So here is the deal.
My dad and I hunt near Junction TX and for the past few years we have been seeing more and more axis deer on the property. Every time we see them, they are always traveling up and down the eastern fence line. When we do get the chance to see them, it is only for a few brief seconds. In the past I have shot about 3-4 axis deer. One was a spike but the rest were does. So since I have had my fair share of axis deer, I told myself that the next time I saw a heard of them, I would pass on all except a big buck. Well, during the first week in January I had some pass my stand. I got my gun ready and was waiting for the big boy in the back to come out. Sure enough he did but it was just for a second and I couldn’t get a shot off.
So my question to y’all is do any of you know how to attract axis deer? A lot of the time they are on the other side of the fence. Does anyone know or have any idea on how to make them want to stay on our side of the lease. We have recently put out some molasses, alfalfa, and chafee(sp). They hardly eat from the feeders. I believe they are more of a grazing animal.

The fence line that we only see them at has a small creek and about four feeders spaced out on it. I know that they breed and shed their antlers at a different time than whitetail deer.
Thanks in advance for all the help

We used to hunt in Leakey on a piece of property that literaly touches the Frio River. We would see Axis nearly every hunt when hunting this highline right of way. In the evening, we'd catch them going to the river and in the morning coming back. We just ground corned the right of way to stop them. We NEVER saw one at a feeder.

I would reccommend trying a consistent ground corning in an area you've seen them.

Corn..........I had 50 at the feeder at our place in Hunt 2 weeks ago.

Be careful what you wish for.

I rarely see a whitetail anymore. The axis have taken over.

I've seen them along the Nueces at night just outside of Camp Wood. Guess they like water.

On the plus side, I do have a year long supply of meat.

If they taste better, whats the harm? I want to say they are supposed to eat some different plant material, but I could be wrong. They seem to like creek bottomland and low spots around washes with lots of brush cover or low trees. At least, that is where I've always seen them.

We also feed alfalfa every so often. They will come to it pretty well.

axis deer are mighty tasty

I've seen plenty under a feeder eating up the yellow gold.

At my parents place in Hunt where I grew up the Axis seem to come wherever the whitetail were as well. We usually fed a mixture of corn and pellets and they'd come out everyday. Drive down the North Fork in Hunt and you'll see herds standing in the fields near the road a few hundred strong. I was told Axis eat grasses and such that whitetail do not so maybe that's why you don't seem them come to the feeders so much. Often I'd find the larger herds and large bucks hanging out in or on the edges of grassy fields.

axis tend to be grazers more than browsers. that's why their meat is better. i'd be more than happy to have an axis "problem".

I only keep bucks on our place. Always been afraid of Axis overpopulating and running over the whitetail. God knows the blackbuck breed like rabbits.

from what i've seen growing up on a family friend's ranch, don't put Sika on your land. they taste great, but they really beat down the whitetail.

Lexofer....i grew up in Hunt also, on the Guadalupe river, graduate of Ingram Tom Moore. When did you live in the area.

DVM

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[This message has been edited by lexofer (edited 1/22/2008 9:32a).]

Fresh cut apples will stop almost any deer in its tracks. When you head out to the stand, stick a couple of apples in your pocket. Slice them up with your pocket knife when you get there and throw them as far down the line of sight as you can from your stand. Deer can't resist them and they often "pose" with their nose in the air sniffing for the scent on the air.

I am fortunate to have friends with 2100 acres between Bandera and Medina on the river. I get to hunt out there about once every year and I shoot whatever they tell me to. One year I shot a whitetail, the next I shot a nice Axis buck, and this year I shot a 4x4 Sika deer with antlers about 20" from base to tip.

All of the animals go to the feeder. Some years they see alot more of one breed than the others. This year we saw 6-7 Sika bucks with does at the feeders and fewer Axis. It really varies from year to year up there, but the Sika are making an unwanted resurgence.

We corn the roads every morning and evening when we are there and usually sit on top of the highest elevation and spot deer. We pattern them and then pick the ones we shoot. Even the Axis seem to respond well to the corn that we throw out.

I think I will try the apple trick. I can cut some up and throw them along the fence line.

Thanks for all the help guys

Axis are possibly the worst competition a deer can have. They prefer the things that deer prefer and will out compete deer every time. After consuming the good forbs and browse, they can switch to grass - unlike whitetail deer.

What B1 said....

also for anyone still attempting to make a living with cattle, an axis (grazer) competes with cattle while a whitetail (browser) does not (much).

As far as I am concerned, shoot every one you see. They need to disappear. I fully agree with 83.

"axe, cow, plow, gun ,and FIRE"--know them and use them

Several guys have already mentioned the digestive capacities of axis being different than that of whitetail. Axis are intermediate feeders with a digestive system between that of a browser and a grazer.

DVM and lexofer....Do I know you guys? I have to know you lex since we graduated together. Just got me wonderin'. (N. Henry)

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[This message has been edited by lexofer (edited 1/22/2008 9:32a).]

I will shoot down any axis deer I am invited to hunt. They are "hmmm" good.

First of all, yes they are the best eating deer on the planet so the meat is divine. Second, do you cherish your whitetail trophy bucks? I ask because over time the axis will outpace the whitetail in population and will run the whitetail off. Three, while they will eat corn I'm not sure I would attempt to attract or increase their presence where I hunt. These guys have 3 gestational cycles a year.

IMO you just need to weigh your priorities between these two animals.

FWIW...I've rattled up Axis bucks. Axis was not my target species, but they responded aggressively to the horns. I know that their breeding cycles and antler development are different than whitetail, so I can't tell you when is the best time is to rattle up an axis. All I can say is it could be worth a shot.

quote:

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God knows the blackbuck breed like rabbits.

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Really? I have some friends that have a ranch and they have a small blackbuck herd on the property and it has always stayed about the same size without much population control. I don't really know anything about blackbuck so I was surprised to read this. I hope their population starts to grow because that will mean that I could come out there and shoot one or two.

I love to eat blackbuck too. They're pretty to look at as well.

I live in the Boerne area and will be happy to bring my bow and clear out as many axis as you would like

Holy thread bump!

I mean if someone has an Axis problem, I am more than happy to 'remove' a couple...

wow...this was 7 years ago!!!
Sadly, we no longer have that deer lease. Got off of it in 2009

Dang rookie. How do you even stumble on a thread this old?

I was searching if Axis are attracted to molasses and stumbled on this thread. I'm always looking for places to hunt so I thought I would give it a try.

We have them, food plots are the best way to go.