Baker 3 Ranch

[Double Drop]

Has anyone ever gone on one of the annual Blackbuck or Axis hunts? What type success was there & did you see animals? Would you go back?

[ATXBowhunter]

I just checked out their website - I'd be interested in going but like you, would appreciate any feedback from folks who have been there before. Thanks.

[The Crippler]

I would definitely go back if they weren't raising their prices...good opportunities on axis and blackbuck, I whiffed on an axis buck last March and shot an axis doe a couple of weeks ago. It is an awesome ranch and a lot of fun, but with the price increases I may not be back...

[The Crippler]

oh yeah, and TONS of turkeys

[Double Drop]

So do you have to worry about at least having shot opportunities?

[The Crippler]

Originally Posted by Double Drop

So do you have to worry about at least having shot opportunities?

They are free-ranging animals. If you set up around a feeder, you will most likely see some turkeys. If you go during whitetail season, you should have a shot at a whitetail doe. Blackbucks and axis will require some "real" hunting, but there are plenty of animals out there. I have been twice and have shot 3 turkeys and an axis doe, and shot at and whiffed on an axis buck and a whitetail doe.

[Double Drop]

How do you hunt with a brushed in ground blind or do they already have stands placed. I am not much of a feeder hunter anyway so I would rather have to get out & hunt them. Just wondering if for the $ it felt like a real hunt & not like you just walk out & shoot something.

[Murph]

It is definately a challenge and there are no guarantees. There are a ton of animals, but it is 23,000 acres. I went on the july hunt and had plenty of whitetails in bow range, but no axis or blackbucks. I am going back and taking a treestand and getting on a good draw or creekbed and waiting it out for an axis buck. If you are patient and scout out a decent spot around water or food, then you could get a shot.

I spot and stalked a corsican after figuring out that my game plan for an axis sucked.

I will be there next June.

[Texastaxi]

Originally Posted by Murph

It is definately a challenge and there are no guarantees. There are a ton of animals, but it is 23,000 acres. I went on the july hunt and had plenty of whitetails in bow range, but no axis or blackbucks.

Same here, but I did see one axis at a water hole that I was hunting. I was set up at the wrong end. He was smaller than my other axis so I wouldn't have shot him anyhow so I helped another guy get set up down there and he ended up shooting him the next evening.

I think there were 40 something hunters that weekend and I think 3 of them bagged an axis buck. The success rate isn't all that high, from my limited experience there, but it is a BIG place and it is free range. The hunts are pretty well organized so you don't have to worry about someone coming tromping through the area that you're hunting.

Get there early and find a bed ... I ended up sleeping on the porch the first night!

[TEAM SHARK]

I too was thinking of doing the black buck hunt. The price seemed to good or a very hard hunt. All the bucks you can shoot that are 16 inch or less. I have never done an exotic hunt so would this ranch be a good one to start with? I was interested in shooting a black buck, but then again if I see a monster axis that would be hard to pass on. If I shot one I would have to hide it from the wife. We are currently saving for a house. She would not consider an axis deer on the same page as a home.

[Bowhntr]

I've hunted both turkey and axis and it was easy. I did with my bow. They are very nice people who would accommodate you if you let them know ahead. For the $$$ in Texas great place



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[DeepDownSouth]

I go with a group of 25 guys every year. We've been going for the past 5 years. What time frame are you looking at ? Axis rut start of May, it will be hot. Hunt tanks..we've all had success spot and stalk, tree blinds on tanks and ground blinds. It's a bow only hunt that we do. There is a huge black buck in the house pasture over 3 curls. It is very hard hunting. We pack lunches and plenty of cold ones and stay out all day. There is tons of axis. There is another black buck that likes to hang out in the open field when you past the dads house and take a right going to Bonnie's camp. I also like feeding corn on the roads, when we drive around. Good luck and post some pictures.

[Sideler]

Holly Resurrection, a thread from 2008.

I hunted there last week and saw at least a 100 different axis every day. It's not an easy hunt but it is very fun. I had several opportunities at bucks but didn't feel like paying the additional fee. I got busted on the draw once and missed a tight shot at 40 yards on a stalk one morning.

[Dandy123]

Sounds like a target rich environment.

[car]

I see this is a old post with new threads. The place does look good.

[DRT]

It's an old thread but the same question comes up every year.

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[TheHammer]

It's a fun place, with a ton of animals. To me, it's far from a easy hunt. I will continue to go back. I am going to try to make the July hunt this year.

[bow4life]

I've been the last two years and this year we will hunt the third weekend in June. The group of 20-22 guys I go with are a solid crew that have been going for the past 6-7 years. As mentioned above, it is a challenge and is not easy to say the least but there is a ton of animals. It is all a spot and stalk hunting in the summer on these group bowhunts and lends a ton of fun. Be prepared for heat, snakes, skeeters and hangovers.

2015: I hunted a pasture (by myself) that was easily over 1,000 acres. Drew back on a 22"-24" black buck within minutes on my first evening hunt. I elected to not take the shot at 70 yards with a frontal shot on such a small animal. Hours later I heard an axis buck fight and I was told that if you hear that walk straight to the sound, and I did just that. Low and behold a 34" buck walked with his does within 40 yards- well by time I able to get all the stars to align he made it to 54 yards and I let fly. Double lunged him and found him a short 60 yards later. Hunted axis does the rest of the time and ended up shooting a hog. Awesome trip.

2016: Hunted the same pasture and got in close on several smaller bucks and elected to pass on them at $850. Shoot a hog one morning and another one late one evening. When I returned to camp one evening, a guy shot a Corsican ram and I thought it looked pretty cool so I traded pastures with him and ended up shooting 2 rams and recovering only one. during the chase of the 2nd ram I had a sitka doe almost run me over and also got into a herd of axis with about a 30-32" axis buck at 16 yards- Had I not just shot 2 rams I would've shot that buck.

With all that being said, if any of you have a chance to go do yourself a favor a go. A lot of fun, and great practice for the upcoming elk hunts.

[Cypress Hunter]

With the price increase is it still worth hunting?

[bow4life]

Originally Posted by Cypress Hunter

With the price increase is it still worth hunting?

Absolutely

[afishinman14]

You won't find a much better deal even with the "price increases". I put that in quotes just because I never hunted out there before they raised prices haha. But if you pay $350 plus the $850 you're looking at $1200 for an axis buck. Hard to beat. And if you shoot some does.. really hard to beat. If you go in October and shoot a WT doe and a turkey hen. EVEN BETTER DEAL. I like that I can choose whether or not to shoot a buck, and decide if he's worth the price tag. And still get my money's worth and then some if I just shoot some does.

I had a 3+ curl blackbuck. Probably 20-22" walk 13yd in front of me on the trail/creek I set up on. But told myself going in, I wouldn't spend the $1300 on one that year. He was awesome though.

They used to include a blackbuck doe in the $350 years ago apparently. But the owner's husband told me his father in law sold off A LOT of blackbuck years back (let someone trap em) so that he could finance an Africa hunt. (Selfish). So for now blackbuck does are off limits in efforts to re-stock them quickly. Said there used to be way more blackbuck than axis. Which is hard to believe. Between driving around and walking around I would see 30-50 axis a day. Not in bow range. But I would see them.

Definitely recommend hunting away from the feeders for any kind of deer. Saw a lot more action that way. Very nice people as well.


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[Hard Knocks]

Im heading there Oct 5-8,Cant wait!

[hunterbabe]

Great ranch and great people....lots of animals but not an easy hunt. I just got back and killed a nice one.

[Sideler]

Way to go.

[hunterbabe]

I also killed the Sitka in my avatar there

[Slick8]

Wow, congrats on a great looking animal.

That's on my to do list. I may try to make one of the bow hunts next year.

[DrBob]

Hunted here on the summer bow hunt 3 times. Had a great time. Bonnie is very sweet and accommodating. Took me 3 times to learn the ranch and patterns. The 3rd time I got an axis doe. Had a decent buck in easy range but not quite big enough for what I wanted. Not easy hunting but the challenge makes it fun.

[hunterbabe]

Sitka bull

[hunterbabe]

Fall trip

[hunterbabe]

Fall @ Baker 3

[Trailerman3]

Originally Posted by hunterbabe

Sitka bull

I saw your post to Bonnie congrats on the kills. I just got my axis mount back from one I killed in May.

[hunterbabe]

I really enjoy that ranch...and they are such sweet people!!

[Trailerman3]

They are great people for sure! What pasture did you catch the Sika in without giving too much away?

[hunterbabe]

Taylor side...there seems to be a lot over there in every pasture!

[Trailerman3]

That’ll work been going for years and never hunted that side.

[KevBow]

How do you find the info on hunting there? I can’t find a website

[hunterbabe]

Their website is under maintenance...look them up on facebook

[KevBow]

Thanks

[kparker158]

Here now, first day of hunting and have seen lots of animals. Just kind in bow range. I’m thinking the group from last week has put a lot of pressure on the animals.

[chancito1]

Hunted ther for over 10 years straight, haven't been the last few years but I can tell you it's awesome from top to bottom. Bonnie is absolutely great and a pleasure to be around. You will not be disappointed

[Tschoerner]

My brother and I are going in the spring for axis does. What is the best way to hunt out there? Spot and stalk or blind/stand? Are tree stands better than ground blinds? Thanks for the help in advance. Hunterbabe congrats on the awesome animals you harvested!

[charlesotto]

tt

[Jack]

I have a buddy there right now. I Will post pics if he kills anything