Unlike most deer species, the axis deer does not have a specific breeding season; instead, it breeds throughout the year, depending on the sexual maturity conferred by its antlers.

It lives in a herd consisting of a dominant male surrounded by numerous females and a few males who remain on the periphery.

Males shed their thin, sparsely branched antlers at any time of year. They then leave the herd to wait for them to grow back. It is undoubtedly the lack of synchronisation in antler growth that makes axis males the least aggressive of the Cervidae family, with males generally only fighting other males with similarly armed heads.

Its other name, "chital", is a Hindi word meaning "spotted", which aptly describes the axis deer, whose fawn-coloured coat is spotted with white throughout the year, just like the fallow deer. However, unlike the fallow deer, its antlers are not palmate.

Axis deer often graze under trees occupied by langurs. These primates frequently drop fruit, which axis deer love to eat. In addition, the alarm calls of these tree-dwelling monkeys, high up in the branches, provide extra protection against predators, which can be spotted from afar. The deer flee and, with bursts of speed reaching 90 km/h, manage to outrun their predators.

The axis deer is a protected species and is not endangered. It is found in many protected areas. Locally, it may suffer from habitat degradation or be hunted when it competes with livestock.

It has been introduced as game in many countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil and the United States.