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Which venison do you choose? #173263 09/22/2016 11:24 PM
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SGalan Offline OP
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Gents,

I've lost my deer lease this year and am looking at a strong possibility of an empty freezer. I may have to pay for a meat hunt(s).

I will either go after a few axis deer does or an elk cow in an effort to feed the family.
I've killed axis deer before and as far as venison goes, I consider it the finest table fare I've ever had.

Here is my question: for those that have had both elk and axis, which do you prefer?

Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: SGalan] #173265 09/23/2016 12:00 AM
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Zee Offline
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I like them both. Guess it could vary depending on their feed. But, being a ranch (meat) hunt, they both will likely have supplemental food and probably taste the same or relatively equal.

I would be looking more at cost effectiveness. How much would each cost in relation to the amount of meat you expect to get out of one.

Elk are bigger than axis. Which yields more meat for the price of the hunt? If it's the same price........ELK!!! If there is a price difference, weigh it out compared to meat yield.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: Zee] #173268 09/23/2016 1:13 AM
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Franchise Offline
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Shoot a Nilgai...elk size, axis quality


The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: Franchise] #173271 09/23/2016 6:36 AM
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sixshot Offline
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A few years ago we spent the winter at Bandera, Texas & we saw Axis deer every day. I've heard they are really good eating & would have loved to have shot one but didn't care for the pricing, yikes!

Dick

Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: sixshot] #173274 09/23/2016 12:23 PM
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Randominator Offline
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I've had both. Axis deer hands down for taste and quality of the meat.



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Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: Randominator] #173275 09/23/2016 12:35 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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I love elk. Especially cow elk.


"A quiet hit in the right place is better than a loud miss in the wrong place followed by 10 more shots on the run"

I was a handgun hunter, when handgun wasn't cool.....
Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: reflex264] #173286 09/23/2016 7:18 PM
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Gary Offline
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Axis is superb and better than elk but axis doe are not cheap these days and you may well find a cow elk to provide better bang for the buck. Nilgai are also rather expensive to hunt. Don't disregard red deer hinds either. Sometimes you can find a deal on those and while not as large as an elk they are generally bigger than an axis.


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Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: Gary] #173287 09/23/2016 7:28 PM
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SGalan Offline OP
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Having never hunted elk, I'd like to try it. Most cow elk hunts I've seen in Texas run $800-$1000. I have found a deal on Axis does and figure I can basically get two axis does for the same price as one cow elk.

All things considered, I am now curious how much better the axis meat is than elk.

Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: Gary] #173288 09/23/2016 7:37 PM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Gary
Axis is superb and better than elk but axis doe are not cheap these days and you may well find a cow elk to provide better bang for the buck. Nilgai are also rather expensive to hunt. Don't disregard red deer hinds either. Sometimes you can find a deal on those and while not as large as an elk they are generally bigger than an axis.

Gary says it all.....


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Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: jamesfromjersey] #173302 09/24/2016 3:01 AM
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S.B. Offline
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Corn fed Illinois whitetail! Nothing finer.
Steve


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Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: S.B.] #173308 09/24/2016 1:16 PM
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cherokeetracker Offline
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Gary you said a mouthful. I do not disagree, but would like to add that depends a little on the diet of the animal and who cooked what as to which reigns as tops.

Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: cherokeetracker] #173356 09/25/2016 5:39 PM
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KRal Offline
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Axis as being best I've had, but don't rule out Sika, for its a close second in my book.


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Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: SGalan] #173503 09/29/2016 10:50 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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 Originally Posted By: SGalan
Having never hunted elk, I'd like to try it. Most cow elk hunts I've seen in Texas run $800-$1000. I have found a deal on Axis does and figure I can basically get two axis does for the same price as one cow elk.

All things considered, I am now curious how much better the axis meat is than elk.


Who has cow elk hunts for those prices? Much cheaper than I have found.


"A quiet hit in the right place is better than a loud miss in the wrong place followed by 10 more shots on the run"

I was a handgun hunter, when handgun wasn't cool.....
Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: reflex264] #173523 09/30/2016 1:18 PM
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nytracker Offline
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Free range north America white tail .. not that I have had alot of exotics.


Save liberals from them selves, stich their sphincter closed so they cant talk out their arse
Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: nytracker] #174664 10/29/2016 5:36 PM
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Montana Lee Offline
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Out of west coast blacktail alfalfa grain raised whitetail, mule deer,elk and antelope I prefer the antelope. But none of them are bad as long as game care starts immidiately after the shot.


you can never have to much ammo unless your swimming!
Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: Montana Lee] #174684 10/29/2016 7:37 PM
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500WE Offline
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Caribou
Elk
Axis
Bison
Pronghorn
Whitetail deer

Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: 500WE] #174686 10/29/2016 7:59 PM
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BushytailBasher Offline
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All better than beef lol

Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: Franchise] #174707 10/30/2016 4:06 AM
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tradmark Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Franchise
Shoot a Nilgai...elk size, axis quality




We have a winner!!

Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: tradmark] #175173 11/09/2016 8:34 PM
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Sawfish Offline
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Columbian Blacktail-hands down winner.


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Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: Sawfish] #175369 11/15/2016 7:22 AM
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Snyd Offline
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I've never had Axis. Western and Eastern MT Whitetail and Mulies but these Sitka Blacktails are fantastic. No comparison. I just got done putting 3 of them in the freezer. Must be the grass, berries and seaweed.

Last edited by Snyd; 11/15/2016 7:23 AM.
Re: Which venison do you choose? [Re: S.B.] #182644 08/18/2017 12:37 AM
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45MAN Offline
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ELK, AXIS AND NILGAI ARE ALL EXCELLENT, SO ARE ORYX (MAYBE THE BEST)AND AOUDAD (AT LEAST THE AOUDAD OFF MY RANCH IN EDWARDS COUNTY, TEXAS), AND DON'T FORGET THE AMERICAN BUFFALO. NILGAI HAS THE TASTE AND TEXTURE OF BEEF BUT A LOT LEANER. I KNOW A LOT OF HUNTERS WHO DO NOT EAT GAME MEAT, I AM NOT ONE OF THEM! AND WHITE WING DOVE SEASON OPENS IN 2 WEEKS, YUMMIE.


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