Hey slate. We are practically neighbors, especially because the ranch I hunt is in Southeast Sutton county. Glad to see you on this forum.

I am not positive, but I think that fallow rut in the fall similar to whitetail (October?). They grow/shed antlers during the same approx. time frame as whitetail. As to axis having an actual rutting time, I haven' t heard that either. I am under the impression that they can breed year round. I know I can go out any time of the year and see some axis with antlers just starting, some half grown, and some hard horned. I have heard that due to fawn survival/age, most of axis are hard horned in the June/August time frame, so that is when most people hunt them. I agree, it is hard to take the heat that time of year in our neck of the woods. Just doesn' t seem like hunting weather when you sweat a ton!

Do you have a ranch outside of Sonora? Ours is the Cardwell ranch located just east of the Redwine ranch south of Roosevelt. Was out there Friday and Sat to get a couple of turkeys. Lots of them this year.

Good hunting and let it rain!