A MONARCH FOR MY LADY

Home of the Caverns of Sonora, Sutton, County, Texas encompasses 1,454 square miles of rugged country known as the Edwards Plateau. Sheep and goat ranching empires thrive there and oil and gas reserves boost the local economy. The county gets its name from John Schuyler Sutton, a Texas Ranger and

Confederate Army Officer who must have packed a lot of living and adventure into his 40 years before suffering a leg-shattering wound while leading a mounted charge at the Battle of Valverde. After a surgeon told him, his life could only be spared by leg amputation, it is said Sutton replied that he had no intention of hobbling around on one leg and “when his leg went, he would go with it.” In Gus

McCrea-style he passed away the following day. A soft, southerly, Sutton County breeze greeted us in the early dawn as we began our first full day of a free-range axis hunt. A ceaseless soundtrack filled with chirping and singing by an orchestra of song birds played in the background, periodically interrupted by calls of the dignified bob white quail. With just a touch of humidity in the air from previous evening thunderstorms, it felt like spring should in the brushy ranch country south of Sonora, Texas. The terrain is relatively flat in that area, and the vegetation is thick with oak and mesquite trees surrounded by prickly pear, agarita shrub, and variety of other desert flora that would excite fervent botanists.

Most of the trees are not big per se, so as you are hunting it is frequently necessary to kneel or stoop to see under the canopies of mesquite thickets and oak mots. The country looked good, much greener than where I live out in far west Texas. These range conditions make for great still-hunting, and that was how we intended to hunt the illusive spotted deer. The axis deer, or chital, is native to India, however, the Lone Star

State has a sizable and well-established wild population of the handsome animals. Generally speaking, the majority of males are found in hard antler in the summer months and they rut or “roar” in what is typically a deer hunter’s “off-season”. Although they are said to breed year-round, June and July are reported to be the most active months. This gives hunters a unique hunting opportunity between traditional hunting seasons we normally associate with fall. Chital bucks are also correctly called “stags”, in Texas you’re usually going to hear “axis buck.” This short hunt would be a great getaway for shared interests in hunting and the outdoors, as well as an excellent way to spend time with the lady in my life, my wife Jill. We were hunting with

Wildlife Systems guide, Jackie Murphy. Jackie is an independent kind of man who walked away from a successful career in the corporate world years ago to pursue his passion. Hunting, it’s what he does and he does it well. The previous night we discussed the pending hunt over a thick steak grilled to perfection by camp chef Jason Powell. Jason is a retired fire fighter, a profession where culinary skill and courage are requirements! Jackie formulated a plan to hunt an area where we had seen a monster axis, maybe the biggest he’s ever seen, on the afternoon of our arrival in camp. Coming from a guide who is known for finding his hunters 30-plus-inch mature trophies, that should tell you something! We spotted the big guy right before dark and he had it all, main beam length, long cottle tines, and massive bell-shaped antlers. After unloading our gear, Jackie asked me what we were looking for and I explained my wife and I would be happy with a fully mature, good representative buck, hoping to add two shoulder mounts to our collection and exceptional axis meat to the freezer.

We are not “score hunters”, we take great pride in hunting the old ones. He seemed happy with my answer and assured me we would find some nice ones. After seeing the huge axis, we agreed that we would try to relocate him, but we would not focus all of our time solely on that one buck. It just wouldn’t be the smart thing to do on a two-and-a-half-day hunt.

THE LADY EARNS HER TROPHY

After a hearty 5:30 AM breakfast, we made our way about a mile east of where we had seen the big boy and numerous other axis does and other nice bucks the evening before. Jackie’s plan of attack had the wind to our advantage and the sun to our backs. We slowly stillhunted, stopping frequently to use our binoculars to see through the brush, looking for movement and the rusty, white-dotted hides. An earlier aerial survey revealed a dense population of axis on the ranch. Everywhere we looked we saw fresh rubs in the brush from the bucks. Besides the uncanny alertness of the axis (and let me tell you, they are wild!) we had to make our way through and around whitetail deer, trying not to have them bust through the brush alerting every chital in the county.

Sporadic roars kept us focused, proving axis bucks were in the area, but we were nearing the end of our targeted hunting area before we found our quarry. The roar of the axis is a very guttural call produced by the males. Jackie likens the noise to sticking a sharp knife into a fully inflated truck tire! Jill said it reminds her of the bawl of a hound. I’ll just suggest you search it on the web and come to your own conclusion.

Jackie spotted pieces of two axis in the thick stuff up ahead, but it was some time before we could tell that it was axis does, and a little longer yet, after carefully changing our position, to see that there were several in the herd, including two nice bucks. One was in velvet with cottles that matched his back tines in length. The other was majestic and hard-antlered with long main beams that went more straight up than curved. Jackie whispered that he was a good one and asked Jill if he was what she was looking for. He was. We were all on our knees, peering under the brush at the group of thirteen when a couple of the does saw something they didn’t like and started “barking”, producing a very shrill chirp that is every bit as distinct as the roar produced by these deer.

I fully expected that they were getting ready to vacate the area in a blur of red hair and polka dots! We held our breaths and remained as still as possible, but the herd was less than 60 yards and it felt like there was really no way to completely conceal ourselves from all of those alert eyes! Jill’s buck moved out of my view, but Jackie still had him. Then, in all of the axis chaos and heart beats, he casually laid down and started chewing his cud, seemingly without a care in the world. We couldn’t believe it! We all stayed still and eventually the herd calmed down, and resumed feeding while a couple more plopped down to rest alongside the monarch. Now we had to wait on him to get up. Taking advantage of the situation, we ever so carefully eased right just a bit to get Jill a clear shooting lane. Then we waited. Jill was kneeling, rifle up on the shooting sticks, watching the buck’s antlers through her scope. Time lagged to the speed of government efficiency. We encouraged Jill to rest, stay calm, keep breathing. She ignored us and remained vigilant on the rifle. I didn’t time it, but I suspect we sat like that for half an hour, long enough for my feet to fall asleep as I knelt! Then, as smoothly as he had bedded, he stood. Jill was on him, Jackie instructed her to shoot as the buck, standing broad-side but ever so slightly quartering away, arched his neck around to the off-side to lick or scratch an itch. “I have to wait until he turns his neck” she whispered. “Don’t worry about it” I answered, and in an instant, she pressed the trigger and

dropped him in his tracks! She put the 140-grain bullet square in his shoulder with her little 7MM-08 Remington. The slight quartering shot sent the bullet into the turned neck and spine, explaining the dramatic finale. He was a beautiful animal and we took time to admire the colorations of his unique cape, his wonderful tall antlers, and the dense muscle structure of the stately buck.

AN AXiS BUCK AT DUSK

We started our afternoon hunt by stopping in a likely spot and listening for roars after we spotted some axis does. Jackie blew his axis roar mouth call several times and we quietly awaited answers. A buck cut loose once and we moved in that direction, but as many previous times, he roared one time and went silent. Jackie said the bucks cover a lot of country when cruising for does, so we assumed he might have moved off out of ear shot. We made our way to Jackie’s lucky spot, an area with open flats surrounded by thick brush and heard several bucks roaring at varying distances. One had the deep, raspy voice of a chain-smoker, unlike any we had previously heard. I think we all mentally pictured a monster axis in the brush, twisting and turning his enormous rack as he made his way through the Texas tangle in search of romance. I know I did! We heard him several times, then nothing. Suddenly, a different buck roared close, we guessed him about100 yards away, and he continued to roar as we carefully made our way in his direction. Without warning, an unseasonable cool front blew in and the wind really picked up from the north as storm clouds brewed and thunder rumbled. After bumping a couple whitetail, which is not at all hard to do, Jill spotted an axis herd up ahead with about fifteen in the group consisting of does, fawns and young bucks. No mature bucks were in the bunch and our caller again went silent.

We made it back to the pickup as a cold, hard rain began to fall. With less than an hour of daylight remaining, I figured our hunting was done for the day. I should have known Jackie had a plan. We made our way out of that side of the ranch and as we neared the main gate, the rain stopped and we saw several axis deer flying across the ranch road and through the brush. There was no time to follow them to see if the herd contained any shooter bucks. We continued on our way.

The sun was setting as Jackie eased his truck towards the area where we spotted the huge buck on the first evening. Axis were grazing in the tree line and a closer look revealed a big one raking his impressive antlers on some brush at the edge of thick cover. He finally gave me a good look and I knew he was a shooter. At his angle Jackie couldn’t see him at first, then the buck walked forward into view. I was admiring the bell-shape of his horns and I told Jackie he was “the big one.” Jackie knew he wasn’t, but he did know he was really good.

Light was fading and I asked Jackie “What are our options?” To which he replied, “We have to get closer!” Simultaneously we exited his Toyota and Jackie grabbed his shooting sticks from the bed. Jill stayed while we took off at a fast jog across the open field to the tree line 150 yards away. Jackie had told me that axis deer seem to get less wild right before dark. He was right. We later agreed that had we been there twenty minutes earlier, our approach would never have worked. As we reached the trees we slowed to a fast, careful walk. I could make out movement and shapes in the shadowed brush ahead and a

quick look through my binocular showed axis does standing taught, focused on our every move. Jackie set up the shooting sticks. As I reached him, I threw a round into the Ruger single shot and stepped up to the sticks. As I rested my rifle, I did a quick double-check on the buck with my binocular. Tall, bell-shaped antlers, a mature trophy. I was shooting! Dropping my eye into the Trijicon, I went too far right looking for the buck. Jackie was right behind me, “you’re too far right, look left!” When I found the buck in the scope he immediately began to move, walking to our right. I swung with him, settled the tiny green dot on his shoulder, and without thinking, the 280 bucked. I can’t tell you exactly how quickly all of this happened, but this was the most rushed shot I have had on a trophy animal in a long time. I would guess that the quick glance at the buck through my binocular to pressing the trigger took maybe five seconds. At the shot, he jumped and a cracking sound of a hit echoed back to us. I followed the buck in the scope briefly as departed at a dead run, then reloaded and searched the darkening woods with my binocular. No movement. It had all happened so fast. Jackie had lost him at about the same time I had. We made a quick walk over to the general area 150 yards away. Nothing but oak trees and damp grass. It was getting too dark to see well and we only had a basic idea of where he had been when I shot. Jackie queried, “how did the shot feel?”, “I was shooting for the shoulder.” I could tell he was worried, but he wasn’t saying it. I tried to ignore my thoughts of having shot so late, possibly pulling a shot and wounding an animal. Silently, I said a short prayer and replayed the shot in my mind. It looked good and the sound of bullet impact was reassuring. Jackie set up his shooting sticks as a marker and we hurried to the truck for flashlights. Jill I can’t tell you exactly had watched the show unfold and confirmed how quickly all of this happened, but this the buck jumped and ran, but she lost him in the trees as well. We all grabbed a light, spread out and started was the most rushed looking for any sign of the buck. After a coushot I have had on a ple long minutes searching, my flashlight beam trophy animal in a long time. swept over a white belly and antlers sticking up from the tall, rain-soaked grass. I let out a loud “whoo-ha!” mostly from excitement and relief, but also to let Jackie and Jill know I had found him. Then I walked up to the fine-looking axis buck, took of my hat, and gave thanks. Hit square in both shoulders, with the bullet under the hide on the off-side, he had not run far at all. In the dusk, none of us had seen him fall. I had gotten lucky on a quick shot, in low light, on a trophy animal. I am truly grateful, for many reasons. Celebratory cold drinks at the old ranch house were especially refreshing that night as we recounted our exciting axis hunts and made plans to hunt big bull nilgai down in deep south Texas in the future. My Lady and I were elated to have taken such beautiful chital deer. Most importantly we hunted them fair and square, together, and each collected a mature trophy and a cooler full of great meat! ★ Shane Jahn is a Houston Safari Club Foundation member, a freelance outdoor writer with a background in law enforcement and strong interests in good guns, old firearms with stories, and fair chase hunting in the wild outdoors. He has written for NRA Family, Gun Digest 2019, 2021 and 2022 Annuals, Guns of the Old West Magazine, Lone Star Outdoor News, African Hunting Gazette, and Texas Outback. Contact him at shane_jahn@hotmail.com.

GEAR USED AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS

RiFLES: I hunted with my Ruger No.1 “Joe Clayton Classic” I bought from Lee Newton at Classic Sporting Arms. It is chambered in 280 Ackley Improved, has really nice wood, and is scoped with a Trijicon 3x9.

Jill’s rifle is a Remington 700 SPS Youth Model with a 2x7 Leupold and SilencerCo Harvester suppressor.

AMMO: We used Nosler ammunition in both rifles and they each are loaded with the same bullet, the 140 grain AccuBond. We have used this bullet and ammunition on everything from kudu and gemsbok to pronghorn with excellent results.

BiNOCULARS: You don’t need high powered scopes or binoculars hunting the thicker country. You need a binocular that can be carried easily and you will need it to see through the brush searching out color, shapes, and movement. We each use 10X Zeiss, I’m sure 8X would work just fine.

PRACTiCE YOUR FiELD SHOOTiNG POSiTiONS and shooting off the sticks. We both shot our axis from shooting sticks and it would have been really tough had they not been available.

WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES OR BOOTS, you will be still-hunting, so wear something sturdy enough to ward off the occasional cactus that you can walk quietly in. If you are worried about snakes this would be a good time to take your snake guards. We only saw one rattler, but having a little extra protection on your shin and calves could give you piece of mind while searching for your trophy axis.

DON’T FORGET THE BUG SPRAY. As we neared the ranch, I mentioned to Jill that this looked like chigger country. I was right! The axis we took had plenty of ticks on them also, so protect yourself from those annoying critters.

BELOW: Fine ammunition by Nosler

ABOVE: The author and a good, trophy axis buck.

WiLDLiFE SYSTEMS wildlifesystems.com

Wildlife Systems is a top-notch outfit. Jackie treated our animals like they were his own, taking great care with capes and meat preparation, even insisting on skinning my axis down past the shoulders at midnight to ensure the meat cooled properly in the walk-in cooler. I paid full-price for this hunt for my wife and I and didn’t mention that I might write an article about the hunts until I was back at home and wanted to get the guy’s permission to use their names in my story. Prior to the hunt, owner Greg Simons and his staff answered any questions we had. The food was good and the camp was clean. They are the kind of guys who mind their manners around women and kids and are professional and fun to be around. We’ll be hunting with them again!

EXCELLENT AXiS ROAST

• Axis roast (2-3 pounds) • 1 package Ranch Dressing (powder) • 1 package Au Jus mix(dry) • 1 stick of butter • 1/2 jar of pepperoncini peppers, juice and all.

Cook on low in a crock pot all day. I usually break the meat up a bit with a potato masher once it is done. This is always a big hit with some good mashed potatoes and makes great burritos as well. If you want extra gravy add a can of beef broth.