Axis deer are legal year-round, but timing still matters
Axis deer are an exotic species in Texas, so the state sets no season and no bag limit on them. The state lets you hunt an axis buck in any month. But axis are not whitetail, and their calendar is different from anything a Texas deer hunter grew up with. Bucks rut hardest in summer, carry hard antlers when whitetail are in velvet, and can be in velvet when whitetail are hard. Knowing that calendar is the difference between a hunt where bucks are bugling in front of the blind and one where you are waiting on a herd that feeds at its own pace.
This guide walks through the axis year at our ranch in Franklin County, East Texas, under 2 hours from Dallas.
Spring: velvet and hardening antlers
Most bucks grow new antlers in March and April and are in velvet then, and by May the antlers are hardening and the first rutting behavior starts. A velvet axis is a striking trophy and some guests ask for one specifically; we can hunt velvet bucks when they are available, and we will be honest about what is on the ranch that month.
Summer: the peak rut
Rutting activity builds through May, peaks in June and July, and tapers through August. Mature bucks are in hard antler, vocal, and moving in daylight to check and chase does.
Fall: our second window
From September through November the summer rut is over and the herd settles into a feeding pattern. Bucks are less vocal, but plenty still carry hard antlers, and a patient hunter over a feeder can take a very good buck. Fall is also when fallow bucks and red stags are in their rut on the same ranch, so many guests pair the hunts.
Winter: the second rut
Axis run a lighter secondary rut from roughly December through February. Winter axis hunts are quieter than the rut, and they pair with red deer hind meat hunts on the same trip.
Month by month
| Months | What the bucks are doing | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| March to April | Growing antlers, many in velvet | Velvet trophies when available |
| May | Antlers hardening, rut beginning | Late-spring trophy hunts |
| June to August | Peak rut, hard antler, bucks vocal and visible | Hard-antlered bucks in the rut |
| September to November | Feeding pattern, quieter | Trophy and doe hunts, pairing with fallow and red stag |
| December to February | Secondary rut | Winter hunts during the secondary rut |
What counts as a trophy axis
A trophy axis buck typically measures around 30 inches or more. At Rustic Springs Ranch a trophy axis buck hunt is $5,250, with bucks over 33 inches adding $1,000, and an axis doe meat hunt is $1,250. Every trophy hunt is fully guided and backed by our "No Shot Opportunity, No Pay" policy. Lodging and meal packages are optional add-ons at $200 per person per day for ages 13 and up, and free for kids 12 and under.
Booking your axis hunt
A valid Texas hunting license is required; out-of-state hunters can buy a 5-day exotic non-resident license through Texas Parks and Wildlife, and our license guide covers the details. A 50 percent non-refundable deposit reserves your dates, and reschedules need at least 30 days' notice. Bring your own rifle, or ask us about a loaner.
Frequently asked questions
- When do axis deer rut in Texas?
- The main rut runs May through August and peaks in June and July. A lighter secondary rut runs December through February.
- What is the best month to hunt axis deer in Texas?
- Spring, March through May, for velvet and hardening bucks, or fall, September through November, for hard-antlered bucks after the rut.
- Is there an axis deer season in Texas?
- No. Axis are exotic, so there is no state season or bag limit.
- When are axis bucks in velvet?
- Mostly March and April. We can hunt velvet bucks when they are available.
- When is the best time for an axis meat hunt?
- Spring or fall, alongside our trophy axis hunts.