Overview
Axis deer hunting will be offered for the 2011 season on a private ranch in southwestern Texas. The Axis hunts will be conducted from March through August each year. We're talking about completely free-ranging, spot and stalk hunts, in stunningly beautiful country.
Axis hunts will be conducted with only 2 hunters per hunt and 1 on 1 guiding. The goal is to offer a high success hunt with an enjoyable hunting experience attached. Axis deer are under most people's radar, but they offer an affordable, challenging hunt and are absolutely beautiful trophies.
Axis Deer
An Axis deer is a moderately large, spotted deer originally indigenous to India and Sri Lanka. Significant populations of Axis deer no longer exist in these countries. There are more than 50,000 Axis deer currently living in Texas, which makes it the official Axis capital of the world. The vast majority of the Axis deer live in the limestone hills and creeks of the Edwards Plateau region of central Texas. They have literally exploded in population here over the last 20 years.
Axis deer are gregarious and rarely are seen by themselves. Unlike native deer, mature Axis bucks may be found living with herds of young and old animals of both sexes. Anatomically they are more closely related to the elk than native deer. During the rut, Axis bucks have a bugle-like roar similar to that of elk.
The most interesting aspect of the Axis deer is rutting bucks with hard antlers can be found at any time of year. Each buck seems to have a reproductive cycle which may or may not synchronize with other bucks in a herd. Consequently, when some buck are going into rut, others may be in a non-breeding condition without antlers. Correspondingly, does experience estrous cycles throughout the year and breeding can occur year round. However, the largest breeding season occurs in late May through August with a peak in June and July.
The varying rut creates a unique hunting opportunity as it is possible to hunt hard-horned or velvet-horned bucks at the same time. Anything is possible.
The Hunting Area
The 8,320-acre Wade Ranch is located in southeastern Sutton County, Texas. The nearest town, Sonora, is 30 miles away. The ranch is located in the Edwards Plateau region of Texas. We have an exclusive hunting lease on the ranch and will be the only ones hunting.
The
Wade Ranch has been owned and operated by the Wade family since the 1930's.
The entire ranch is contiguous which creates an uninterrupted hunting area
of 13 square miles. All animals in the immediate region are completely free ranging. In other
words, they can leave anytime they wish.
The ranch has been under an extensive land-management plan since it's inception. All cedar and mesquite has been systematically removed over the last 70+ years. On over 8,000 acres, you probably cannot find 50 cedar or mesquite trees growing. The live oak trees are the jewels of the ranch. They are interspersed with abundant openings of grasses and forbs, creatingperfect habitat for deer. There is cover yet enough openings to offer excellent hunting options as well.
Axis deer have proliferated on the ranch over the past 20 years along with the native whitetails. You could not hope for a better population of Axis or a finer ranch to hunt. We feel fortunate to have found such a place as the ranch has been hunted the past 14 years by a single group from Dallas. They hated to leave, but said they were getting too old to want to maintain the lease. In fact, over the last 50 years, only three different groups have leased the hunting on the property. Timing is everything and this time we got lucky.
The Axis Deer Hunts
First and foremost, let us clarify exactly what type of hunting we will be doing. There are hunting methods unique to Texas, such as hunting over bait out of blinds, and driving around the roads in vehicles looking for deer. It is legal and accepted as tradition on many ranches...
With that said, we want to make it perfectly clear, that we will NOT be hunting over bait. In addition, there will be no hunting from vehicles. Vehicles will provide only the access. The entire hunt will be spot and stalk on foot and glassing from prominent points.
We
have a truly unique ranch that offers superb spot and stalk hunting. Hunting
over bait is not necessary or wanted. The hunting experience will be second
to none. We will use the exact hunting strategies we would use on an elk
hunt in New Mexico. If you like elk hunting, you will like this hunt.
A year-round, supplemental mineral and feeding program will be used to varying degrees to ensure healthy animals and to enhance the population of game on the ranch. However, no hunting opportunities will exist with it.
All hunts are guided 1 on 1 and there will NEVER be more than two hunters on the ranch at one time. That's over 4,000 private acres per person every day! You cannot hunt it all in a week if you tried. Besides, you will find a mature Axis buck before then. The challenge of the hunt is not killing a buck. It's killing a GOOD buck.
If you have never eaten Axis deer, you have been missing out. It is possibly the finest table fare of any game animal. Period.
Fallow deer, Sika deer, Blackbuck antelope and Aoudad sheep exist in this area in small numbers. Should any of them be encountered during an Axis hunt, it can be taken on a kill-fee basis.
Hogs are not numerous on the ranch, but should you encounter one, you may take it at no extra charge.
Expectations for the Hunt
Every hunter arrives with high expectations for a hunt, as
they should. But, there are many factors that affect the outcome of a hunt.
The first and foremost factor, outside of weather, that will dictate the
"success" of this hunt is physical conditioning. You need a fair to
moderate level of physical conditioning at a minimum to truly enjoy this hunt.
What are reasonable expectations? If you will hunt with us, we will get you a
shot opportunity at a 25-inch or better Axis. How much better is where the hunt
comes in. Long brow tines and
good mass characterize the better bucks in this area. We plan to hunt for
30-inch + deer.
If you are in decent shape, will hold steadfast on your minimum, and will stick with the hunt for the duration, the following shot-opportunity percentages are what any of our guides feel they can produce for a 1 on 1 hunter, any given week:
Minimum
Chances at a Shot
Size Class
Opportunity
Comments
25"+
95%
Ranch minimum. Good bucks with very high success.
30"+
85%
Getting harder, but good minimum for patient hunters.
35"+
50%
The uppermost class of bucks.
Accommodations/Meals
The accommodations for the Wade Ranch hunts are in mobile housing located on the ranch. The digs are nothing fancy, but are equipped with air conditioning, heating, showers and bathrooms. More than enough for a hunting camp.
Meals will be provided with breakfast and lunch consisting of easy-to-make items. A full dinner is prepared by the guides in the evenings.
Airport Information
Air service is available by flying into either San Angelo or San Antonio, TX. You will need to rent a vehicle and drive to the ranch. The drive time is approximately 1 1/2 hours from San Angelo and 2 1/2 hours from San Antonio.
2011 Axis Deer Hunt Prices
4-Day Axis Deer Hunt - $2500 (1 on 1) Book two spots for $2000 each!
Any exotic on any Axis deer hunt -
$1000 kill fee
2011 Axis Deer Seasons
March 1-4, 2011
March 6-9, 2011
June 1-4, 2011
June 6-9, 2011
July 1-4, 2011
July 6-9, 2011
Aug 1-4, 2011
2010 Axis Deer License Fees
Axis Deer License- $48
(Available over-the-counter)
