Axis Deer Hunting by Hunting Guides and Outfitters – Trips and Guided Hunts

The axis deer lives in wooded or forested areas along with meadows and fields in the United States. The hunting guides or outfitters that offer this big game will most likely known the best areas to find it. Axis deer are just one of many different species of the deer family, which include the black tail deer and whitetail deer to mention two, but the represent some of the most attractive and graceful of all mammals that are hunted. Most adult axis deer varying from pail gold to a very dark brown, just shy of being black, some have a shade of brown, which helps axis deer blend in their surroundings.

At the start of spring to the start of summer, the new antlers begin to form on the axis deer, each growing out from a pedicel, {a bony stalk situated on the frontal bone of the skull}. In the growth process, they are covered with what resembles hairy skin, called “velvet”, which contains many blood vessels for the nourishment of the growing bone tissue. When the antlers have reaches it’s shape and size for this deer, the blood circulation in the velvet is stopped, the velvet starts to dry up, and the axis deer {buck} then rubs the antlers on tree trunks and branches or just on small rocks, revealing the antler rack with no velvet. The entire process is finished by fall, and the antlers will stay until winter, when they decay at the base and fall off, leaving only the hair-covered pedicels again. The antlers are of course the prize trophy of most hunters. The guides and outfitters may even offer services in mounting the deer while you are on your trip or guided hunt for this big game animal.

Axis deer eat plant life mainly. They feed on all manner of plant life, but especially on twigs and leaves of trees and bushes. On land they are noted for their speed along with their grace, which makes this big game animal much harder to kill. In the water the axis deer are excellent swimmers. They have an innate sense of curiosity. This sometimes directs them to the hunter, giving sportsman a unique opportunity for an easy shot.

The axis deer will normally mature in the autumn months. During this time the bucks engage in competition to obtain the favor of the females. This also is the way they protect their harems from other bucks. After the buck mates with one or more females, the following spring one or more of the does gives birth to one or two white-spotted fawns. These new fawns are carefully guarded by the doe until they are old enough to fin for themselves. In the winter months, some of the deer gather together in herds. They search for food in winter by herding together in one area. This keeps the snow to less depth, making it easier to reach the grass underneath. Many hunting guides and outfitters will supply food plots to keep the deer in one area. This increases the chance of a hunter to get a big game trophy while on a trip or guided hunt.

Scientific Classification: Axis deer belong to the same family as the black tail deer or the mule deer, which is the Cervidae. This deer is classified as genus Odocoileus, species O. hemionus.

Tips for Axis Deer Hunting