Most hunters put their equipment away once the deer season is over.  Some will hunt turkey in the spring.  But as far as complete year round hunting is concerned, when the weather turns hot, most don’t even consider making a trip to the field.  We have always been passionate about hunting, and are constantly looking for opportunities to stay in “game shape”.  

I came across such an opportunity recently when I was invited to hunt free ranging Axis deer at a ranch in the Texas Hill Country.  Axis deer were originally imported to the U.S. from Asia for the dual purpose of hunting and the harvesting of their delicious venison.   Some of these animals escaped their high fenced ranches and have started massive herds that have blossomed into fully huntable populations.  Axis posses a beautiful, mostly red coat covered in white spots and a dark stripe down the middle of their back.  These spots stay with the deer for its life.  A fully mature buck might weigh over 200 lbs and sport an impressive set of antlers.  Typically they will have three points per side with long main beams stretching the tape to 30” or more.   

The landowner told me the Axis bucks were in the middle of their rut, and he had been seeing some good bucks in his fields.  His property is only 150 acres in size, but it is bordered by thousands of acres of wilderness.  A food plot planted in the center of the property draws in more Axis and whitetail than I would have ever imagined.  You always take deer sightings with a grain of salt, but the first evening of my hunt proved that I truly was in a honey hole.

I arrived mid afternoon, and the temperature was close to 100 degrees.  Wiping sweat from my brow, I began to question my decision to hunt in this weather.  After a quick tour of the property, I was turned loose.  I chose my location along a access road and set up my Double Bull Matrix.  This new blind from Double Bull is the cream of the crop.  It sets up in seconds.  A full 360 degrees of visibility (if you need it) makes spotting game before they spot you even easier, and the green camo pattern helps you to blend into these Hill Country surroundings.

I changed into my Medalist scent reduction gear and Realtree leafy suit and settled into the blind.  Not long after I was in, several whitetail bucks showed up. .  I could tell these were all young bucks.  Their velvet covered antlers just spouting on top of their heads.   They put on quite a show, grunting, snorting and boxing in an attempt to secure positions for the corn I had scattered in the grass and along the road.  I was amazed.  In the heat of the day, I was getting to watch and film whitetails.  After a while, a group of does entered the field followed by several fawns.  They were in turn followed by several Axis does.  These deer kept me quite entertained until a truck traveling down the access road ran them off.  

My action was fairly slow until just after sunset.  With light fading, I caught a glimpse of movement in the trees.  I couldn’t believe my eyes.  One of the largest Axis bucks I have ever seen stepped out into the field.  He was joined by three whitetail bucks and a couple Axis does.  Unfortunately, he was over 150 yards away and I had chosen to bowhunt that evening.  I kept the camera on him, capturing great footage and marveling at his rack and huge body size.  He was slowly working his way towards me, grazing along the way.  I found myself willing (more wishing actually) him toward me.  Bow in hand, I waited patiently for him to reach the 45 yard mark (my self imposed limit).  But, as luck would have it, he didn’t make it to me in time.  By the time he was within range, it was too dark to shoot.  And no animal, regardless of size, is worth taking a poor shot and risk wounding.  

The next morning, I returned well before daylight.  The full moon was shining bright.  This time I was carrying both my Mathews Switchback and my trusty 7mm Rem Mag.  As I approached, I could see the field was full of deer, both Axis and whitetail.  Even though I was trying to be stealthy, the deer were alerted to my presence as I made my way toward the blind and exited the field.  I decided to sit anyway, and was treated to more encounters with some whitetail bucks, does and fawns.  A lone turkey hen fed along the edge of the field followed closely by only one baby turkey.  Later that morning, back at the landowner’s house, he commented that fire ants really have made a dent in the turkey, feeding on the eggs and killing the babies.

Afternoon number two arrived, and the events unfolded much the same as before.  Whitetails showed up first, but as the sun fell lower in the sky, the Axis began to pour out of the woods.  I was amazed.  I lost count of all the deer in the field.  Although I was allowed to shoot a buck and a doe, the only Axis does that came into range were trailed by fawns.  I was fortunate to watch two “shooter” bucks, but they were not as large as the one I saw the night before, and I decided to let them walk.  I still had one more day to hunt.

Day three was almost a repeat of day two.  Deer were already in the field, but I chose to hunt from a box blind at the entrance to the field.  I saw a tremendous amount of Axis deer.  Several small bucks were mixed in the herd, and I passed on the same two bucks I saw the last evening.  Later in the morning, I did see two huge herds of Axis (100+ animals) that each contained a couple or more good bucks.  But as luck would have it, they were on properties to which I did not have access. 

This hunt was made possible in part by our sponsors:  

Mathews, Inc. Bushlan Camouflage, Carbon Express,

The Gean-Edwards Company, Rynoskin, Trophy Ridge, North Starr Tree Stands, 

Shed Hunter Co., Fieldline, DoskoSport, Lumenok, Tru Fire Corp., Rocket Aeroheads, Quake Industries, 

Limbsaver, Bushnell, Huntin' Hoist, Wac'em Broadheads,, Beard Buster, The Beckham Group, Sure Grip Gun & Bow Racks

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