up for bowhunting axis as well as rifle hunting opportunities. Axis deer hunting is becoming one of the hottest "off season" hunts in the Country. Come to Texas and see what your missing, you won't be disappointed. Axis deer hunts are a enjoyable, low stress style of hunting you can experience anytime of the year. Break out your hunting gear late Spring or Summertime and come have a blast in the Texas Hill Country. You will be glad you did, and likely make it a annual hunting trip.