“But, but they are not a native species.”

[AntlerCollector]

SmTx: State managed lands should kill non-native species

AC: OMG!!!!!!

I don’t have any issue with the State doing that. Especially if they do it via hunts open to the public.

[bloodtrailer28]

I’m a supporter of eliminating any and all non-native plants and animals from the landscape.

I'm sure the residents of Alaska feel the same one when all these new people start moving up there and start taking "their" resources.

[Tx-Burt]

Hill country axis issues

I will add my .02 for what it is worth . . .

I got on a DEER lease ~ 20 yrs ago, Axis was an added bonus for a little more $$$ 750.00/300.00 buck/doe. That changed to Trophy fee of 750.00 for bucks, (does, spikes, young bucks free), now all free to try and slow herd growth and try to stop the competition for grass lands for his cattle. Axis have increased my $ spent on lease payment and added taxi bills

I see axis being the main reason I am probably going to loose my lease in the near future. The ranchers know the supply/demand theory for hunting these exotics and the dollar value put on these animals. It's only a matter of time before I cannot keep up with the $ I'm shelling out. Someone will be willing to pay more than the 6k I am paying now. I would love to only have Axis on my lease to shoot, but I am sure it would be worth more $ in the rancher's mind if that is the case. We average around 5 axis per year, 15 whitetails. We have saved ears and sent to Tech for research when asked but was told it was for genetic testing. There are some articles being published now on how detrimental they are to the land/water ways, and food competition, cattle and deer. What is Great for one group may be devastating to another. I don't want to see them exterminated, but I also don't won't them to be the reason I can't afford to hunt anymore. Well, at least having to go to a HF ranch to shoot a WT Deer. LOL

[AntlerCollector]

I would almost Agree…except axis bucks all seem to have the same horn profile. ALMOST could get boring. Lol

WT bucks seem to have more character.

There’s definitely some truth to this. Where I hunt near Del Rio I’ve killed some great Axis. You can only mount so many 36” bucks. It has already gotten boring as far as trophies, but dang they still taste good. I’m hoping to break the 40” barrier someday. Other than that I will probably never get another one mounted.

[jfk47]

Will someone on this ahead please trap an Axis buck and a doe and bring them out to my lease in Menard. I have been on this place for over two years and have yet to see an Axis or blackbuck. This is in the hill country, that is supposedly overrun with exotics !!!!

[Smart]

There’s definitely some truth to this. Where I hunt near Del Rio I’ve killed some great Axis. You can only mount so many 36” bucks. It has already gotten boring as far as trophies, but dang they still taste good. I’m hoping to break the 40” barrier someday. Other than that I will probably never get another one mounted.

[SabreKiller]

Axis can be a problem for ranchers. My neighbor has a coastal patch that the axis have ruined. He's got 100-150 in it every night or used to until they ruined his pasture.

I told him I could help him with that problem one shot at a time and got no response. He was complaining about them again one night at a party at my home and I again told him I'd be glad to help him out with it. He himhawed around about it and said one of his other neighbors would get ****** at him because he sells axis hunts and BLAH BLAH BLAH.

[PondPopper]

If it came down to it. I’d rather have axis and hogs instead of whitetail. If the whitetail can’t compete that’s just too bad.

I'm sensing a bit of sarcasm here.....

[PondPopper]

Axis can be a problem for ranchers. My neighbor has a coastal patch that the axis have ruined. He's got 100-150 in it every night or used to until they ruined his pasture.

I told him I could help him with that problem one shot at a time and got no response. He was complaining about them again one night at a party at my home and I again told him I'd be glad to help him out with it. He himhawed around about it and said one of his other neighbors would get ****** at him because he sells axis hunts and BLAH BLAH BLAH.

So they obviously were not that big of a problem.... I've heard these same stories. I offered to bring PAYING hunters in to help out the dire situation..
Then its "well this and well that and well this again"..
All of the sudden not that big of a problem..

Same song and dance with hogs on ocassion..

[slayr]

There’s definitely some truth to this. Where I hunt near Del Rio I’ve killed some great Axis. You can only mount so many 36” bucks. It has already gotten boring as far as trophies, but dang they still taste good. I’m hoping to break the 40” barrier someday. Other than that I will probably never get another one mounted.

I am about there now. Have a handful mounted with a 36” and 38” being the two biggest….unless I break 40” I’ll prob just cut the horns off.

[bowhuntertex]

Axis is my favorite animal to hunt, and I am good with them, but I know several cattle ranchers in the hill country that don't like them. So, I get to shoot some time to time to help them keep the numbers down.

[Dale Moser]

On a semi-related note... How is it that Axis, Auodad, Nilgi, etc, have been left with their "Non Game" status. While the Ring Neck Pheasant, which as I understand it is native to asia and was introduced here as a game bird, has been protected for so long, by game laws?

I am glad pheasants are, and the others are not, just curious.

[AntlerCollector]

On a semi-related note... How is it that Axis, Auodad, Nilgi, etc, have been left with their "Non Game" status. While the Ring Neck Pheasant, which as I understand it is native to asia and was introduced here as a game bird, has been protected for so long, by game laws?

I am glad pheasants are, and the others are not, just curious.

I don’t think it will be long (maybe 10 years) before Axis and Nilgai become game animals. There money for the State to make.

[MASTERS]

I don’t think it will be long (maybe 10 years) before Axis and Nilgai become game animals. There money for the State to make.

I doubt it. West Texas elk and mountain lion would have to get there first, and it hasn’t happened yet.

[Deerguy]

On a semi-related note... How is it that Axis, Auodad, Nilgi, etc, have been left with their "Non Game" status. While the Ring Neck Pheasant, which as I understand it is native to asia and was introduced here as a game bird, has been protected for so long, by game laws?

I am glad pheasants are, and the others are not, just curious.

If animals are transplanted by the state, they are regulated. Some may remember many years ago when aoudad in the panhandle were regulated for that reason. When they got out of control, they stopped the seasons and bag limits to try and get them under control (which obviously didn't work). Axis, nilgai, hogs, etc. will never be game animals because there are too many now and landowners simply regulate them. A hunting license is required, but no need to limit harvest with seasons or bag limits.