We have a lease about 10mi south of Fredericksburg. Last year we had blackbuck everywhere and axis here and there, but haven't seen anything other than whitetail and hogs this year. I know the big freeze took out a lot of the exotics, but not all of them. Any sightings?

They're still around, but were "trimmed back" by a good %, no doubt. I'm just a few miles south of you in Comfort, and found multiple dead fawns and mature axis around and in my sheds and barnyard trying to find shelter. They'll bounce back, though it may take a few years.

Thanks, BG.

I know they are present between Fred & Mason. My cousin has seen mostly axis around his place. Although not as many, for sure.

I will post if I see any around our lease.

I'd love to hear from anyone else on spotting them around that area.

We haven't seen many Axis at our place in Mountain Home since the freeze. Have a few but not nearly as many as before.

My brother lives in Fredericksburg, hunts hogs/guides etc etc. Said there are no where near the numbers of Axis that there had been previously. He found a lot of dead ones out on the ranch.

I've heard axis are some of the least cold tolerant of the exotics that are commonly brought to Texas. It wouldn't surprise me that many were lost. I guess dove are too.

We had a hunting ranch near Harper. We estimate we lost around 50% of our blackbuck/axis during the freeze. Really awful.

Axis handle cold in the hill country really well compared to blackbuck and the African plains game like gazelles, kudu, gemsbock, etc. We have had our ranch for about 28 years and have had some cold weather in those years up by Junction. The key is they have to be taken care of by increasing feed, providing "hot" feeds like alfalfa hay or cubes or even horse and mule feed to create a lot of protein and body heat and to go out in the pasture and keep them up and moving. It takes a lot of effort and work but myself and my neighbors lost 5 axis total and one of them had a lot of age on him. Lost only 3 blackbuck between all of us. We got together and had a plan of how we were going to manage it. Total acreage was around 5,000 between us.
Blackbucks are a lot more tender to weather than axis by far.


ETA - The main issue with most of the mortalities in the hill country were on high fence ranches that were owned by absentee landowners that either did not have the knowledge of how to handle their animals in the extreme cold or just did not make the effort to do anything to help the animals. Lots of "super exotics" died along with axis and blackbucks from pure neglect. I feel pretty strong about it and don't mean to preach but it miffs me that some folks have the money to buy high fence places and fill them with animals but have no idea how to mange them or care for them. Sorry for the rant.

That's all great info as usual, Gunny. I don't see it as a rant coming from you. I usually learn something every time you post.

Wasn'tt Gillespie county or Stonewall having bounties on Axis as were afraid of their population crowding out the whitetail. Swore I read that in the paper there or on a sign at one time. Did TPWD Mason Mtn lose anything I wonder? I have small acreage here in Brazos county where I live and I fed protein and corn much heavier than normal. Then bought a couple of bales of alfalfa.

Thank you sir. I am very humbled by that comment. Means a lot.

I also read something about that a few years back but I don't think it materialized. Good for you on what you did to take care of them. I have not heard about Mason Mountain.

Axis moved into our area north of Junction 2 years ago and were pretty thick last season. Have seen one animal all summer and none on game cams.