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Species authority page

Axis deer

Axis axis · Introduced/exotic big game · Big game

Axis deer (Axis axis): Yellowish-brown to rufous coat profusely dappled with white spots year-round. White abdomen, rump, throat, inner legs and underside of tail; dark stripe from nape nearly to tail tip. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the axis deer map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Axis deer herd, including an antlered deer, in a green meadow
Adobe Stock · Standard License (asset 1878820296)
Scientific name
Axis axis
Family
Cervidae
Range
Native to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Introduced into Texas about 1932, where more than 15,000 are free-living in central and southern counties; also established in Hawaii and Florida.
Biology

How to identify it

Yellowish-brown to rufous coat profusely dappled with white spots year-round. [1][2]

White abdomen, rump, throat, inner legs and underside of tail; dark stripe from nape nearly to tail tip. [1][2]

Males carry three-tined antlers; the brow tine forms nearly a right angle with the beam. [1][2]

Females smaller and usually antlerless; males 30–75 kg. [1][2]

Species it is confused with

Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.

Field notes

  • Identification Do not identify Axis deer from colour alone. Compare structure, size, range and the listed similar species before making a field decision.[1][2]
Field knowledge

Where it lives

Secondary forest broken by grassy glades with water and shade; avoids rugged terrain; grazes short green grass and sedges, supplemented by browse. [1][2]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Gregarious; herds range from a few animals to over 100, usually led by an old doe [1][2]

Adult males normally live in mixed herds, unlike native deer [1][2]

Rutting males give bugle-like bellows; both sexes bark in alarm [1][2]

Bucks in hard antler and rut can be found in any month; main breeding mid-May to August, most Texas fawns born January to mid-April [1][2]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Native to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Introduced into Texas about 1932, where more than 15,000 are free-living in central and southern counties; also established in Hawaii and Florida.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. Natural Science Research Laboratory, Texas Tech University · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Natural Science Research Laboratory, Texas Tech University

  2. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe