I was wondering if anyone had a picture of the anatomy of an axis deer. Are they the same as a white tail or are they a bit different? In my experience hunting them, they seem to be my nemisis, as I have yet to kill one with my bow. I have shot and hit a few and had good blood with what I felt were good shots but no recoveries. Am I wrong in thinking that the same shot that would kill a whitetail would/should kill an axis as well? If you have a picture of the anatomy of an axis would you please post it....or even both a whitetail and an axis for comparison purposes? I appreciate all input. Thanks.
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They are further forward than a WT. -
I have shot exactly one axis and one fallow, so I guess I'm an expert. So here goes.
Seems to me the axis (and fallow) have a bigger gut than whitetail. The lungs seem proportionately smaller and further forward. My theory is because axis are grazers they need a larger gut to digest the grass they eat. But I don't really know.Comment
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Surely someone can break out with some anat pics.
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This is one of 4 we killed last year. Zach made what he (and I) both thought was a good shot on this one, right behind the shoulder. It was behind the diaphram. Bits of rib fragmented through the diaphram and into the lungs, and he was down quick. But, had it been an arrow instead of a bullet, it might not have worked out so well.
Axis' bodies are built differently than whitetails. I agree with the comments above about how their internal organs are a little different too. You really need a quartering away shot to get into the heart and lungs with an arrow, I imagine. I've not arrowed one, so I can't say for sure. The heart and lungs are much more protected by the shoulder bones on an axis than they are on a whitetail.Attached FilesComment
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Agreed. If you look at the video in my signature called Axis Doe you can see my shot looks really good, but I had to leave this one until morning. Ended up hitting lung on one side and came out the guts. I would shoot tight in the shoulder.
Good luck Bobby.Comment
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That is funny you bring that up. I saw a fawn in a high fence the other day just born and it was with an axis doe. It lead me to some questions so I did some research and am going to do an article on them for next month. I read that axis are not anatomically like whitetail at all but more like Northern elk and that their reproduction is more similar to domestic cattle. Sorry, don't have any pictures to show.
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Not to hijack, but what time of the year's the best time to hunt axis (horn wise)?Comment
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The lungs and heart are a little bit more forward than a whitetail...slight 1/4 away shot, tight behind the shoulder towards the opposite shoulder is the shoot I would wait for...better chance of getting both lungs.Comment
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When we were at South Llano River SP last fall, some were in velvet, some were hard antlered, and some were dropping. They aren't all on the same time table.Originally posted by donpablo View PostComment
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I don't know how true this is,I was told the bucks will usually drop their antlers around their birthday.Axis can breed year around,so this is why some may have harden antlers,some in velvet and some may have just been shed.I have to agree,they do seem a little compact and far forward in the lung department.I think a good quartering away shot would be best for quickly taking down and Axis.Comment
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quarting awayshot, tihght to the shoulderComment
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Thanks for all of the advice...that would make a lot of sense thinking back to my previous shot placements. If anyone has any actual pictures feel free to post them as well. Thanks everyone.Comment
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I know they eat good! Doc Garris(Larry) brought some that we ate last year and it was by far better than whitetail meat!
Chris KiefnerComment
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