All About Exotics

Hog Deer

(Axis porcinus) India and Southeast Asia; larger race from Thailand

ID

Short, squaty deer with pig-like body structure standing a mere 24 inches at the shoulder.  Slender legs in relation to overall body mass with hindlimbs slightly loner than forelimbs, raising the rump higher than shoulders.  Faces are short and wedge-shaped.  Have unusually large, rounded ears that are fringed with white hairs.  Tails are partially bushy.  Brown coat sometimes having a yellow to reddish tint that darkens in males with age.  May have indistinct tan to white spots.  Fawns are born spotted.  Male (bucks) have basic 3 pt. antlers growing from enlarged pedicels, that are shed annually and can grow to lengths of 24 inches.  Wide antler spreads are common.  Male weights range from 60 to 110 lbs; females 60 to 90 lbs.

Behavior

Tend to run, “crashing”, head first, through dense brush when escaping danger.  Head is held low to help them duck obstacles instead of jumping over like most deer species.  Their tails are raised, showing the white underside.  When alarmed, hog deer make a whistling vocalization or a warning bark sounding much like the warning call of axis deer (see Video below).  Hog deer are generally placid animals except during rut.  Males are often solitary unless drawn together by food.   During the rut, bucks fight, thrash trees, spar with fence posts, and plow ground with antlers. Unlike other deer, hog deer do not make rutting calls.  Males mark territory with glandular secretions.

Food Habits

Primarily grazers.  Tend raid crops heavily.

Breeding

Breed year round with rut from September to December, depending on region.  Gestation is 6 to 8 months with 1 young born (2, on occasion).  Most births occur February to June.  Young are weaned for 6 months.  Males mature at 10 to 16 mos and females as yearlings

Keeping hog deer

Cross with axis deer and European fallow deer.  8 ft fencing adequate. Can clear 7 ft. but avoid jumping obstacles.

Life Span

Typically live 10 to 20 years in captivity and in the wild.

Interesting Fact

Hog deer venison has become a sought after source of protein in the United States.  The meat was judged best tasting wild game meat by the Exotic Wildlife Association and is considered fat free (contains less than 1% fat).

Hunting

Opportunities to hunt hog deer are limited.  Ranches that stock them are few and far between.  Expect to pay around $4500 for a trophy buck in the U.S.  Check out our ‘Find A Hunt’ section for featured outfitters.

Scoring

SCI Record Book Minimums:

	Standard	Bow
Bronze Score	—	40
Silver Score	—	—
Gold Score	44 1/8	61 5/8

Current SCI All-Time Record:  94 – Norman L. Epley (rifle);
Current #8 – 60 – Nick Hopmann (see pic)

Score Your Trophy

Hog deer SCI Score Sheet

** To find an official measurer in your area, visit the Safari Club International’s (SCI) measurer locator.