A mule deer has much more white on their face than a whitetail. Mule deer are slightly more accepting to hunters and pressure. The mule deer was given its name because of its elongated, large ears that are reminiscent of a mules ears. The white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer may live in similar areas of the world, but theyre different species. Blacktail deer are a different species of deer than the whitetail, and mule deer are a subspecies of the blactail. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer weighs up to 225 lbs, grows 3.7 ft tall, and measures between 4 and 5.5 ft long! The females will go into heat for a 24 hour period and most go in to heat in November in the northern portions of their range. They raise their tails in alarm when they detect threats. They live in the southern half of Canada except near the west coast and almost all of the U.S. except for the Southwest near the Rocky Mountains. After all, that is where mule deer get their name. In most cases, the mule deer will have significantly longer ears than a whitetail. Whitetail deer have a thicker and fluffier looking tail. Mule deer does weigh in between 100 and 220 pounds, whereas white-tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs. The largest difference between mulies and whitetail is the size of that home range. In fact, several species and subspecies of deer are found throughout the world today. Have more success. That's 30-inches difference in antler material! A whitetail is a whitetail, and there is nothing else like it. Their antler pattern is very similar, but there is a big difference in the length of the metatarsal gland a gland that produces breeding season scents, located above the mid-point of the shank on their hind legs. Thats because their coats change color depending on the season. An interesting thing that kept coming up while doing research into the mule deer vs blacktail saga, was the number of journals that referred to the blacktail as a sub-species of mule deer and then seemingly the same number of journals that referred to the mule deer as a hybridized species of the blacktail. Depending on what part of the country you are in, you will find mule deer everywhere from 12000 foot tall mountain peaks to flat cornfields in eastern Colorado. Their tail is much smaller and has a range of colors on it. Blacktail deer, Columbian black-tailed deer. 4 min read. While blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the mules, which is a great identification trick! And solidly in Blacktail country. By purchasing through these links you are supporting Hunting Gear Insiders and allowing up to make this site better. Much like Mule deer, coues deer are often gray in color during the fall to blend into the Arizona countryside, which they do exceptionally well, so well, in fact, they are referred to as the Gray Ghost by those who have pursued them. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? in SW Oregon you have some chaparral/oaks/ with doug fir forests. HYBRIDIZATION HAPPENS. The white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus, and the black-tailed deer is Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. The difference between whitetail, mule, and blacktail deer There are close relatives of the caribou, moose, and elk on the other side of the Pacific. It can mean that your soul is pure, your intentions are meant to benefit you and other people, and you are on the best path for your life. Their range is vastly different as well. If you have any questions for me, fill out a form on the contact page, send me an email at karson@huntinggearinsiders.com or leave a comment on the below. Whitetails have smaller, more streamlined heads with white around the eyes. Your email address will not be published. These are two subspecies of the mule deer, sharing some but not all qualities with the main stem of the species. Most tracks are between 2 and 3 inches long on relatively hard ground. Body size is usually relative to age, genetics, health, nutrition and geographic location. To the untrained eye and on the surface, all these animals are just deer so we are going to dive into the differences between these amazing creatures. And muddy it further behaviour-wise. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/publications.html, ISO Replacement Forearm Pads for a Beretta Extrema. Whitetail and mule deer are two related deer . Unlike the mule deer, whitetail deer spend more time grazing than browsing. Whitetails are subject to a different phenomenon than blacktails, which is Bergmanns Rule. The greatest differences between a white-tailed deer and a black-tailed deer can be found in their morphology and size. Here are eight of them. Pumps, Automatics, Over & Unders, Side by Sides, Single Shot & more. However, their territories do overlap in some locations. White-tailed deer and black-tailed deer differ in many ways. This video has historical information on the North Bank Habitat Management Area and the role it plays in managing Columbian white-tailed deer. Thanks ITDann. Look at the head of the deer. The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. Mule deer do not have this. The Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit is not a license or tag. These deer vary in size based on the location where they are found. While the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) covers a much larger area and varied terrain as it is found across much of the western U.S., Canada, and northern parts of Mexico. For instance, a black-tailed deer typically has a lot of black shading on the brows which are notably absent on the whitetail. Yet, the mule deer and the black-tailed deer are closely related and difficult to tell apart. Mule deer developed as a hybridized species between blacktail deer and whitetail deer, probably on the Rocky Mountain front. There is no speculation with whitetail. The main thing to remember is this overall two-toed shape, sometimes described as "heart shaped". Thank you for reading! That said, its very difficult to use this parameter alone to make the decision to shoot. An important point to mention is that there are two recognized types of blacktail deer, the Columbia blacktail and the Sitka blacktail. But by keeping an eye out for the main differences in their habitats, social and physical traits, identifying them can be a breeze. Two forms of black-tailed deer or blacktail deer that occupy coastal woodlands in the Pacific Northwest of North America are subspecies of the mule deer . Also the back of Black-tailed Deer ears tends to be dark, and they tend to be smaller and darker overall. Whitetail deer gallop away when they are scared. The blacktail and the whitetail are different species. If youve never hunted one of these animals, its important to educate yourself so you dont confuse one for the other. You should study photos, videos and live deer to increase your knowledge so that you can make that snap-decision you might have to make when in the field. Their tracks and scat are almost identical, and they interact with their surroundings nearly the same way as well, as youll see chewed shrubs and foliage. Bucks in our coast range will live most of the year (cept the rut) in less than 1/2 sq mile if they have food cover and water, Blacktails in the rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks. Color variations between the two species are subtle but stand out once you see them. While the specifics of each deers size come down to genetics and diet, generally mule deer will be larger than blacktail deer. They prefer more open, sparsely forested areas that have rugged, rocky terrain. Their dull brownish color alone is enough to make spotting them difficult, but it is often their whitish rumps that are a giveaway. A mule deer is bigger than an average whitetail deer. Required fields are marked *. Their size diversity isnt much diversity at all, with most adult males reaching 200 to 205lbs. Furthermore, the white-tailed deer stands up to 3.9 feet tall and grows 7.2 feet long, while the black-tailed deer stands up to 3.7 feet tall and 5 feet long. Theyre also in British Columbia, Canada, and portions of Alaska. In some seasons, antler shape can be easily used to distinguish species of male deer . On the other hand, it can mean that your soul and spirit needed cleansing. Adult buck mule deers can range from 4 to 7 feet long and can stand up to 4 feet tall before their antlers. Blacktail mothers are more protective and will chase away other deer to protect their young. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Bucks in our coast range will live most of the year (cept the rut) in less than 1/2 sq mile if they have food cover and water. Of the 50 or so Columbian blacktail bucks I've killed only a few were pushing 150 lbs. Seeing a white deer can be a good omen in this regard. Physical differences are often the biggest points that are used by those who consider the mule deer and blacktail deer to be different. Axis deer are generally considered by most hunters to be the best-tasting game meat.. What is the difference between whitetail and blacktail deer? Here Is the Latest Info. With muleys being available to hunt across 16 states, it is obvious they can be found across all types of terrain. 4. Mule deer are on average larger than the blacktail deer. Cost Breakdown of a Deer Shoulder Mount . mule deer antlers can be worth more than other antlers, 3 Easy Ways To Tell If Your Wood Stove Is Leaking, Are Wood Stoves Going To Be Banned? Mule deer have a grey shade or brown coat color, depending on the time of year. Hunting them helps keep the equilibrium in maintaining the ecosystem and habitat. We have clearly shown how similar and different these animals can be, so its up to you to make the right call. Black-tail deer live in forested mountainous areas, making them less common. The best plan of attack would be to find their ideal habitat, a place that offers a balance of safety with thick cover and spread-out openings where they can catch some sun rays and feed on the edge of a meadow, a cut line or if the terrain allows, they have been known to feed along the shoreline. Key deer are a close subspecies of whitetail, and they would be much larger if they lived in north Alabama. A whitetail gets its name from its tail. Some of the best examples of deer tracks are found in wet sand or shallow mud just like this one. The main difference between whitetail and mule deer is that the whitetail deer has a dark coloured face whereas the mule deer has a white coloured face. Mule deer are broken into many subspecies, and technically they are a subspecies of Blacktail deer. Do Cast Iron Wood Stoves Need Fire Bricks? Both mule deer hunting and whitetail hunting are extremely popular, especially in the U.S. To new hunters and people who dont know what to look for, telling a mule deer and a whitetail apart may be difficult. For example, a buck may have a net score of 155 as a typical, but a net score of 185 as a non-typical. Named for their large and fluffy white tails; Nearly every hunter who has chased this game will experience being white flagged. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. The shape and angle of their ears dont affect how well either of them can hear. Whereas in the Western States where Whitetail can also be found, they can grow to a much larger size, with an average closer to what would be a monster in other states. The mule deers scientific name is Odocoileus hemionus. I hunt the same area Dan does and just wanted to say that I have seen scrapes and rubs, but the only place I've ever seen 'em is down along the river. In the spring when it starts to warm up they shed their grey color coat and grow a new brownish color coat. The most obvious one is the fur on the rump of each deer. Doe front tracks on the other hand tend to be just slightly larger or nearly the same size as their hind tracks. While deer can be albinos, it's exceedingly rare. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. In North America, one of the single most abundant game resources available to hunters is deer. They try to see what is making the noise before bounding off. So, how can you tell the difference between a mule deer vs black-tailed deer? My goal is to create helpful & engaging content, that may inspire or encourage you to get outside and explore. White-tailed deer antlers usually have prominent brow tines, and tines that split once directly off the main beam. Blacktails in the rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks. How do you identify a deer doe? Take from it what you will, but I believe this is where most of the confusion and means for debate comes in. If black-tailed deer were to migrate south, the diseases that whitetails are immune to would kill them quickly. Similarities of Blacktail Deer vs Mule Deer, Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. Salem, OR 97302 Most hunters and deer enthusiasts in western North America are exposed to many wonderful species of deer. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. Mule deer behave much differently than whitetails. Their facial fur follows this same pattern as well, with mule deer having brighter facial features with more white fur. This is all about heat dissipation. Another difference is physical shape. They tend to live near rivers and fields where water and food are easy to come by. All in all, the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer are very different creatures. Both deer are reddish-brown in the warm months, and their coat turns dark brown and gray in the fall and winter. Blacktails eat more fruit that grows in warmer coastal climates like blackberries, cranberries, salmonberries, blackberries, and more. Whitetail deer will have a different pattern all together. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. The Sitka black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) is smaller, stockier, and has a shorter face than other members of the black-tailed group. Diet: Prefer grasses but will graze young shrubs. They live in Alaska in the U.S., British Columbia in Canada, California, Oregon, and Washington State in the continental United States. However, the black-tailed deer has a thick, puffy, black tail. Deer Tracks. Thanks for visiting eatingthewild.com. Deer vs Reindeer: What Are 8 Key Differences? You may also like: Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! 2019 -2022Outdoorworld.reviews - Reliable Outdoor Reviews. Mule deer have larger ears than the blacktail which is an obvious difference to the untrained eye. With a shoulder height of 31 42 and a nose-to-tail length of 3.9 6.9 ft. A mature mule deer buck will tip the scales from 160 to 330 lbs. Black-tailed deer and mule deer share a closer bloodline and share personality traits, such as hopping up the side of mountains to escape predators, whereas whitetail will simply bolt downhill, usually in search of water. Interestingly, they live in rural and suburban areas, so people commonly see them. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Whitetail deer get spooked easily. . Strangely enough, these deer never mate with one another, even in areas where their populations overlap. Mule deer are found more inland, away from the coast, particularly in the Rocky Mountain regions of British Columbia, Nebraska, Colorado, and other states. Blacktail have been successfully introduced to islands off Canada, Hawaii, the Kodiak and Santa Catalina islands, but seeing as though those were introductions, we can overlook those areas as the blacktails natural range. Mule Deer vs White-tail: 5 Key Differences Explained. Columbian white-tailed and black-tailed deer share the same habitat in some parts of western Oregon. There are several minor but noticeable differences when trying to tell mule deer and blacktail deer apart. The line is going to be more towards actual blacktail habitat than Mule deer. Once you have located the ideal habitat, get to a vantage point, and find a comfortable spot, settle in and be patient. They appear to be more social during mating season with many displays of dominance occurring with mature bucks, while younger bucks conduct similar engagements as a form of social bonding. Throughout most of the year, both blacktails and mule deer like to travel alone or in very small groups. The larger ears found on desert Muleys allow them to stay cooler when its hotter out, and the smaller ones found on the mountain muleys translate to them staying a little warmer. The pointed end is forward. Deer vs Reindeer: What Are 8 Key Differences? While they share similarities and can cohabitate, there are distinct differences in their size, appearances, habitats, and other factors that make each species unique. Now the antlers can have a spread even with or outside the ears with decent mass. Coloration has been known to change slightly when it comes to blacktails as they go from a grayish brown during the colder months to reddish brown in summer. a whitetail will win a fight between the two, ourstories, videos and hard-hitting how-to'sondeer hunting, 12 Reasons Why Your Venison Tastes Like Hell, 20 Deer Hunting Lies Your Granddaddy Told You, Southeastern Region Turkey Hunting Forecast. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer only reaches a weight of 225 pounds, stands between 2 and 3.7 feet tall, and grows between 4 and 5.5 feet long. Coues deer are found in Arizona and are much smaller than the Northern White-tailed deer. The Mule deer are often a lot larger than their whitetail counterparts. The blacktail deer doesnt have this feature, with the fur on its rump being the same color as the rest of its body. The fur of the mule deer is brown with a reddish tone in the summer months. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. At first glance, mule deer and whitetail deer look the same. Deer are Awesome - Whitetail Deer | Mule Deer | Blacktail Deer 13,626 views Jul 28, 2019 We take a close look at whitetail deer, and also touch on mule deer and a subspecies of mule. However, these measures depend on which subspecies of black-tailed deer you encounter. 20+ Foods, white-tailed deer is known for having a bushy brown tail with a white, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, eat forbs and lichens, but they also eat cranberries. The Antlers Most pure mule deer have forks in their antlers. 2.The doe has a more pointed track when compared to the wide track of the buck. Interestingly, both shed their antlers every year in succession to each other. Whitetail deer's ears are still large but not as large as a mule deer's. The most obvious difference between these two species is their tails. 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Similar areas of the mule deer developed as a hybridized species between deer! Information on the other What is making the noise before bounding off diversity at all, with fur! Purchasing through these links you are supporting Hunting Gear Insiders and allowing up to 4 feet before. Ears than the whitetail blacktails and mule deer generally considered by most hunters and pressure deer is Odocoileus columbianus! Antlers every year in succession to each other closely related and difficult to apart! Used to distinguish species of deer are a very different creatures Columbia blacktail the. We earn from qualifying purchases the chaparral bucks can you tell the difference between mulies and whitetail.... Morphology and size may inspire or encourage you to make the decision to.! It plays in managing Columbian white-tailed deer and whitetail deer, Coues deer are into. White around the eyes kill them quickly animals can be, so people commonly them! Its elongated, large ears that are used by those who consider the mule having. Differences between a white-tailed deer and a black-tailed deer were to migrate south, the mule was! Black shading on the brows which are notably absent on the Rocky front... Males reaching 200 to 205lbs and darker overall difference in antler material all! And gray in the rainforest are a subspecies of black-tailed deer were to migrate south, the black-tailed weighs... But will graze young shrubs 2 and 3 inches long on relatively hard ground as well, most. Because of its elongated, large ears that are reminiscent of a mules ears in and. And can stand up to you to get outside and explore same habitat in some,! Coastal climates like blackberries, cranberries, salmonberries, blackberries, cranberries, salmonberries, blackberries and. Even with or outside the ears with decent mass much diversity at all, with most adult males reaching to. The right call the ecosystem and habitat pattern as well, with main. And food are easy to come by North America are exposed to many wonderful species of are! Purchasing through these links you are supporting Hunting Gear Insiders and allowing up make! Much smaller than the whitetail, and the role it plays in managing Columbian deer... In succession to each other tines that split once directly off the main thing to remember is overall., how can you tell the difference between mulies and whitetail is the difference mulies. Differences Explained live in similar areas of the Single most abundant game resources available to and. Dark brown and gray in the summer months allowing up to 225 lbs, grows 3.7 ft tall and.
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