I live and hunt in Texas. We have four common exotic deer axis, sika, fallow and red deer. The axis is most common, with large established free ranging herds in some areas, where in some areas, I've heard they outnumber whitetails. They also breed year round, so hard antlered bucks, are available year 'round. The sika is the second most common free ranging exotic followed by fallow and reds. Because they are non native there are no regulation in taking them, no season and no limit. They are also on High fence ranches in great numbers. This allows a deer hunter to hunt year 'round. The downside is that landowners know that they can charge per animal or hunt. I might add that I am an avid exotic deer hunter.

How many of you have hunted exotic deer, where, and what are your opinions? capt david

We had lots of Axis in Rock Springs, a few Sika and Fallow deer. They are fun to hunt, Axis really fine to eat. The lease I’m on now in Burnet has a Sika or two, an elk or two, lots of sorry ass Aoudads. I think they take away from your deer hunting. They compete with the deer. I think there would be better deer hunting if the exotics were gone. We have a pig or two also.

I've hunted free range axis in Hawaii. A lot of fun and as spooky as any whitetail deer.

I've also hunted fallow and red deer in South America and New Zealand, where they were exotics. I think that about any deer that gets chased around gets difficult to hunt and can be a challange, exotics included.

As with anything else the more they are hunted the wilier they get. I've hunted them free range where they show little fear of humans and high fenced area where they are wild as hell. A friend use to hunt the king ranch. The rules were that one must kill two does before killing a trophy buck(5.5yo 10+ points) or a cull(5.5yo 8pts or less. The does were skittish as heck and good 10+ point 3.5 and 4.5yo would just stand and look.

There is no doubt the deer hunting for the native Whitetail deer would be much better if the exotics were gone. The exotics eat the same things the native deer eat plus they eat things the native deer will not eat. The exotics way out compete the native deer. When you combine this with the fact that most land owners way over protect the exotics it does not take long to see a dramatic decline in the native deer herd both in numbers and in antler quality. I have seen a number of low fenced ranches get quickly over populated with exotics and the whitetail population crash. At that point is usually to late to kill enough or catch enough exotics to allow the native deer to rebound. I agree with you on the Aoudad as well. They are like feral hogs. They are very smart, they breed like rats, and they are extremely destructive. At least the pigs are good to eat. Aoudad are edible but not that great. My advice is if you have Aoudad's on your ranch to shoot every one you can just like feral hogs. You will never get rid of them and can't hardly kill enough of them to keep them in check.

Don't get me wrong. I love to hunt exotics but they are really impacting the native game in allot of areas. I especially like the Axis as they are so good to eat and very fun to hunt!

I kill every Aoudad I see.

I would MUCH rather hunt-and eat- Axis than whitetail.

Fallow are kinda bland in comparison, and don't seem very bright.

Sika is on my "to do" list cause I hear they taste good...


So is red deer....

I have shot a few axis in Texas and one in Hawaii!!! I will hunt axis in Tx .. as often as I can.. Never shot the other exotic deer..

I've hunted exotics quite a bit. Axis win the taste category. I like the aoudad and nilgai hunts the best. I really enjoy just watching blackbuck. They put on a good show.

I've hunted exotics quite a bit. Axis is my favorite also. But I've taken Axis, Fallow, Blackbuck, (does & ewes of all three) Scimitar Horned Oryx and a "mob" of the sheep ( Corsican, Mouflon, Black Hawaiian, Texas Dall, and one Aoudad) I hunted from Uvalde to Leakey, over to Del rio and up to Sanderson. Love it love it love it. if I was a Multi-millionaire, I'd buy my own ranch and hunt/shoot/cull, everyday! And I'd call coyotes at night!

Jim_Knight,

ImVho, AXIS venison is THE BOMB when compared to any other sort of venison that I've tried.

yours, tex

when stationed in Tx years ago the exotics were just then taking a hold a few escapees from private lands. I killed an axis while on leave at my buddies parents small ranch we threw it on the BBQ and drank Lone Star while it cooked...man that was good eating. Of course they insisted the javalina I shot would taste and smell like chit....they were correct, YUCK!

1bigdude,

YOUNG sows are "just OK" to eat but nothing special. - Otoh, the boars are just AWFUL.

yours, tex

Jmho, but I think the best two Texas exotics for table fare are axis and nilgai. Prefer cow nilgai.

Axis is just good all the time!!!

An Axis hunt is a bucket list animal for me. I'll get there sooner or later. I wouldn't be opposed to a blackbuck and an aoudad either.

I've taken Axis, Fallow, Blackbuck, Corsican, Audad, Addax and one red stag hind. Of those, the Axis and the hind were tops in the dining department with the Addax close behind. Took a couple of guys out this morning to help thin the axis herd on a friends place. They both scored by 10 AM.
I lived in San Antonio when the axis first started spreading out. I now see them as far north as Big Spring and over towards Abernathy in the west-central part of the state.

Bbear,

Indeed so. - I'd like to find a reasonably-priced/year around lease for Axis & feral pigs, alone. = As mostly a "meat hunter", you can keep your B&C Club WTs as the Axis venison is MUCH better tasting.

yours, tex

I wanted to clarify that I have killed more Axis/Fallow/Blackbuck "bucks" than the does and all were very good eating, just like the does. The "only" meat I tried, but gave up on was Corsican. Sheep are sheep, so no thank you! ha

This past two years, I have taken Fallow doe for meat. If they have been hunted hard, they are skittish as can be, actually turns into a challenging hunt. Buck Fallow, IMO, are a bit more flavorful, but not as tender as the does.
Red Deer hind and Nilgai are top table fare, for sure.

As to Sika- I shot a really big, older Sika buck this fall, just couldn't resist hunting for him because of that big rack- meat is tasty, but tough! Makes great jerky, however, and the burger is just fine.
Here's a pic of the big guy.....

Bighorn,

NICE trophy. = CONGRADS.

yours, tex

Wow, that's one heck of a sika! Where did you find him?

Congrats on a nice Sika buck.

That is a great Sika !!!

WOW I could only dream......

I never saw a Sika anywhere I hunted. I surely did not know they got that big! ha At first, I thought it was a Sambar or some kin! I need details...where, when, what rifle/load and did you get a chance to weigh him?

I hunted axis and fallow deer last weekend. Quite the exciting day, especially when the Baltimore zookeepers called in the SWAT team.

I'd hazard a guess that the sika Bighorn shot is a Dybowski. They are the largest or 2nd largest subspecies of sika deer. Most shot are nippon subspecies.

Sika deer was the first exotic I shot. Hunted them in the first part of September down by Mountain Home. The rut was on for them and they bugle like 'mini-elk'.

Next year went back and shot an axis at the same place.

About 10 years ago I went to Texas with a couple of friends for an exotic hunt. I had just completed my .300 Weatherby and my first 3 kills with it were a Blackbuck, a Scimitar Horned Oryx, and an Aoudad. A few years later my GF and I went to New Zealand where I shot a Fallow deer and a Red deer stag.

I've seen Axis deer and Mouflon rams on a couple of the Hawaiian Islands, but I haven't hunted them, YET.

buffybr,

CONGRADS on your successful hunts = I'm impressed.

yours, tex

I hunted red stag at Double D Ranch in Ohio and had a great time! The meat was quite excellent.

Sherwood

My last two exotic deer to hit the dirt...last year.


Fallow: Tasty






Axis: Tastier...