Are any of you campfire members planning on doing a little Axis deer hunting this spring or summer? I've got one hunt planned for late June and I may try and go another time if I can get loose here at work! It's a great way to spend the off season as well as a little $$. Later guys, Elk

Im heading south on May 9th! Will be meeting another 24HCF member for an Axis hunt. Looking forward to it big time! I don't know if I'll ever shoot and eat another mule deer or whitetail, Axis are THAT good. Fun to hunt too!

Will post pics upon my return.



Just got my hides back from last year, so I had to take a pic

Looks like you will be gone when I stop by on the annual gopher murdering trip. You're gonna miss me.
Sounds like some fun times for the slow twist in May, though.
Peace.

Now that looks awesome sir! I hope you kill a monster buck as well as a couple slick heads for the freezer. I agree with you about eating Axis. I haven't eaten a WT in over 10 years. I'm going to have to get me a sticker like that for my Creedmoor because that just looks 2cool!
I'm changing ranches this year due to a big price increase in my old place so I'm a little apprehensive about this summer but maybe it will work out! I hope you take a bunch of photos of your hunt so you can share with us! Later Buddy, Baker

Slow twist aint going this time...Im taking my "big" gun...the .243


And I'll throw in the McFlame...just 'cause

The plan is one buck and one doe.Then maybe a little blackbuck hunting If your new place doesn't pan out, let me know...Ive got a couple places I can refer you to.


Though it will be hard to top the axis you've gotten in the past anywhere!

I'm told one was killed across the road from my deer lease last year, so I'm hoping they wander over toward me this year

They will wonder for sure. They are all over the hill country and aren't just a high fence animal to hunt!

I'm having a hard time finding a place that will let me bring my wife. She likes to take photos as much as I do. I hunt with an old buddy every summer somewhere and I'll continue this hunt but now finding a place for basically only one hunter has proven more difficult. It's hard to say where you can find a good axis buck but it important to find a big ranch with lots of brush so they can grow old enough to reach their potential.

One ranch I've hunted several times has several trail cam photos of a true giant in a pasture that's a little over 1200 acres and has some really thick stuff along the river. The deer has never been seen in the daylight. I hunted him for 3 days straight the last 2 years and never seen him. My timing isn't working out this year for a hunt there so I'm still trying to firm up the dates on another place this summer! Let me know how you hunt goes....

I am sure http://baker3ranch.com/ can accommodate. Right outside of Rocksprings, Tx.

"Non Hunter:
Special Trophy Axis Hunt Package Hunt – $2000. If you would like to accompany a hunter on their experience but not hunt yourself, you can still take in the beauty of Baker3Ranch"


Have not hunted there yet. I will definitely be whacking an Axis this summer. I much prefer August.

Id love to work in an Axis hunt. Just not in the stars right now. I did walk up on these two Fallow boys several weeks ago while at the family place up by Lampasas.

Cool pic. I'm gonna do that some day. Beautiful animals aren't they?

Yes sir I've been on the Baker3 before when I lived in Uvalde. They have a large herd of Axis and they do have some big deer from time to time. Thanks for the link.

Takes a brave man to take a "flame" gun to Texas...

And, it takes more than Texas stickers on your rifle stocks to make you a real Texican...

Jus saying...

DF

The McFlame has been to Texas a few times...


The Texas stickers are there because Big Stick used up all the skull and crossbones stickers!

And I wanted him to see what a proper rifle in the "petting zoo" looked like

Johnny you know I have a "thing' for big mule deer...


But axis are great good fun to hunt and last years was the prettiest deer Ive ever killed....

I love hunting them spotted deer!! This buck was from about 2002.

EH49



Check this link out, click on the Axis specials.....this guy has a good rep over at the Texas Hunting Forum...

http://www.southernbuckoutfitters.com

Will do, thank you sir!

DATS what Im looking for!

Nice bucks. This two hunter thing is a new one on me! Never ran into that, but it has been more than 10 years since I hunted axis. Time slips by. May try this soon. Thanks for the info. On the Baker ranch! Good luck on your trip ingwe!!

It's really more of a woman thing that a 2 hunter thing. I didn't explain it very well. It's harder to find separate sleeping arrangements for a couple vs a group of men!

Ok. If we went, we would probably take the travel trailer,so we would have our own sleeping quarters. Looks like a fine spot for axis..

you may as well just move to Texas!

Not a bad idea if a guy could get a good lease !

They are very fine eating. Good looking hides! Congrats!

Nice Buck and his caudal's are incredible

You Suck.



Love, Poobs

A few more to get us in the Axis frame of mind!!!



This low quality photo is of 2 stud bucks fighting that I took from about 250 yards away, not a great photo but 2 dang nice bucks.



The winner trying to catch his breath!!

A couple hero shots of pards with their Axis....






Just to keep the mood going....

Oh yea a few good ones....... I wish I was leaving today!

You and me both.....gorgeous!

I have no plans to in the short term, but I will hunt them someday. Beautiful critters.

Johnny you NEED to do this...living as close as you do...it would be a bit of an eye opener for a deer hunter such as yourself...


And Ingwewife is loving the spotted hides...I have orders for two more!

Thanks guys he made a beautiful mount. I had the brow repaired that I broke loading him into the jeep!

This old photo shows his length a little better!

I wish you hadn't posted that! I promised myself I wouldn't get any more heads mounted......

I'm the same way, I'm Taxidermist poor.

Tell me about it.....







And this is just one room.......

Kudu and a Sable, both on my bucket list!!!! Awesome

Ah Baker Ranch... lots of good game there. Used to guide there for a number of years.

I'd think you could take a good axis there for sure. They used to not want to shoot the axis does really. I'm sure thats changed by now due to population I"d bet.

Camphouse is nothing special, CMU block building. The gals cook some mean meals. The ranch is large, all free range and a good hunt. (there is a game proof area 300 plus acres IIRC with axis and stags in it, but thats a different princing ball game)

How old is the flame gun? I might have had one in TX prior to yours. LOL

I went last June. Would highly recommend. They are very beautiful deer.

Jeff the McFlame is only a tad over a year old....

Nice mounts there guys!

Some beautiful animals gents! Nice game room too Poobs!

I'm trying to figure out the logistics of getting from ID to Texas.....and take care of the meat/mounts pieces & parts as I might have a line on a very economical high fence deal.....

LOL, then feel at home when you come, my 7x300 flame stock has been around I'd say close to 10 years.... it was called Tequila Sunrise many years ago in the late 80s when I saw the first one like it.... took me some time to get around to ordering one... was so happy when I found Mickey.... haven't had a smith since... until I found my wifes old pair firing partner learned how and will teach me!

Thanks! but thats my living room....

I am not kidding when I say every room in the house looks like that......



Except the kitchen and the bathroom...they have a fish motif....

PM me on Texas logistics....after a half dozen trips down there, Im starting to get the hang of it

I want to hunt those in Hawaii. Seen them in Argentina but have never hunted them.

Before too long I will kill one of those.

A few more to get the fire lit. Axis deer = Texas Hill country.

Truly beautiful places there! Great lighting on the shots too.

Elk,

What ranch is that? It is absolutely stunning. Your one Axis on the right side of the wall is incredible. What did he measure?

39 days and counting.


Already starting to squirm in my seat

Thanks guys, Scott the photos are part of the West fork of the Nueces River. Most are from the county roads near Uvalde. I was living there prior to my transfer out here to SE Louisiana. The hard horned Axis in my living room is from a large low fence ranch in Bandera county. I got to hunt the place one time then it changed hands and the new owner is a non hunter. I'm sure it's still got some giant Axis on it! The Axis I killed has mass all the way out and is 34 7/8" X 35". His brows are 14 1/8" x 13 7/8".
I saw him the first morning of the hunt along with another great buck but lost them both for 2 days before finding him with 2 does the last evening right at dark. I got in position and took a shot with basically no shooting light left. I would love to hunt the place again but it's not likely. Here are a few more photos.

WOW!

Elk,

It's the nicest I've seen. It has everything one would want.

They are all over my place. Once I get enough of the elk chowed from the freezer I will head out and arrow a doe or two.

Very nice Ed, I remember a few years back you told me about a giant buck one of your boys was after that lived in your hood. Did he catch up to him?

About 15 years ago a friend gave me 15 Axis, he trapped up in the hill country, we put them in a high fence pasture 2500 acres on the west side of the ranch,the damn predators wiped them out in about 2 weeks, they were to tame to live in the brush country down here, so I bought some really wild ass ones from a ranch about 75 miles east of me and turned them out in the same pasture as the first ones, a few have lived but I still don't have a population large enough to hunt, Axis, are my favorites great eating Rio7

A few more Axis photos.

Hope to have a pic of an axis laying down soon...

Hey.....! Rumor has it you may whack a meat oryx too........?

The rumor is true.....


Will also be looking for a good blackbuck on this trip.

I also get to shoot an axis doe, so Im planning on coming home laden with meat

That is a load of killer meat.

You TURBO Suck.....!

Hoping to bring stunt shooting to Texas....unless they make me use my Big Gun (.243...)

feel free to drop some of that meat in SD on your way through....

Ha! If you make it anywhere near Midland, TX give me a shout.

JGR: I might get as close as 155 miles!

Colorado 1135: I wont even be getting that close to SD.


Sorry!

Please bring back pictures of your Hay Bale and Crockett adventures......:) Hope you have a good hunt. You gonna shoot any pigs?

Good luck ingwe, maybe next year we will hit Tex. Shot hogs this spring.. Been years since I shot an axis, like maybe 10!

I love hunting and eating those Oryx as well!!!!

elk: I signed up for a meat hunt, the oryx will be a yearling( yummmmmmmm....) about 175- pounds and horns about 24 inches, so no trophy. ( except the steaks...)
Looking at hunting another maybe in february.....

7mmMato- Charles, theres no pigs on the menu for this trip but I have Carte Blanc if I see any while hunting axis, and theres a few on that ranch.
Gonna give the petting zoo a real going over!


Wyo:if its been 10 years since your last axis.......

The Oryx your going to hunt in a few months will be some incredible table fair. If you decide you your looking to hunt a trophy Oryx then let me know. I know of a ranch with some monster bulls and I'm thinking that's what I may hunt again later this summer. Animals are much larger than my bull in the photo I posted. Later Buddy, Elk

Actually Im looking at a cow hunt. I promise you Ive got all the horns I can eat...cows have horns and if they are good enough...I'll find a spot for them but securing a trophy isn't what Im after at this stage...
Gotta admit though, Im being a bit picky on axis


Though I have no place left to hang one......


BTW thats a pretty dandy bull in your pic!

Yes sir I don't blame you. I'm still looking for a trophy axis hunt. The prices to hunt the ranches that have the larger herds has really jumped up in the last year. That's why I'm looking at maybe an Oryx or Gemsbok hunt.

Gemsbok are one of my all time faves...if you haven't hunted one yet.

They are quite tasty, and they are just cool


Shot a couple tons of them in Africa but never in Texas. Don't seem to be any difference though, the ones Ive seen in Texas were spooky as hell too....

The bull in the photo is a smidgen shy of 40". I'm looking for one in the 44-45" range

40 is good anywhere, anytime!

Here's a nice bull my son killed about 7 or 8 years back, I think he was 38".


They make nice mounts.

Cool.....yeah, they make really pretty mounts!
Your bull, and your sons bull are both kinda heavy looking in the horn.

Nice....

I need one of those. I've already have an oryx from NM. They will make nice bookend mounts. My mount is the 90' turn. One can turn left, the other right. They are tasty critters also.

A gemsbok and a Scimitar horned would make great bookends!
Ive got two gemsboks bookending a zebra rug above my bed

Heres one end....

Exactly!!! 357 on the night stand? That's what is on mine---Great minds think alike

Waaaay cool deal there Poobah!

fine. you twisted my arm, I'll go along and shoot my own then.

Oryx are deeeelicious!!!!! Still eating on wifeys. Tried to get a Blackbuck doe back in February but was too busy helping Wifey try to get a cull doe down. Had numerous opportunities on some really nice Blackbucks. But I doubt my cousins would have appreciated me killing em!

Good to hear blackbuck make good eating Bob. seems to be mixed reviews on them, and Ive never had one. This may be changing soon though, with some luck!

You guys are freaking killin' me.....

Gemsbok, can be a little hard to kill, had a run in with a wounded one last fall, I have always thought Black buck, are a lot like eating a small goat. nothing bad about young goat. Rio7

Cabrito!

Johnny: it just takes a few phone calls and a little check writing.....


You live once, and who deserves it more?

Man I love the Gemsbok mounts, I've been applying for years in New Mexico for a Gemsbok tag but I've never been drawn for a hunt. I'm going to have to break down and pay for a hunt in Texas. Or maybe try and put together a plains game hunt. The Trophy fees, daily fees and the travel expense I could manage but all the taxidermy work would be a big number! Oh well a man can dream can't he? I'll throw up a few more of my Texas exotics photos. Baker

Here's a few more

still more









Not so exotic but a nice shot

I'm not picky with what I'll shoot with my camera.

I'm lovin' it!

Keep them coming!

NICE!

Poor Quality photo of a giant of a red sheep. I was over 250 yards away so the photo's not great but dang that was a nice ram.





A couple young Waterbuck and a young Roan





Bongo up close and personal



Young Eland Bull with some cows

I found one of an old bull with curved horns.

Elkhunter, those are amazing pictures.
With having babies every couple of years, and buying a house I have not had the chance to really get out and hunt. Those pictures really light up a fire in my desire to chase some nice animal in the Hill country, seems like it requires dropping some coin, but at least logistics may be easier coming from Houston.

Great pics! Please keep sharing them. Very well done.

*That* (the one on the left) is a helluva axis...!
I would not be surprised if that deer had 40" mainbeams and was 40" wide.

Yea he's about as good as they get. I had a guy call me from some giant ranch in South Florida. He said he had been raising Axis for meat and hunts for over 30 years and had never seen a deer like that. Here are a few more photos of him. I've posted these before so if you've seen them before I'm sorry! Beautiful animal for sure, Baker

He is a beast...! I've only seen two axis bucks on the hoof in my life that were in the same category as that one. Once was between Vanderpool and Lost Maples State Park along 187, and the other time was on a ranch off of the North side of 41 between Mountain Home and 1340. *That* deer in your pictures is unreal...!

I think he's an honest 40" beams by 40" wide deer.

I was back in West Texas for mothers day weekend visiting my in-laws and found a nice group of Axis that were too far and right at daylight so my photos are poor quality. A few very nice bucks in the group!

my blackbuck

Great buck Bobby, how long is he?

OK...just got back...as planned I was picky the first couple days of the hunt, and by day 3 I figured Id better get on the trigger.....not gonna win any prizes, but I was damn happy with him...he was absolutely beautiful in all respects and weighed in at 230lbs.

I'll throw in a pic of my blackbuck for Bobby!

Nice

Thanks Marc: that Axis was the first critter in a very long time that Ive taken and run the gamut of emotions with- all the reasons that we hunt...

ingwe, good work.. Those are nice animals.. Been a long while since I shot an axis.. Maybe 12 years.. Only took one black buck.. Beautiful animals.. Congratulations!!!

Nice Tom. I counted and took pictures of 34 axis in my back yard two days ago. Three bucks, the largest about like the one you shot.

awesome tom

Excellent job. They're awful pretty and so damn good to eat I'll keep going back for more!

Very fine axis, Tom, and nice mass on that blackbuck!

Ed I caught your thread on the bear hunt....maybe next year will be your year! Until then, you have the grizzly in your office to keep you company!

Pugs, the ranch has a new 5 star cook! Fantastic! And getting to meet, hunt, and spend time with Big Mike was worth the price of admission. I was IMPRESSED with that dude!

Big Time.

Yeah..the head cheese was all excited about that blackbuck!


All I can say is that its the biggest one I ever shot!

Nicely done Ingwe. I take it you used your big gun?

Yeah...the .243




But I stunt shot a yearling cull Oryx

Hope his knee replacement is doing better. Understand it's been slow going.

Yeah...he was in pain......

Now that is just over the top. Looks like you had a great trip.

Looks like a great hunt Tom, Congrats.

Looks like a great hunt Tom, Congrats.

Nice shootin Ingwe. That Blackbuck is awesome! I'm going to resurrect our PM.

EH49, some great pictures my friend. Thanks so much for sharing them.

I was lucky enough to tag along on this hunt, Mike, Uncle Randy and crew are the best, and run a top shelf program, was able to tag out on a couple Axis deer and a nice black sow.

It was a very nice pre summer break, now back to work.

Many Thanks for the invite Poohbah.

It was a pleasure Gunner...glad you could make it. I'll be having some Mrs. Gunners blackberry jelly on my english muffin this morning.
With you, Mike and Randy it was about as good as a camp gets!

Outstanding pair of animals Tom, well done sir!! I'm glad your trip to Texas was a success. You're in for many many fine meals with those two animals. Did you take any field shots that you can share? I finally firmed up a few days in early July to hunt an Axis with a buddy of mine from West Texas!! I can't wait. Take care, Baker

Cool beans! there oughta be a lot of hard horns out in July!
I just spent the day cutting and wrapping meat, the axis was big in the body and carrying a big layer of fat!
Also got more meat out of the blackbuck than I expected. Tomorrow I cut and wrap the Oryx.

Been wondering how your trip went Poobah.....a very, very nice hat trick there sir! I don't know much about them really, but that looks like two great trophies with that blackbuck and axis. Congrats big time. Sounds like a great camp considering gunner tagged along. Thanks for sharing the great pics.


Please let us know which one tastes best....seriously.

Tom it sounds like a good time was had by everyone. Did you keep Gunner out of trouble?

Nice!! That's on my to do list. Bob

Yep! He was too tired from my snoring keeping him awake to get into trouble!

You still suck. Looks like you had a great time though. Congrats

Hope you noticed the dink Oryx.......

Very nice. Did you use the 95 grain NBT on him?

Yep!

Tom,

Same place as last year?

Yep. Had a ball, and Gunner got a real dandy.


The oryx was on a different place.

Well done!!!!

I thought you might have.

ingwe, when we hunt Tx. a lot it was around Mt. Home.. They offered excellent processing for a very reasonable price.. You just choose to do your processing?
As I get older, I prefer to have my game cut and wrapped by a professional.. We have a guy here who does and outstanding job for a reasonable price.. I do my deer and we make the antelope into jerky, but elk go there..

The ranch we hunted for blackbuck and axis quarters and/or bones your meat out. Where I shot the oryx the guide and I boned it out. Once I get it home its easy to trim up into two piles...burger meat and steaks/chops. I then wrap it myself.
I do prefer to process my own meat with the exception of having my hamburger ground.
It comes from a deep seated mistrust of processors. Anytime Ive had it done I sure don't end up with as much meat, and the best cuts seem to be pretty small

OTOH I took an average whitetail buck into a processor and got back 145 pounds of meat. Don't know what it was, or whose it was...but it was sure a bigger deer after it was processed!

Also had a friend that did some game processing. He showed up here one day with a 68 qt. cooler full of nothing but elk backstraps. Nahhhhhhhh....the meat cutters don't keep the best cuts.....

I ran your pics thru the Night Vision (aka Lightroom). Great Holy Moly! There's some big boys in there! I count four or five that would make my decade. There's no telling what we might see with the original images! (hint!)

I'm thinking it's going to a tougher hunt this summer if everything stays green. Makes for some great spotting and stalking but it's hard to see em! Again sir, well done. Baker

LOL, I was thinking the same thing with you three, hope I made the cut.

Enjoy that BB jam, it don't get much better than that, Wifey says you're most welcome!

JG, I was just trying to stay outta the way.

A hog like me in the chow line ain't gonna get out of line.

It was a blast Charles, glad I got the invite.

Yessir, IIRC my Axis buck went 29.5"/30" the other axis weighed in about 110 lbs and the black feral sow would go about 120, good eats on the way!!!!!

You guys are starting to make me jealous. Those Axis look cool. Did you stand hunt of spot and stalk?

I took photos of a healthy axis a couple of days ago. I am tempted to head out back and sit in Tony's stand with his crossbow some before I head north for the summer. They certainly are moving about. Looking like Kodiak in 2018 might be happening as I moved Africa from 2018 to 2017...

That's a nice buck Ed. You might need to ground check him and take some fresh Axis meat to share with your friends in Idaho!!

Yep Ed thats a better buck than I shot! Cool beans on the Africa and Kodiak moves.
I think the quicker the better with Africa...no country over there has a certain future.

Nice animals, Ingwe! Should be some fine dining!

Gonna find out tonite! Blackbuck and Axis marinating as we speak

Same here, save the Blackbuck, the 120 lb black sow should be right, she smells very clean.

Big Mike says Blackbuck is skookum...so Im about to find out. The sow should be just fine, you will soon be very happy you introduced her to Mr. .45-110

Will have to try BB sometime, may have to poke one on a return flight to Big Mikes, yes, 105 grs of Black BOOM and it's dinner time!

The chops are clean pink with a half inch of fat on the edges.

On the pigs we killed earlier this year in Texas, the fat was just fine. usually I trim it on any game, but it tasted like store-bought!

The Blackbuck was fun, and actually yielded more meat than I expected.....hope its good!


The goofy blackbuck wouldn't stop running hell for leather whenever it saw us, but once it circled back and bedded I couldn't get the fugger to even stand up!

Sounds good on the porker, LOL on the BB, I remember you had to give him one in the neck cause he wouldn't stand and take it like a man.

Exactamundo!


You'd think an old fat man lurking in the bushes, whistling and waving his hat would make him stand up.....

LMMFAO......................were I a BB, I'd haul ass at the sight!

He should have.......

YES, he should have, but now he's getting to play a leading roll on your cast of "grill victims".

Very curious which you prefer........axis vs BB vs oryx?

Bet Poobs will have us a nice post grill report, in the meantime, I've got mesquite chunks soaking in a bucket of water.

Axis over black buck all day!

OK...Im with Greg....the Axis is still my fave, but the Blackbuck is not to be despised.
I wondered about it as the meat is very dark, but the flavor is actually quite delicate. If anything my gripe would be that is a tad on the bland side, like Eland.

It takes a marinade more slowly and is quite good, but Axis is unbeatable.



Oryx is next!

I'm with you Ingwe, Axis is still my favorite. I'm still over a month away from my hunt and I'm wayyyyy past ready to roll. It keeps raining in the hill country so it will make for a very challenging hunt which is perfect!! Baker

Cant wait to hear the story and see the pics!

It looks like I got out of the Hill Country just in time to avoid the monsoons!

My big Gemsbok bull is excellent eating, but Axis is supposed to be the best of all.

Hey Poobs, my taxidermist Slim Jim called this morning, my Axis buck shoulder mount is ready, can't wait to see it.
I have a dentist checkup on Wed, will grab it then.

Let me know how it turns out! That was sure quick!

Check out the left hand forum for another Axis buck from you know where....

JGR: I tried the Oryx, and gotta say it is easily on par with the Axis. Blackbuck is excellent, but below those two, however,I made some Blackbuck hamburgers and they were the best ever!

10-4 on the turnout and yes, quick, my friends in low places know I'm an impatient man.

I'll check out the lefty forum, will have to look for it though.

Well its 20 more days till my Axis trip and time seems to be standing still!


I say......



I'm ready to go now!

Never had Axis venison but have never heard of anyone that didn't like it. powdr