Spotted Fever

the animal
Native to India, axis deer were initially released into
the Texas wilds back in the 1930s. Referred to as chital
in their homeland regions, axis have done well as an
exotic in certain areas of the U.S., especially in Texas
and Florida. Today, axis deer are in great abundance
in certain areas of Texas, found free-ranging in many
counties in central Texas, and commonly found on highfenced
game ranches in various regions of the state.
Axis are generally not as cold hardy as native whitetails,
especially when freezing temperatures are combined with
moisture. A mature male may push the scales up to 250
pounds while on the hoof, typically have three points per
antler side, and hunters often use main beam length as the
central criteria for judging trophy size with 30 inches being the
standard that many hunters hold out for, though there are some
brutes that may stretch the tape to 35 inches or more. Their
reddish colored pelage is laden with white spots, making them
a beautiful animal. Axis are often vocal, with males making a
strange and loud roaring noise during the rut, and both males
and females commonly making a barking noise as an alarm
signal. Adding to the attraction of the hunt, axis venison is
exceptional table fare, with many people considering it to be
among the best of all
exotic game meats
found in
Texas.
Concerns are commonly expressed over the impacts that
axis deer and other exotic ungulates may have on wildlife
habitat and through social conflict with native wildlife
species. For certain, there are some ecological downsides
of these foreign species being present on other landscapes,
but for many private landowners, this exotic resource
creates added revenue and recreational opportunities, often
incentivizing those landowners to invest money and effort
into habitat management, including water development,
brush management, seeding of native range plants, and
other practices that are often good for the land. As with
most landscape practices that involve natural resources,
for every action, there are often many reactions, some of
which may be good, some not so, while some reactions
may simply be subject to biased interpretation.
the hunt
Though axis deer do not have a synchronized breeding
season, the peak of the estrus for females is during the
June–July period, which is also the height of when bucks are
hard-antlered. Thus, the most popular time to hunt these
animals is during the summer, but since some bucks are hard
antlered at any given time of the year, it’s common to have
axis deer hunting scattered to some degree on a year-around
basis. In Texas, since they are an exotic animal, there is no
closed season and no bag limits. A non-resident license is
only $48 for a 5-day period and is available over the counter.
Mature bucks are relatively large bodied animals, with thick
musculature frames, so having adequate caliber and bullet
type is important. I suggest a minimum of a 130 grain bullet
that is well-constructed and not too highly expandable.
For additional information
on hunting with WSI, check
out their website at
www.WildlifeSystems.com
or call (325) 655-0877.
the outfitter
Wildlife Systems, Inc. (WSI) is a hunting and wildlife
management firm that was started in 1987. This company
conducts axis deer hunts on multiple large private ranches
in Texas, with most hunts being scheduled from May
through July. These hunts are typically set up as a two
or three day hunt, including meals, lodging, guide,
and game care. A daily fee is assessed, along with
a harvest fee. Hunting is generally a combination of
glassing and stalking, as well as some stand-hunting.
Lodging is provided on the ranches in comfortable,
well-appointed facilities. WSI operates a variety
of other exotic and native game hunts on over
900,000 acres of private land in Texas, making it
one of the largest and most longstanding hunting
companies in the southwestern United States.
WSI has also been involved with commercial
hunting and wildlife programs in several other
states and numerous foreign countries. °
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