Well I finally got to go on an axis hunt, something I've been waiting on for awhile. Needless to say I was not disappointed. After getting several recommendations and offers on hunts I opted to go with Jason at Alpha Outfitters. If there was ever someone who was meant to be a guide, Jason fits the bill. It was refreshing to be able to hunt with someone who is not all about the money and the business but more about the experience. And I really enjoyed how much respect and appreciation he has for the animals sacrifice.

Day 1.
We had planned on meeting up at 11AM on Friday, which with the help of Verizon Wireless left me over an hour late. I passed by our meeting location without even looking. Ended up driving lost around Leakey for over an hour before I figured where I needed to be. After getting to the ranch and prepping for the field we were off hunting. We were on animals early and often while we were out and about. After riding around taking in some sights and trying to find a nice axis to pursue Jason made the call to sit over a water hole for the evening hunt. We didn't see what we were after but had steady action throughout the hunt seeing fallow, aoudad, whitetail and some turkeys.

Day 2.
We started out the first morning walking a creek bottom. After pushing a couple whitetail a small axis buck and some does we started hunting some other areas. While driving through the property we could see a herd of axis running across a ridge a couple hundred yards away. When we caught up we found a pair of bucks that we decided were worth going after so we grabbed our gear and made a plan. Once we got within about 60 yards of the first buck he took off out of the brush. Jason quickly dismissed him and said he wasn't what we were after so we pushed on. We made it about another 80 yards of so before coming up on the second buck which stood up without presenting shot and then trotted off out of sight. Jason once again made the call that he wasn't what we were after. We hopped back in the buggy and started down a runway. As we approached the end of the runway he leans to me and says he found another group that was worth going after. So again we grabbed our gear and made a plan the only difference being Jason brought his video camera and was able to film the stalk. As we approached the deer disappeared in the thick brush. We made another attempt and after what seemed like an hour of sneaking around got to within about 50 feet without and chance to shoot, but certainly enough to get the adrenaline pumping. We decided to call it and grab some lunch and regroup as it was getting pretty warm.

After lunch we decided with the heat it was going to be best to sit over the same water hole. Again it did not disappointed with lots of action in the brush but not much was stepping out in the open early. As the air cooled we started having animals step out with some of the same fallow we had seen from the night before, a small group of aoudad and whitetail and a small axis buck. The later it got some of the bigger animals started to move as a group of red deer emerged from the tree line and moved towards the watering hole. After watching them drink for a few minutes I happened to glance at the tree line in front of us and noticed some movement. Once the sun hit what was moving I didn't even have to use my binoculars to know what it was. It was a beautiful majestic axis that was emerging from the tree line. As calmly as I could I got Jason to notice what was happening and he said that's the one. As quietly and quickly as I could I set my binoculars down and grabbed my rifle and prepared myself. At the same time Jason grabbed the video camera and started filming. He said whenever you are ready. I flipped off the safety and squeezed the trigger and watched him drop. After the excitement I had a feeling of joy which was comparable to my first deer.

This was an amazing hunt and for everything to come together the way it did, I don't think I could have asked for anything better. I had an amazing time and was able to take home a beautiful axis.

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Congrats!!!

Nice Buck and great write up!!

Congrats on a fine Axis buck, it sounds like an amazing hunt. Well done sir. Baker

You did good and a good write up.

Well written story and nice axis buck. Congrats.

Great write-up...beautiful buck...and in velvet too

nicely done

Good deal all around!

great write up, congrats

X2

Jesse thanks for the great write up.

Jason's focus is has and always will be on the hunt, the hunter and the deer camp friendships built during the experience.

You did a great job and that is an exquisite harvest.

Congrats.