A very close friend of mine has a high fenced ranch near Campwood Texas and is looking to start selling some hunts with their Axis deer (and whitetail when that season comes back around). They've been spending $150k on protein etc a year and are trying to figure out a way to sell the place but for now are trying to find ways to slow the bleeding until that happens. Any thoughts?

And to answer any questions about this their Audad and Axis are as big as they get (as far as prices are concerned).

I seen a website in the Texas offer HUGE trophy even what they call world class axis and even those are more than 3,500. However, at 3,500 I don't think you're moving.a ton of hunts.

MichaelJ90 said:

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I have seen a website in the Texas hill country offer HUGE trophy even what they call world class axis and even those are more than 3,500. However, at 3,500 I don't think you're moving.a ton of hunts.


http://www.texashuntlodge.com/trophy_axis_deer_hunt_package.asp





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Thanks, $3,500 was what I was thinking. How do you do the success/failure pricing? There are a ton out there... maybe 150 in the herd. But bc of the fact they move together it's hard to predict where they'll be.

Step 1 to slow the cash hemorrhage:. Stop buying protein

Step 2: Hire a competent ranch broker and price it reasonably so that it actually sells. Don't expect a return on protein dollars.

PrestigeWW said:

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A very close friend of mine has a high fenced ranch near Campwood Texas and is looking to start selling some hunts with their Axis deer (and whitetail when that season comes back around). They've been spending $150k on protein etc a year and are trying to figure out a way to sell the place but for now are trying to find ways to slow the bleeding until that happens. Any thoughts?

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150K???? this seems to be way too high......just curious how many acres? are they buying protein in bulk?

ought1ag said:

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PrestigeWW said:

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A very close friend of mine has a high fenced ranch near Campwood Texas and is looking to start selling some hunts with their Axis deer (and whitetail when that season comes back around). They've been spending $150k on protein etc a year and are trying to figure out a way to sell the place but for now are trying to find ways to slow the bleeding until that happens. Any thoughts?

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150K???? this seems to be way too high......just curious how many acres? are they buying protein in bulk?

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They are spending $1k per year per axis? That sounds high. Is that with the cost of labor included?

Axis are becoming like hogs. Need to shoot every one of them.

Sounds like too many deer, I'll volunteer to come cull an axis doe or 2.

FYI...I've been to some nice places before and they charge about $100-$150 for axis doe hunts

PrestigeWW said:

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Thanks, $3,500 was what I was thinking. How do you do the success/failure pricing? There are a ton out there... maybe 150 in the herd. But bc of the fact they move together it's hard to predict where they'll be.

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You'll find them at the protein feeders...

Most Axis hunts with lodging I have seen are in the $2500-$3500 range. So many people are offering Axis hunts now that you either need to have really nice amenities and/or some really big Axis to get to price around or above $3k.

In regards to the amount of protein they're feeding... that's insanity unless it's like 100k acres.

Sell the herd and stop buying feed. If he wants to sell animals I know a buyer.

Build It said:

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Sell the herd and stop buying feed. If he wants to sell animals I know a buyer.

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I also know an animal buyer, and a ranch buyer. Where is it? how big?

Axis hunts have gotten far too common. Even for "bigguns" most places are fighting to beat out the $1500 "local deals" unless you're just a pretty pretty princess who needs a nice lodge or they just have monsters on the ranch.

I hunted a 108k ranch with 50 protein feeders this year and I think that was about their protein bill.

Either your buddies place is yuge or they're doing it wrong.

Sorry, I didn't state that right. Their bill for all of the things they spend relating to the deer gets that high every year. That includes corn and all the incidentals. It's a game fenced ranch. It was a stupid point to include. I'd rather not include any other specifics because it isn't my ranch. I was just curious about the prices on selling hunts for big Axis.

Also it isn't my business to include the specifics. I guess my point was to say that the Axis are as big as they get bc they've been on a protein regiment for years and have been culled appropriately. Once again, it isn't my place so that was a point I shouldn't have made.

So, more importantly, how much are they selling hunts for? I offer up hunts like that as incentives for our sales teams, and if your friends want to kill some deer and make some money, let me know.

Carl Hungus said:

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So, more importantly, how much are they selling hunts for? I offer up hunts like that as incentives for our sales teams, and if your friends want to kill some deer and make some money, let me know.

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They haven't decided yet. They've just started putting feelers out and I figured the almighty OB had the best advice. But I will pm you when it gets to that point.

Just a little advice:

The peak rut for most axis is coming up soon. Most of your bucks are going to start dropping velvet and getting ready for breeding in late May - early July. Obviously this isn't the entire herd but a large percentage follow this cycle.

If they're going to get some hunts together and don't want to invest in a lot of marketing, make some deals for some hunters to get out there and promote the ranch virally. All it takes is a couple of bucks down and a few Facebook posts with pictures to launch a lot of business.

Good luck!

Sean98 said:

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Step 1 to slow the cash hemorrhage:. Stop buying protein

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Occam's Razor.

My wife and I inherited some land between Fredericksburg and Kerrville.

Axis run around all over that place. I've only shot one in the last two years. They're cool to see, very different acting than whitetail.

Irish_Man said:

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My wife and I inherited some land between Fredericksburg and Kerrville.

Axis run around all over that place. I've only shot one in the last two years. They're cool to see, very different acting than whitetail.

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They taste damn delicious and makes white tail seem like you're eating garbage

My brother runs a guide service and they offer an Axis over 30" and food and lodging for 3 days @ $2995. That seems to be the going rate.

Qfaced~ag said:

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My brother runs a guide service and they offer an Axis over 30" and food and lodging for 3 days @ $2995. That seems to be the going rate.

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Damn bro, where?

That's actually a good deal!

Hill country. He partners with a few game ranches in the area.

Is 30" considered a trophy? That's small for the Kerrville area. We are overrun with them.

30" is on the smaller end of a decent buck. They typically shoot 32" and above.

We start out at $2500 for anything under 33". 33" & above is $3000.

Qfaced~ag said:

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30" is on the smaller end of a decent buck. They typically shoot 32" and above.

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Length of the main beam is only one component of the score and attraction of a trophy axis. Too many people get caught up on this and I think it's a shame.

34"-36" axis that have 3.5" mass, 20" wide (or less), and no eye guard or coddle time length are not that impressive to me. Most of the time, the 34" + axis fall in this category.

I'll take a 30" -32" axis with 26"+ width, good eye guards and coddle tones for a higher score any day over a 34" axis without any other positive attributes.

Sounds like $2500-$3000 is a good starting point.