I hope I am not stepping on anyone's toes but I'd like to garner some opinions.

I am planning to go on a "me" vacation this fall. That means a good hunting trip. I do not plan to do any hunting in my back yard, New England, as I have hunted much of it and want to do something different. Also, sad to say, the success rate for most hunting in my region is less than 10 percent. So as nice as it would be to go on a week long hunt in the wilds of Maine I know for a fact I will go home empty handed.

So I though about going on an axis deer hunt in Texas. The suggestion was from someone who went there and had a very successful and good hunt. So I figure this would be a nice getaway for a solid week from the humdrum of daily life and the sad fact that I have not shot a deer in five years. I am in a real slump so I need to go out of state to cure that issue.

https://www.soehunts.net/

I figure it will be a good three day drive down from my area, hunt for three days and then drive back with the fruits of my labors.

Anyone have any kind of experience with them? I heard some good things but I am overly cautious.

Thanks for any replies.

Well, if you would like a shorter trip but no guarantee, I could possibly put you onto a Missouri deer. Non-resident tag is $225 though.

bb44, The photos show some nice animals and I have to say what your planning sounds real exciting (me vacation).... Are you OK with the 6 day round trip drive??

I have done a lot of cross country drives. I could do it without an issue. From my place I will make it to around Tennessee or so for the first night then the next would be around Dallas or so.

In the past I have hunted much of New England and Florida so I would like to try something a tad different. As I said I heard some good things about the place. An Axis buck and a doe along with any pigs you see.

That sounds like a good deal........ don`t forget to plug in the GPS

STROFF APPEARS ALOT ON THE SAVAGE HUNTING SHOW. THEY HUNT OUT OF UVALDE. HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BAD ABOUT THEM.

I've done the 3 day drive from Northern California to Del Rio, Texas and back 3 out of the last 4 years. I don't mind the long driving all that much, and personally I figure 6 days total driving for 4 fun days hunting with the opportunity to see lots of animals is much less driving in the long run than the many weekend trips I take in public land here in California and barely see any deer, let alone any legal bucks. I'm not familiar with the place you are talking about going to, but the place we go to is right down the highway maybe 20 or 30 mins west from Uvalde. It's the Foyt Game Ranch, owned by race car driver A.J. Foyt and ran by his son Tony. It's been a lot of fun for my father and I. http://www.foytgameranch.com , Not trying to sway your opinion as to where to go or anything, just sharing my experiences.

Eric.

I live here and have some suggestions. PM sent.

The weather has been great down here. Since you're traveling so far, maybe you could take a hog as well. I can't imagine it would add much to the cost. I lived in Del Rio for over a decade and spend a lot of time in the Uvalde area as well. It should be a good hunt. Bring a big cooler. I haven't had any, but everyone seems to agree that Axis is the best venison you can eat. I have an Axis buck and two does frequenting my feeder, but they seem much more wiley than whitetail.

An axis would be awesome and you wont go home empty handed nor disappointed. Im lucky to have them free ranging on my property though one can mever predict when they will show. When is your trip?

I'd say you are making a great choice, go for it! I've heard Axis is great & I actually ate some once at a church dinner once in Fredricksburg but there was so much different wild game meat I got it all mixed up & couldn't remember which was which.
By all means shoot a hog, eat BBQ until you're sick, hopefully at Coopers & take some home with you to eat on the way.
I hope you get so excited you decide to shoot a Blackbuck, maybe the prettiest animal in all of Texas. Good luck!

Dick

I'm not familiar with that outfit, so I can't comment on them. The only place I ever hunted Axis was on the YO Ranch, more than 25 years ago. They are a beautiful animal, and can offer a real hunt.
Axis venison is excellent! I know that Frank Brady of the Brady Ranch near Indiantown Florida used to raise Axis for sale in the commercial market to high-end restaurants. They offered hunts for them, too, and I saw large groups of them in the wooded and semi- swampy areas of the ranch when I was there about 20 years ago.
Best wishes for your hunt.

not so sure I want to go to that Foyt Ranch..
http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2018/03/16/killer-bee-attack-sends-j-foyt-to-hospital.html

Unfortunately, Africanized bees pop up from time to time around South and Central Texas. They seem to attack people on tractors and mowers usually. I imagine the noise or vibration sends them into a frenzy. I wouldn't personally let that sway my decision. I've spent decades crawling and stomping all over South, Central, and West Texas and encountered huge hives (mainly in abandoned mobile homes/barns and such), but have never had a problem.

I may be able to do one mid Summer. I assumed that axis deer were like whitetails and the best time would be in the fall but not so. I have a lot of family stuff going on which may be over in June. If so, I may be able to do a late June hunt. But if not, it may have to get shelved until next year.

THE BEST TIME TO HUNT AXIS IS IN THE SUMMER, WHEN MOST ARE IN HARD HORN AND THERE IS RUT ACTIVITY. GET UP EARLY, HUNT UNTIL ABOUT 11, AND GO BACK OUT AROUND 5 FOR ANOTHER 3-4 HOURS OF HUNTING, GREAT SUMMER DAYS!