Next Generation

My Trophy Axis

By Rhett Rohde

Rhett also enjoys doing some bowhunting.

When my dad told me I was going to the South Texas Buckskin Brigade, I hated the idea. But while I was there, I changed my mind. I learned about whitetail habitat and nutrition, and leadership roles. My herd, El Gauchos, won the Top Herd award, and boy, were we all excited when we learned we earned a free hunt!

The hunt was at El Tesoro Ranch in Charlotte, Texas, where we had the opportunity to take management whitetails and exotics. Unfortunately, I had to wait seven months. The anticipation felt like a lifetime to me. The weekend finally came, and I was so excited that I actually wanted to go to school so that tomorrow would come. The next day, I threw my stuff in the truck before my dad was even awake.

When we finally got to the ranch, I couldn’t wait to jump out and get started. The place is huge! Blaise Korzekwa, Texas Brigades board director and the camp coordinator of South Texas Buckskin Brigade, met us at the door. Rodney Glaze, the ranch manager, greeted us with open arms.

Once everyone arrived, we went to the shooting range to make sure we were sighted in. This was the first time I got to use my custom Remington 7 Mag. with Winchester 140-grain ballistic tips. Once sighted in, the ranch manager gave us a tour. We saw blackbucks, gazelles and whitetails running around everywhere.

After the tour, we all gathered in their impressive trophy room, which didn’t have any more room for another mount. We discussed what we wanted to hunt for, and the owner asked me if I would like to go after an old mature axis or fallow deer. I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to harvest with either one, so I said yes.

That evening we went hunting. Even though I didn’t see the axis or fallow, I had a good time watching oryx, mou-

Rhett with his axis, alongside Roy Hindes and Rhett’s guide. Rhett earned his axis hunt because his Buckskin Brigade group won the Top Herd award at camp.

flon and a big trophy axis passing through. After the hunt, we stayed up until 11 p.m. playing pool, shuffleboard and listening to stories from the ranch manager. The next morning, we gave the same blind another try, but we had no luck.

When we got back to the lodge, we ate breakfast and went scouting. We saw a lot of blackbucks, gazelles, oryx and mou-

flon that we lost in the back corner of the field. As we headed back to the lodge, the guide said there was a huge axis in the field next to the lodge that he’d never seen before. At that point, we decided to go to that field to see if he was still there. While looking for the axis, the guide showed me a spot where he used to find arrowheads. He also showed us his deer pens and breeder buck and does.

It was finally time to get back to hunting. This time we tried a blind where we scouted mouflon. At first, hunting was slow and I didn’t think we would see anything. Then the action started. A hog came out, then does, a buck, an oryx and a gazelle, but no fallow. I was losing hope because the sun was setting. Out of nowhere, an old mature axis walked out. The guide and I looked at him for what seemed like forever when he finally asked me, “Do you want to shoot him?” I thought my heart skipped a few beats. After I got the axis in the crosshairs, I heard the guide say, “Aim in front of the front shoulder and squeeze the trigger when you’re ready.” I squeezed the trigger and saw the axis rear up on his hind legs and do a 180-degree turn. The last thing I saw was the top of his antlers running away from us and into the brush.

Once it got dark, we got out of the blind and started looking for blood. When we found our first sign of blood, it didn’t look promising, but as we continued, we found more and more. I thought our tracking went well, until the guide said, “Let’s head back, so I can call a friend that has dogs.” While we waited for his friend to arrive, we ate dinner.

His friend arrived—the legend himself, Roy Hindes. I was starstruck and couldn’t believe I stood in his presence. We first went to the spot where we first found blood.

While tracking, Mr. Hindes shared a story about tracking another male axis. He said he tracked another male axis at this same spot and found it dead. But the axis fell in the middle of the pond, so he had to jump in and drag it out in 40-degree weather. Once he got it out, it had no antlers. But when he went to get the truck, he found both antlers in the middle of the road.

After finishing his story, Mr. Hindes, said “Hey, hey, hey. Shush. You hear that?” We got quiet and heard the dogs barking like crazy. We started sprinting to the dogs and found the axis

bedded down, but still alive! Mr. Hindes said, “We can let it die and come back in the morning, or I can shoot it right now and you’ll have your first axis.” We decided to shoot it. Once Mr. Hindes shot it, the anticipation lifted off my shoulders and I could finally breathe again. I couldn’t believe I killed my first axis with the help of legendary Roy Hindes. We shook hands and I thanked him for his help. Then came the final task of skinning, cleaning and scoring the deer. While doing all this, we told jokes and stories until I could finish. While I was cleaning, the guide scored the buck and told me it was 30 inches, which qualifies as a trophy. My first axis was a trophy. After so much excitement, I realized

Axis are one of the most popular exotics to hunt in Texas.

how tired I was and looked forward to a hot shower and bed. By the time I got in bed, it was 1 a.m. I felt so grateful. Hunting is not the outcome of the hunt. It’s the journey you go on, and this day was a great example. I thanked God for the opportunity and for being with Roy Hindes. I had a hard time leaving the next day, but after thanking everyone one last time, I went home grateful and knowing I just experienced a once-ina-lifetime opportunity.

P hoto P man hi s ason J

Texas Brigades is a conservation-based leadership organization which organizes wildlife and natural resource-based leadership camps for participants ranging in age from 13-17. Its mission is to educate and empower youths with leadership skills and knowledge in wildlife, fisheries, and land stewardship to become conservation ambassadors for a sustained natural resource legacy. There are multiple camps scheduled in the summers, focusing on different animal species while incorporating leadership development. Summer camps include Rolling Plains and South Texas Bobwhite Brigade, South and North Texas Buckskin Brigade, Bass Brigade, Waterfowl Brigade, Coastal Brigade, and Ranch Brigade. Visit texasbrigades.org or call 210-556-1391 for more information.