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Axis Stocking Question
#8839152
04/23/23 11:06 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,000
Stompy
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,000 |
I just finished HFing 950 acres of my ranch. I plan on leaving it a whitetail ranch, but the only exotic I have any sorta interest in is Axis. Can someone in the know explain to me the buck doe ratio and costs of these animals to stock please. Probably looking at stocking about 10-12 head total.
I'm a novice at this Axis thing, so any and all pertinent information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8839826
04/25/23 12:08 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,000
Stompy
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,000 |
Anyone with any information?
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8840030
04/25/23 12:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8,330
Herbie Hancock
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8,330 |
You might be too far north for them or no, in regards to surviving the winters? Or are there ranches near you that have them already?
It takes beer to make thirst worthwhile - J. Fred Schmidt
The internet is an I.Q. Test, people post their scores in the comment section.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Herbie Hancock]
#8840039
04/25/23 12:25 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,000
Stompy
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,000 |
You might be too far north for them or no, in regards to surviving the winters? Or are there ranches near you that have them already? Yea, couple of neighbors have them.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8840884
04/26/23 02:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 317
buck wild
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 317 |
I'm certainly no expert, but naturally axis run in herds and with usually 2 mature bucks running 5-10 does. The remaining bucks will hang together with a few solos. In your case you are talking 10-12 animals so I'd be at 7-8 does with 3 bucks to get started. Just my opinion.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8840894
04/26/23 03:13 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,690
BOLT GUY
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,690 |
Pretty prolific breeders from what i understand. You'll need to manage them to not overpopulate after a couple of years. Great table fare as you know and I've seen ranches further north than you with them. Personally I think it'd be a great addition to your setup. You could sell a doe with your dove hunts, for a over the fire pit rotisserie type dinner.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: BOLT GUY]
#8840934
04/26/23 04:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 426
Woj
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 426 |
Well Stompy, I'm in the same boat as you. Completed my 890 high fence, and just released 3 bucks, 10 does, and 4 fawns on April 15th. That's the only additional mouths I intend to add to the WT herd. If you are looking to go budget, getting young bucks are the way to go. As for 'prolific breeders', they are not so much prolific as much as 'long term' breeders. As I understand, they RARELY have twins, Does are only bread one time per year, however the Does can breed at the age of 2-12 years old. So.... with the MANY years of fertility of the does, THAT is what makes them seem like they are prolific. (at least what I understand, but hell, what do I know, I'm a newbie too!)
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8841172
04/26/23 09:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,141
Espy
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,141 |
I have a friend that raises them. Has about 50 axis now. He said depends on what you want. He said go 50/50 if you want to hunt bucks or if you want to breed them 10 does and 2 bucks would be fine.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8841403
04/27/23 02:26 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 707
Mike Savoy
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 707 |
put 20 doe , 5 bucks 2-4 years old at a min. Doe are 550-700 ea Bucks are about 500-600 per year old (round about )
If it was my place I would at least double the above numbers . 950 is a large area.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8853896
05/17/23 06:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,797
GOLDSTEIN
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,797 |
Following this. I am about to close on a small place that has approximately 40 axis doe and only 2 or 3 bucks. Sounds like I may need to thin the does out some.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: GOLDSTEIN]
#8856007
05/22/23 11:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,193
kry226
The General
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The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,193 |
Following this. I am about to close on a small place that has approximately 40 axis doe and only 2 or 3 bucks. Sounds like I may need to thin the does out some. If not, them boys will stay BUSY. Cool thread. Always trying to learn something.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8857252
05/24/23 06:22 PM
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Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 779
Double AC
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 779 |
Be mindful of your whitetail goals if you introduce any exotic, especially axis as the compete directly with whitetail for the same food sources. It’s also my experience (red deer not axis, so maybe not apples to apples) that whitetail are will almost always defer to the exotic when at a feeder. They are just a more timid animal. It takes a lot of work for us to feed and manage the red deer herd and that is on a free range property where they will disperse.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8859114
05/28/23 03:20 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,067
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 32,067 |
We started our axis herd with 38 animals, wild caught. There was about 15 or so bucks from 1-3 years old the rest does. 1152 acres.
We never had a problem with them outcompeting the whitetail nor did we have issues with them getting over populated. We could never get the herd above an estimated 60 animals. We took a few here and there but never did any population control.
They are breeders but also very poor mothers. Seen them walk off and leave a fawn in a field. Coyotes are hell on them. You have to have your predator situation under control if you want any kind of fawn survival.
I enjoyed having them and found them to be complementary rather than a detractor to the whitetail herd.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8875464
06/29/23 03:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 887
TenTenWhitetails
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 887 |
We sell exotics and can help you if you have any questions.
Ten Ten Whitetails Vanderpool, Texas (830)688-3750 TenTenWhitetails@yahoo.com
Whitetail,Exotics,Turkey,Hog,Varmint,Predator Hunts- Lodging
415 HF/LF Acres. Min. from Lost Maples State Park.
Darting services avail. Accepting new clients.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Double AC]
#8947351
11/01/23 01:49 AM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 154
Perfect 8
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 154 |
Be mindful of your whitetail goals if you introduce any exotic, especially axis as the compete directly with whitetail for the same food sources. It’s also my experience (red deer not axis, so maybe not apples to apples) that whitetail are will almost always defer to the exotic when at a feeder. They are just a more timid animal. It takes a lot of work for us to feed and manage the red deer herd and that is on a free range property where they will disperse. According to TPWD they don't compete directly - https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/game_management/deer/exotics/ with respect to native feeding habits.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Perfect 8]
#8947839
11/01/23 09:27 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9,991
Old Rabbit
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 9,991 |
Be mindful of your whitetail goals if you introduce any exotic, especially axis as the compete directly with whitetail for the same food sources. It’s also my experience (red deer not axis, so maybe not apples to apples) that whitetail are will almost always defer to the exotic when at a feeder. They are just a more timid animal. It takes a lot of work for us to feed and manage the red deer herd and that is on a free range property where they will disperse. According to TPWD they don't compete directly - https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/game_management/deer/exotics/ with respect to native feeding habits. You may want to read that study one more time. Quote from the link: "These studies indicated that exotic ungulates out-compete white-tailed deer, and white-tailed deer will die while exotics continue to thrive". Or did I miss something.
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Re: Axis Stocking Question
[Re: Stompy]
#8948714
11/03/23 02:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 922
TrackQuack
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 922 |
We have a corporate lease on the king ranch. The axis are extremely complimentary to the whitetails and the whitetails are as dense there as anywhere I'd be willing to bet. You will see both at feeders/pens and even sleeping in the same area by protein feeders. Obviously they eat similar browse but they do really well together from what I have seen.
After eating them I wish they would out compete whitetails.....
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