[AJ01]

Meanwhile in Texas....it's that time of year!!

 

[Sleek1]

Congratulations, they look like some pretty impressive heads, do they get much bigger than that where you hunt? We don't get them in nz , just a little bit jealous 😉

 

[MauiAxis]

The bucks sometimes are a bit bigger, but 32” would be considered a really good one. They get hunted so hard the big ones get picked off quickly. These are all free range, low fence and are hunted with no deer feeders in Hawaii. The deer move around a lot trying to find food and sanctuary from the pressure.

Indeed, in Texas, it appears the pen raised deer are often bigger and you can select the deer you want for a certain price.

In the three main islands making Maui county, Lanai, Molokai and Maui, there are some public hunting lands and a lot of private land where it is difficult to get permission to access. The state game and fish (DLNR) has about 30,000 acres on Lanai open to public hunting for Axis deer and Mouflon sheep and upland birds. These hunts are normally by drawing and hunters generally can go once a year.
Another 40,000 acres or so is private land open to hunting where you pay by the day to access for a fee. The archery hunting permit is about $100 for an entire year, and shotgun/ muzzleloader is about $150/day and rifle is even more than that, and they allow each hunter to take 3 animals / day at no added cost. Expect to walk a lot in the heat, moderate terrain, spot and stalk. No tower blinds or feeders there. Google up info at “Pulama Lanai hunting”. When you go, you will see a lot of deer and some sheep, but the super trophy 36” deer are very very few and far between. Even a 30” deer would be a really good one there. But for quantity of game and great quality meat and amazing scenery, this can’t be beat.
Maui and Molokai have some public lands open
For hunting, but most of the deer stay on private lands so success rates are very low on the public, open lands.

 

[Sleek1]

The bucks sometimes are a bit bigger, but 32” would be considered a really good one. They get hunted so hard the big ones get picked off quickly. These are all free range, low fence and are hunted with no deer feeders in Hawaii. The deer move around a lot trying to find food and sanctuary from the pressure.

Indeed, in Texas, it appears the pen raised deer are often bigger and you can select the deer you want for a certain price.

In the three main islands making Maui county, Lanai, Molokai and Maui, there are some public hunting lands and a lot of private land where it is difficult to get permission to access. The state game and fish (DLNR) has about 30,000 acres on Lanai open to public hunting for Axis deer and Mouflon sheep and upland birds. These hunts are normally by drawing and hunters generally can go once a year.
Another 40,000 acres or so is private land open to hunting where you pay by the day to access for a fee. The archery hunting permit is about $100 for an entire year, and shotgun/ muzzleloader is about $150/day and rifle is even more than that, and they allow each hunter to take 3 animals / day at no added cost. Expect to walk a lot in the heat, moderate terrain, spot and stalk. No tower blinds or feeders there. Google up info at “Pulama Lanai hunting”. When you go, you will see a lot of deer and some sheep, but the super trophy 36” deer are very very few and far between. Even a 30” deer would be a really good one there. But for quantity of game and great quality meat and amazing scenery, this can’t be beat.
Maui and Molokai have some public lands open
For hunting, but most of the deer stay on private lands so success rates are very low on the public, open lands.

Sounds similar to here in NZ, there is much more credit given and pride to be had in taking big game animals from free range/fair chase area's of public land.
That being said "behind the wire" hunting is not really frowned upon as not every one has the time, skill , disabilities etc to accomplish the free range hunt.
Congrats again on your animals.

 

[AJ01]

Don't be misled by "Exotic Game" ranches. Texas has an estimated 125,000 thousand FREE ranging Axis and not to mention OTHER species of "exotic wildlife".Texas Parks and Wildlife now offers draw hunts on private land for different species of exotics. Aoudad sheep, Nilgia, Sambar, Axis and Blackbuck. These guys now cover more than 92 counties in Texas.
Remember Texas is like 95% Private Land. So yes, you're NOT going to drive across the state line and pull your truck to the side of the road and go hunting. You might...but I wouldn't want to pay the fines!!
However species such as Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetail and Pronghorn and Desert Bighorn can be hunted within the states borders.
Not to mention feral hogs, Javelina and 2 species of wild Turkey.

And wanna talk "Fair Chase" then by all means book a hunt on the King Ranch it's bigger than Rhode Island and it's low fenced. Deer, Turkey, Quail, Javelina and wild hogs can be hunted on the King. And if you want a REAL adventure, you can hunt Nilgai Antelope. Nilgia were introduced to the King in 1920.
Or draw a hunt into Big Bend or the Palo Duro Canyon. Not for the weak at heart!!

Scimitar Horned Oryx are huntable in Texas. They are extinct in their native land. Game ranches have served as a model of game management to other countries. Texas has restocked several species of game to their native lands ONLY to have them wiped out by poachers once more.

Don't knock Texas ranches until you fully see the big picture.

 

[MauiAxis]

Yes indeed! I have hunted in Texas many times, and I used to own land there near Leakey. I have shot quite a few animals around feeders. It is certainly a different style of hunting.

 

[Hester]

Great looking Axis those are some beautiful animals Congrats and good luck getting some more

 

[Inspector98]

Axis are awesome critters!
Beautiful and the meat is fantastic in my opinion.
I killed a nice buck/stag in Florida in 2017...I'd like to do it again some time... maybe Texas 🤔