Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Are axis tougher than white tail

Shot one axis with the .257 Wea. 100 gr. BTBT.. The bullet exited, but the buck did not bleed much.. It was a lung shot and he ran a ways... I think I would prefer more bullet and a large bore.. Remember you pay if you wound one..

100 gr TSX made quick work of mine I'd not hesitate to use a .257 weatherby

Watched this one for awhile this morning Rio7

I shot two does with a 7mag using 140gr Accubonds.Both were shot in the lungs and neither one bled very much.One went about 5yds,the other about 50yds.The one that went 50yds didn't leave any blood at all.Had to go seek and find that one.The other one that went 5yds,I got a piece of it's shoulder,so the bullet expanded more before entering the chest cavity.They are built a little different than a whitetail,they are more grazers than browsers and their vitals seem to be just a little farther forward.

Beautiful buck there.. Hope to go for them next month..

Not sure if the lack of blood trail is common but the Axis seem to have looser more rubbery skin than whitetails to me in my limited experience with them.

To All,

An 180 grain GCCB of 180 grains at about 2000FPS out of my .300SAV pump-rifle is excellent medicine for Axis. - I see NO need for a magnum of any sort for a 250-275 pound deer at any reasonable range.

yours, tex

I think the last one I shot was with a 7mm Wea. and a 160 gr. Sierra HPBT.. It dropped on the spot, but I used a high shoulder shot rather than a lung shot.. Also killed several with the Rem. 7mm mag..

They look a little fatter/softer than a whitetail. Body shape like a meat type show deer.

Those are two beautiful bucks. I am getting excited for April to come around. I have read that it is one of the best game meats. On par with oryx

The meat is tender.Cook med-rare and it's really tender.

Almost.

Nice buck.

I've been hunting with the same group of guys for the last 17 years. We've taken both white-tail and Axis deer. It aiin't always the case on a morning hunt, but when it comes to taking either in the evening, the tenders never make it to the cooler. A bit of black pepper, Worcestershire, some Tony Chacheries, and plopped on da' grill over 3 second hot mesquite coals, 2 minutes on a side, slice thin and eat right off the grill, I've never heard anyone complain about toughness!

ya!

GWB

I'm all in!

Truth, I grilled some Axis loin, leave the knives in the block, they're not needed, cut with a fork and actually falls apart [melts] in your mouth before you even get to chewing good, damn-dest thing if ever tasted, absolutely best tasting stateside meat I've ever had, kudu and gemsbok loin in the bush is the only thing close.

Ok now I'm hungry.

You can be in Tx and shooting in the morning if you leave now!

To All,

All that I know about tough in Axis deer is that mixed 70-30 with feral hog, it makes WONDERFUL Texas Red (or "tourist chili", if you insist) Chili. = I'm a TX Master Naturalist & that dish is called: Invasive Species Chili.
It must also be admitted that everyone, who comes out to Cibolo Natural Area for chili, nearly makes her/himself sick from eating numerous bowls.

yours, tex

That is a nice buck. What does it cost to shoot one of them? I have no idea about setting up a hunt. What part of Texas are they?
Thanks