While a lot of things in the latter half of 2023 didn’t go as planned, it did prompt me to do one thing in 2024; schedule an axis deer hunt.
Ever since we moved down to South Texas, my imagination has been captured by axis deer. Native to India, they’re about the same size as North America’s whitetail deer, but with lifelong spots on their coats and otherworldly antlers that curve up almost like an elk. My husband has had a smaller axis deer buck skin and skull cap for several years now, and he’s (nicely) pushed me to go out and get my own!
Seeing them in India was an even more incredible experience! We watched them in the heat of their rut over there; the bucks were chasing does, fighting with each other, and otherwise acting like our whitetail tend to during the late fall and early winter months.
Luckily, in Texas, there are plenty of opportunities to hunt year-round! Texas is very unique in the hunting community because it is home to some of the largest exotic ranches with a wide ranch of species available to hunt! Axis deer, nilgai, fallow deer, red stag, black buck, oryx, buffalo, enormous wild boars, you name it; you can probably hunt it in Texas! And because they’re all considered exotics, you can hunt them anytime during the year.
Even after my husband harvested his ridiculously cool fallow deer at the end of the year, we both agreed that there was room for quite a bit more wild game in the freezer… So why not fill it with something else exotic?
And y’all, I’ve never had venison like axis.
This isn’t a post to brag about my hunting plans this year, or what we get to do in Texas with hunting (there are plenty of drawbacks, trust me), but it’s a chance for someone to hold me accountable. To help me make the time to get out there and do this.
I don’t know what it is for so many people, but we’re great at making excuses to avoid doing things we want to do. Maybe it’s not the perfect time, or maybe we’d like to save up just a little more, or maybe we want to practice just a little bit more. Maybe we haven’t found the perfect opportunity, place, or idea.
We make so many excuses. What were mine?
I had the financial ability to hunt. There were plenty of opportunities nearby that wouldn’t make travel difficult. I have a lot of experience handling my .270, so my skills were up to par with what I would be doing.
I think that we just don’t make the time.
I’m talking to myself in this statement, too, because I’m horribly guilty of not making time for the things that I should. Like writing on my blog again… And sometimes, yes, you just need a break or some rest. But there won’t always be a perfect moment or time to do everything in our lives; sometimes, you have to make things happen and be grateful for what you get!
All of this to say, I’m holding myself accountable this year for a lot of things, including making time for the things I love to do; writing in my blog, reading books, fishing, exercising, and yes, hunting an axis deer.
I’ll update y’all with more details as I officially make plans; I’m waiting on my left knee to heal up from a dance injury, and then I’m going to be back out there as soon as I can!
South Texas axis deer, I’m ready for you!
Jess and the Outdoors 