Monday's Internet Edition, September 06, 2010.
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by Thompson Temple
Axis Fever-Catch it!
The North American hunting world has a new deer season! This introduced deer is now so prevalent that it has obtained a near native status. They have been estimated at more than 350,000 animals nationwide. Many are free ranging.
Across the nation mule deer fever begins in early October as hunters go to the Rocky Mountains. The bouncing gate of a trophy mule deer buck makes the old heart skip a beat!
A little later in November, white-tail fever comes on full force. The glint of a white-tail’s antlers in heavy brush requires that the hunter sit motionless except for the racing of the heart!
Let November come and go, but bring on June! The axis deer are exotic deer with 80% of the bucks coming into hard antlers by June 1. The height of the rut is in the summer. The big swollen neck and the spine chilling axis buck bellows are a whole new adventure!
Hunters are blessed with a whole new season to hunt - in summer. The days are long so you hunt early and late in the day with a siesta in between. This is hunting when all other hunting is closed down.
The Axis buck arrives
The axis deer has the undisputed title as the most beautiful deer in the world. The hide is chestnut brown with white spots - much like that of a white-tailed fawn. There is also a large patch on the throat. All in all, the axis is a gorgeous creation.
The antlers are magnificent. Often time the antlers will be as tall as the buck is tall, from the ground to the head. When you see one, he can look a lot like an elk! The antlers grow in a bow shape with beam lengths exceeding 28 inches on record class bucks. Typically an axis will have three points per side. When the late afternoon sunlight shines on a trophy axis rack, it is an impressive sight to see!
A mature buck will weigh 160 pounds and up. The meat of the axis is extremely tender.
Note:
These articles will be in 4 different installments over the next few weeks.