Axis Deer in Texas - The Ultimate Guide to Axis Diets, Hunting, and competition with White-tail.

In this video I cover everything you've been wanting to know about Axis Deer; including, their origin, Axis Diets, Axis Hunting Information, Axis habits, and Axis reproductive cycles.

I cover several specific topics around Axis in Texas and answer questions around when they got here, how they compete with our White-tailed deer, and their current distribution in Texas.

To check out the full origanal article I've written on this topic, check out:
https://landassociation.org/axis-deer...

Axis deer are originally from India and Sri Lanka where they are referred to as Chital or spotted deer. The deer are thought by many to be the most beautiful deer as their coats are rust colored and covered with white spots, very similar to a White-tail fawn. They are a sizable Cervid species with Axis does weighing in from 110-135lbs while bucks can weight in at up to 200lbs.

Their native habitat ranges from the foothills of the Himalayas and stretches southward to the sub-tropical forests along the Southern tip of India, indicating a wide tolerance for habitat suitability.

On a side note, they are a well noted prey of the Bengal Tiger…..

Axis or Chital Deer Home Range
Home range of the Axis Deer in India and Sri Lanka.
Their first introduction to the United States was actually in Hawaii where they were imported in the 1860’s as a gift to the Hawaiian King from Hong Kong. The deer now inhabit several of the Hawaiian Islands including Hawaii, Lanai, and Maui as a feral species.

Axis Deer in Texas
Axis have been roaming in Texas since the 1932 when they were brought in as a game species in South Texas. Over several decades these deer were transported throughout Texas as other private ranchers wanted to include them on their property as a year-round hunting option. In time, many Axis escaped and eventually created feral populations.

Axis Deer Range in Texas
In 1988 they were noted as having self-sustaining populations in 27 counties within Central and South Texas. They have since expanded into 92 Counties and have a current estimated population of up to 125,000 animals according to Exotic Wildlife Association. The highest populations of Axis Deer in Texas are now centered around the Edwards Plateau.

For the purposes of writing this article, I found it surprisingly difficult to find any data documenting the spread of Axis deer over time or any recent scientific data that would indicate an accurate population estimate. There are several high quality institutions that offer anecdotal references to Axis populations. For example, according to Texas Tech University, Axis deer are now the most abundant exotic ungulate in Texas.

If you are aware of any studies or resources that show better population data please reach out to me and I’ll gladly update this portion of the article.

Anyone driving through the Texas Hill Country can believe in their abundance. Although Axis are still no where near as common as White-tailed deer overall, it is still a common occurrence to see them crossing roads and grazing/browsing along tree lines.

To finish the article, head to LandAssociation.org!

Resources & Literature Cited
Several conservationists, wildlife experts, scientists, ranches, and breeders contributed to the information in this article. Check out their contributions below:

Axis Deer: By Ernest Ables
Axis Deer: North American Deer Farmers Association
Axis Deer: Texas Invasive Species Institute
Axis Deer Population Control in Texas – Hill Country Alliance
Dietary overlap among axis, fallow, sika, and white-tailed deer in the edwards plateau region of Texas, JAMES J. JACKLEY, Master’s Thesis, Texas Tech University
Digestive Capacity and Diets of White-Tailed Deer and Exotic Ruminants, Scott E. Henke, Stephen Demarais and James A. Pfister , The Journal of Wildlife ManagementVol. 52, No. 4 (Oct., 1988), pp. 595-598
An Economic Assessment of Axis Deer (Axis axis) farming in South Texas, Thesis by: Gregory Wayne Smith, Texas A&M University Kingsville, 1996
Exotics in Texas (Max Traweek and Roy Welch)- Texas Parks & Wildlife
Formal Paper About Axis Deer, Compiled By Comanche Spring Ranch, Eden Texas
Habitat Interference by Axis Deer on White‐Tailed Deer, CLINTON J. FAASFLOYD W. WECKERLY, Journal of Wildlife Management, 13 December 2010
The Status of Exotic Big Game in Texas, Gregory L. Butts , Rangelands 1(4), August 1979
What You May Not Know About the Axis Deer- Exotic Wildlife Association
White-tailed Deer v.s. Exotics – Texas Parks and Wildlife
White-tailed Deer Habitat: Ecology & Management on Rangelands (Fulbright & Ortega)