can't figure out axis deer

[BCoop27]

We hunt in a big area of land (2400 acres) between two places called Rocksprings and Sonora. Sometimes, it feels like there are a lot of axis animals around and we see them everywhere. But lately, we haven't seen many at all. I know there's a drought going on right now, but even the food and water we put out for them hasn't been attracting them.



I'm wondering if they moved away because they are looking for greener places to eat. Do they travel a lot? It seems like we either have a lot of them on our land or none at all. I'm just trying to learn more about these animals.

[Rubeng]

They travel a lot! I’m sure they are around but they might not be hitting the feeders. Find a good trail that they use and sit on it. You probably have more of a chance to catch them moving from one place to another than at a feeder


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[BCoop27]

They travel a lot! I’m sure they are around but they might not be hitting the feeders. Find a good trail that they use and sit on it. You probably have more of a chance to catch them moving from one place to another than at a feeder


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yeah should totally try that. I will bring some cameras to put on some main trails and sit those. Figured out the aoudad, whitetail, pigs, even our fallow deer. These axis are just different!

[TX_Kevin]

They do move and they move in herds. Much bigger herds than whitetail. They do not come to corn like a whitetail does, so it makes them much harder. When they do come to corn it looks easy, but it is difficult to be there when they do. If you pattern their movement and can intercept them, you can get a shot. But lots of eyes on you. Lots of watching. Much easier with a rifle. Much harder with a bow. That's been my experience anyway.

[TX_Kevin]

yeah should totally try that. I will bring some cameras to put on some main trails and sit those. Figured out the aoudad, whitetail, pigs, even our fallow deer. These axis are just different!

Don't expect them to walk by down a trail. Sometimes they do, but they move in such a big herd that it is often a 50 yard wide swath of them coming by you.

[BCoop27]

They do move and they move in herds. Much bigger herds than whitetail. They do not come to corn like a whitetail does, so it makes them much harder. When they do come to corn it looks easy, but it is difficult to be there when they do. If you pattern their movement and can intercept them, you can get a shot. But lots of eyes on you. Lots of watching. Much easier with a rifle. Much harder with a bow. That's been my experience anyway.

Totally agree with that! Getting them to come into corn is nearly impossible. We do cotton seed, chefhayye, alfalfa, and water and those typically work pretty good. But just like a ghost town all of the sudden, thinking they will all come back at some point.

[Hardware]

They're more of a grazer so if the grass is stark due to drought they will move looking for graze. Once it starts to rain some and graze recovers they'll show back up.

[Drycreek3189]

Kevin is on point about the herds. The greatest difficulty I’ve had even shooting a doe is not shooting two or three because there are so many and so close to each other.

[slayr]

I think they tend to roam quite a bit and, at least on our place, they seem to have different territory they hang out in depending on the time of year. Drought or heavy rainfall can cause this adjust, but for the most part they’re going to hang at certain places at certain times. I wouldn’t over analyze it, they’re either there or they ain’t….and that is most likely due to the forage of that location at that point in time.

[AntlerCollector]

It’s feast of famine with those suckers. They travel constantly and in herds. They will graze like cattle. Alfalfa, rice bran, sweet feed, and water can keep them around some, but they will seek out green grasses to eat. The drought out there right now is a huge factor.

[PondPopper]

There has been A LOT of baiting in and trapping of exotics going on all over this state.. There is a good chance that a big number of them have been trapped out.. It happened around us.. We had herds and now we have 0…
The “live sale” market is bringing stupid money for Axis and a few other species at the moment..

[Shane]

They're more nomadic like elk. They don't stay in a small home area all the time like whitetail. If a little cloud pops up and rains a little in one spot and the grass greens up a bit, the axis will find it. If your area is dry and the neighbors have some green, you won't see near as many axis for a while. They like green grass and water.

[denimdeerslayer]

I say stay by the water and any green grass you got growing.

[Edward F]

Don't expect them to walk by down a trail. Sometimes they do, but they move in such a big herd that it is often a 50 yard wide swath of them coming by you.

I watched 50 of them walk down a trail single file and it was the greatest sight ever. I got too antsy and shot the 3rd in line. They scattered and couldn’t get another shot. I regret not waiting a little bit longer.

[Passthrough]

Greening up…..I’m sure they are chasing that. They are more of a grazer versus a browser like a WT