Posted By: rsquared
after 4 years, I finally got my Axis buck - 09/06/12 12:08 AM
I have been chasing after a nice Axis to hang on the wall (and eat) for 4 years.
we have quite a few summer axis bucks that will come around my place in may, june, july, but by the fall, i dont see many until the next summer.
i have seen at least one big axis each season and have had a giant goose egg in sealing the deal. 2008, saw 2 of them over 30", but only had a .223 and FMJ bullets when they walked out in front of my utv. i didnt feel comfortable using that to try and take one, even with him standing 70 yds away. 2009, i had several opportunities at night while out spotlighting for coons and could have shot a big Axis, but didnt want my first axis trophy to be by spotlight. in 2010, i saw a really big one and had him in my sights at 120 yds. but buck fever kicked in and i started shaking and when i finally thought i was calm enough to shoot i ended up pulling the shot and hitting my feeder leg instead
in 2011, i was lined up ready to shoot a good buck, only to have him turn and see he was missing both his brow tines. my heart sank
so, this year, i pretty much just said to heck with it, i dont care if i get one or not.
fast forward to saturday night and i am in the blind with my 8 yr old. lots of activity when 8 axis does come in to the tank to drink. as it gets fully dark, but i can still see by moonlight, two axis bucks suddenly appear and head to drink. i had a nice axis broadside at 60 yds and decided my back luck was ending that moment... set up, elbow braced, cross hairs on front shoulder with my trusty 25.06 and BANG!!!
after i shoot, he runs off, then stops out of my view and starts barking at me, then leaves for good. when we went to look for blood, there was none, somehow i had missed at 60 yds. very beaten down about that as i am normally a pretty good shot (feeder leg aside :-) )
Sunday, i took my daughter to my shooting range to practice with her .243, so i thought i better fire a round or 3 out of my rifle to see where i went wrong. i fired 3 shots at 100 yds and not a single one was even on the paper. so, while i feel better that its my equipment, not necessarily me, now i have no rifle for the rest of the weekend.
Monday morning, the 8 yr old wakes up and says i want to go sit in the blind and hunt with you, so i obliged and went along figuring we wouldnt see anything due to the noise we made and getting out there later than normal.
nothing comes out for 30 minutes after the feeder went off, then things started moving.
had 2 big fallow bucks come out and start fighting, then we had some whitetail does and another group of axis does.
i was about to call it a morning, when the 8 yr old says daddy, theres a big axis coming this way. she had spotted the tips of his tines thru the trees.
the 243 Remington Mohawk 600 hit all heart at 122 yds and he went 40 yds and piled up under a tree.
i had been working hard to get the whole thing on video, but ironically, when i finally shot, i had failed to turn the recorder back on. so i have video of before, but not of the kill. but hey.. at least i have the Axis monkey off my back finally. i am so thrilled to finally have one to put on the wall.
he wasnt the biggest you will see on this forum, but i am sure proud of him. 29" beams, 22" inside spread, and 14" brow tines. he was over 200lbs on the hoof and super fat...
here are some pics for your viewing
a relief to finally see one on the ground
me and my buck...
my little buddy and part time hunting guide
thanks for looking
Jay
we have quite a few summer axis bucks that will come around my place in may, june, july, but by the fall, i dont see many until the next summer.
i have seen at least one big axis each season and have had a giant goose egg in sealing the deal. 2008, saw 2 of them over 30", but only had a .223 and FMJ bullets when they walked out in front of my utv. i didnt feel comfortable using that to try and take one, even with him standing 70 yds away. 2009, i had several opportunities at night while out spotlighting for coons and could have shot a big Axis, but didnt want my first axis trophy to be by spotlight. in 2010, i saw a really big one and had him in my sights at 120 yds. but buck fever kicked in and i started shaking and when i finally thought i was calm enough to shoot i ended up pulling the shot and hitting my feeder leg instead
in 2011, i was lined up ready to shoot a good buck, only to have him turn and see he was missing both his brow tines. my heart sank
so, this year, i pretty much just said to heck with it, i dont care if i get one or not.
fast forward to saturday night and i am in the blind with my 8 yr old. lots of activity when 8 axis does come in to the tank to drink. as it gets fully dark, but i can still see by moonlight, two axis bucks suddenly appear and head to drink. i had a nice axis broadside at 60 yds and decided my back luck was ending that moment... set up, elbow braced, cross hairs on front shoulder with my trusty 25.06 and BANG!!!
after i shoot, he runs off, then stops out of my view and starts barking at me, then leaves for good. when we went to look for blood, there was none, somehow i had missed at 60 yds. very beaten down about that as i am normally a pretty good shot (feeder leg aside :-) )
Sunday, i took my daughter to my shooting range to practice with her .243, so i thought i better fire a round or 3 out of my rifle to see where i went wrong. i fired 3 shots at 100 yds and not a single one was even on the paper. so, while i feel better that its my equipment, not necessarily me, now i have no rifle for the rest of the weekend.
Monday morning, the 8 yr old wakes up and says i want to go sit in the blind and hunt with you, so i obliged and went along figuring we wouldnt see anything due to the noise we made and getting out there later than normal.
nothing comes out for 30 minutes after the feeder went off, then things started moving.
had 2 big fallow bucks come out and start fighting, then we had some whitetail does and another group of axis does.
i was about to call it a morning, when the 8 yr old says daddy, theres a big axis coming this way. she had spotted the tips of his tines thru the trees.
the 243 Remington Mohawk 600 hit all heart at 122 yds and he went 40 yds and piled up under a tree.
i had been working hard to get the whole thing on video, but ironically, when i finally shot, i had failed to turn the recorder back on. so i have video of before, but not of the kill. but hey.. at least i have the Axis monkey off my back finally. i am so thrilled to finally have one to put on the wall.
he wasnt the biggest you will see on this forum, but i am sure proud of him. 29" beams, 22" inside spread, and 14" brow tines. he was over 200lbs on the hoof and super fat...
here are some pics for your viewing
a relief to finally see one on the ground
me and my buck...
my little buddy and part time hunting guide
thanks for looking
Jay
