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Axis Hill Country

Cole Burton

“You brought your bow?” My guide asked me, just as he spit out his chewing tobacco a little too close to my boots.




“Yeah. I brought my rifle as backup, but arrowing an Axis bull is a dream of mine.” I responded.




“Well it’s gonna stay a dream. These damn things are so paranoid, bowhunters just go home with empty coolers.”




The rolling hills and dense vegetation that paint the landscape of Texas’s bend provide incredible hunting opportunities with their abundant wildlife, including many exotic animals that roam freely, making any new hunter question if they’re actually on the dark continent. Despite seemingly endless game animals, Texas Hill Country presents plenty of challenges for hunters. Rugged terrain and infinite ground that these wary animals can escape to, will make any bowhunter wishing he packed his rifle. Or at least, that’s what my guide convinced me of.




So nevertheless, I loaded up my Steyr Scout and entered hill country with my guide. We spotted several bulls grazing across such unique terrain. They weren’t the size we were after, still, my guide wanted to put a semi-stalk on them to give myself a feel for what it would be like to get within rifle distance of my target bull.




As we approached a young bull about 400 yards out, I grabbed my binos to take a closer look. Within seconds of my observation, the bull turned towards me, moving his head in a chaotic motion, determining if there was any threat with my presence. After a couple of curious head nods and stomping, he let out a noise that could only be compared to a frightened poodle.




“See what I’m talking about?” My guide nudges me with a subtle smirk. “These things are never calm. Always on alert, looking for any sign of a predator. Drives bowhunters mad.”




The next morning, after several rounds of coffee, way too many cigarettes, and a perfectly unhealthy breakfast, we headed back out into the hills. Off in the distance, my guide spotted a mature bull running through the brush.




“Looks like he was chasing a doe over that peak. We can cut them off if we follow this valley around. That was a damn good bull!”




Just as I grabbed my pack off the ground, my guide and I froze in confusion as we heard what sounded like a tree falling in a forest of thick timber. As we turned to examine, a stately bull charged through the brush behind us, sporting seemingly 30+ inch beams. We tucked behind some Yucca, as the bull came to a halt about 25 yards from our position. I knew my window would be short-lived. Without even confirming with my guide, I took my safety off, stood up, and placed a .308 bullet right behind the front shoulder.




The bull immediately fell to its back, followed by a quick and impressive recovery as he stumbled into a gnarly patch of pear cactus and desert spoon just about 50 yards from where he stood at the time of shot.




I could see his royal and giant horns highlighted out of the hill country canvas. Shaking as I put my gun back on safety, I turned to my guide, almost just as excited to see his reaction to my sudden kill.




“Damn… I guess that one you probably could have killed with your bow. Oh well. Next time.”



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