When do axis deer shed?

[brokeno]

Anytime and most rutting in late May thru July if you can stand the heat

[Shane]

Anytime and most rutting in late May thru July if you can stand the heat

The heat combined with the length of daylight makes for tough hunting. It takes a LONG time to hunt all day long in June. Waking up early enough to get out before daylight, and then staying out til dark.... Makes you appreciate those shorter days in the winter.

[Deerguy]

I guess it depends on how you define 'rut'. Since breeding in axis can occur at any time of the year, its hard to think of year-round breeding activity as "a relatively short period of heightened activity due to females being in estrous and males chasing, tending, and breeding females".

If you define rut simply as the time when does are in estrous and bucks are actively chasing, tending, and breeding females, then axis do rut, just all year long, complicated by the fact that not all males will be interested in receptive females due to varying testosterone levels. If a does comes into estrous in Summer, then only hard-horned bucks will chase her. If a does is receptive in November, then only hard-horned bucks will be interested.

[Shane]

I guess it depends on how you define 'rut'. Since breeding in axis can occur at any time of the year, its hard to think of year-round breeding activity as "a relatively short period of heightened activity due to females being in estrous and males chasing, tending, and breeding females".



If you define rut simply as the time when does are in estrous and bucks are actively chasing, tending, and breeding females, then axis do rut, just all year long, complicated by the fact that not all males will be interested in receptive females due to varying testosterone levels. If a does comes into estrous in Summer, then only hard-horned bucks will chase her. If a does is receptive in November, then only hard-horned bucks will be interested.

I think we're all saying the same thing. Individuals definitely rut. They just don't all rut at the same time. Biggest part of the herd ruts in the summer....

[sundownbrown]

Thanks for all the replies