Axis Deer in West Texas

[JimDicken]

I have heard that Axis Deer are considered a nuisance species in Texas. Does anyone know of a good place to hunt these animals .. like a farm that does not charge an arm and a let to hunt?
I am not cheap, but between gas prices and taking time off, about all I can afford is the trip, and maybe some extra for a hunting fee.
I am willing to shoot some hogs for a farmer in order to get to hunt the Axis Deer, as well as shoot females first to get to one buck.
Also willing to do some extra work on the farm.
Do I sound too desperate.. I love to hunt but the cost is starting to get too high for more than Deer and Turkey in Kentucky where I live.
Willing to trade a hunt for Turkey in the spring in Kentucky for hunting in Texas..
Someplace in West Texas with ORYX would be a REAL bonus.
Jim Dicken

[markc]

Axis deer hunting is a pretty big business here in Tx.  To my knowledge they are not considered a nuisance.  They are great eating, beautiful animals and in some areas are plentiful.  There are some other exotic species that are considered a nuisance to some, Aoudad, and Sika deer come to mind.   Also, even though feral hogs are great problem here, they have become big business as well.   It is unfortunate, but in Texas the majority of the state is privately owned land.  Ranchers have learned that they can make alot more money game ranching and hunting than they can strictly running cattle and growing taters.     I wish I could help you out, but if you want to hunt Axis in Texas, atleast nice ones, then it will cost a pretty penny.  
Here is an example of how feral hog ranching/hunting has become big business.    www.texaswildhoghunting.com

They buy trapped feral hogs, casterate them, release them into 20 acre enclosures after they get fat and semi tame and hunters from all over the country come and pay to shoot them.  My sisters 26 acres is a couple hundred yards from this ranch.  Very nice people to be sure, but you can hear the shots being fired all day long...

[Graybeard]

I have deleted the poll. I see no relavance to your question and on this forum we presume high fence hunting to be acceptable. We might argue the point on other forums here but not on this one.

[Syncerus]

I am going to hunt the Langley Ranch in about 3 weeks. In all honesty, I've heard nothing but good things about them from numerous sources. I'll report back on my experience after the hunt.

Syncerus

[markc]

don't get me wrong.  They are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.  They have a very scenic and beautiful ranch too.   You will probably have a wonderful time and be made to feel welcome and right at home.

But, it is a business and these hogs are not all free range native to that particular property.  They are mostly brought in from another ranch where they were trapped, casterated often, fattened up before being released into the large wooded pens.  They have other styles of hunting on their ranch as well.  My point was that no matter the animal, game ranching has become a big business and as a result costs $ to participate in.  I certainly wasn't trying to post a negative on the Langley Ranch, just giving an example of how big the business of game ranching has become...

[TexasHorn]

Jim:
Unfortunatley Markc is correct about game in Texas being big business. I have  property outside of Fredericksburg in Gellespie County. More deer and axis than you can shake a stick at.  Black buck and Fallow deer as well, on occasion.  All of the ranchers around me have found that the nucience animals can bring in big bucks (no pun inteded). The day of getting rid of a few hogs from a farmers land is a day of the past. I know of a few guys that pay the farmers or ranchers to allow them to trap the hogs and remove only to take back to their private hnting ranches for paid hunts. Texas land is mostly private and the land owners are not very open to having a stranger hunt on their property do to liability and such. the ones that are sell yearly leases. Good luck on your search.
TexasHorn

[markc]

Texashorn,  where is your place?  How far outside of town are you?  My wife and I are looking at some land in two weeks in the hill country, but close to Rocksprings.  The land near Fredrieksburg we have looked at is very expensive!   It's way out of our price range...   But is sure is beautiful out there..

[TexasHorn]

Markc:
I apologise for such a late response. Did you ever find any property? My place is about 1.8 miles off of route 290 , 10 miles east of Fredericksburg. A lot of deer and axis. The deer tend to be small boded but I have never seen so many before. I have driven up to the property and have seen a couple Fallow deer as well.

[markc]

TexasHorn,   we ended up not going that weekend.  We decided to give our land fund until atleast April to grow some more.  We are still looking at listings online weekly.   I bet the cost of land in your area is sky high!   Beautiful area though..