Axis Deer - Pictures

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Axis Deer - Social Structure

Axis Deer signal each other with barks and body movements like switching the tail. They are herd animals and form herds of 5-10 individuals, sometimes groups of up to 200 deer are found. Each group is lead by an adult female. Axis females fight to establish rank. They bite and box standing on their hind legs. The victor walks behind the loser to escort him off the field.

Males don't attempt to establish territories. During the rut they display and spar with their antlers to establish a rank order, which determines access to females. Large males with long antlers rank highest and can service 10-40 females.

Axis Deer - Predation

Predation is mainly on the fawn population. Coyotes, foxes, badgers, raccoons, and even fire ants feed on young fawns. Adult Axis Deer can be a prey only to larger predators, such as lions, tigers, and wolves.

Axis Deer - Diet

The primary diet of Axis Deer is grass, especially new weeds and forbs. Also they may browse on leaves, flowers and fruits in the wild. In captivity they are fed alfalfa and hay and do well on winter wheat. The Axis Deer drinks less water than typical domestic livestock, but likes to bathe. All deer need minerals and salt.

Fresh water and food are effective means to lure Axis Deer into traps. Wild deer are easy to tame with supplemental feeding. In winter it's better to feed them corn, about two or three times a day, because corn gives quick energy. Axis Deer are incapable of putting on intra-muscular fat; their lean, fat free, naturally tender red meat is considered to be the tastiest of all deer.

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