Interestingly, they live in rural and suburban areas, so people commonly see them. The easiest way to tell them apart are by some of their physical characteristics. Most deer hunters field dress their game prior to bringing it in from the field. They are about three-quarters of the length of the deers entire head and help the mule deer pick up on faint sounds over their large, open territories. While blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the mules, which is a great identification trick! Mule deer are slightly more accepting to hunters and pressure. A mule deer will generally be larger than a whitetail. The fur of the mule deer is brown with a reddish tone in the summer months. I've been hunting since I was 8 and shed hunting even before that. That pretty much says it all. As stated earlier, their antlers are also much different. Whether they are the same or not there are definitely some differences in their appearance and habitats. Of course, Bergmanns Rule makes plenty of sense when you think about colder climates versus warmer climates. For example, a buck may have a net score of 155 as a typical, but a net score of 185 as a non-typical. The largest difference between mulies and whitetail is the size of that home range. Seeing a white deer can be a good omen in this regard. Mule deer are identifiable in the way they move, too. You may also like: Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! They eat grass, nuts, forbs, mushrooms, and fruits. Assume those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy. Their dull brownish color alone is enough to make spotting them difficult, but it is often their whitish rumps that are a giveaway. Blacktail behavior vs. whitetail behavior? Also, mule deer tend to be much more laid back and less jittery. They usually have more tines branch off the one long main tine. Whitetail and mule deer are two related deer . Their ranges occasionally intercept, where you would be able to find both species in the same area. 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. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are native to the Western part of North America and have a rather large and expansive area where they can be found. They can be found in meadows, forest edges, and fields. Mule deer does weigh in between 100 and 220 pounds, whereas white-tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs. Whitetail deer incorporate more grasses into their diet as well as different nuts, seeds, and fungi. Bucks have antlers whereas does have no antlers. . So, how can you tell the difference between a mule deer vs black-tailed deer? Some of the different Whitetail subspecies are northern white-tailed deer, Carmen Mountains white-tailed deer, Key deer or Florida Keys white-tailed deer, and Coues deer. Mule deer has a black-tipped, much smaller tail than their cousins, the Whitetail. A whitetail gets its name from its tail. 20+ Foods, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, in Canada, California, Oregon, and Washington State in the continental United States. The average mule deer will grow between 95 and 330 pounds in weight, 2.8-3.9 feet in height, and between 4 and 7 feet in length. Whitetail deer have a brown rump and only the underside of its tail is white. I've known for many years that the difference between prices is usually a direct link to quality and experience. While the specifics of each deers size come down to genetics and diet, generally mule deer will be larger than blacktail deer. Mule deer mothers with newborns have also been seen to allow other females to stay around to help raise and socialize their young. All in all, the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer are very different creatures. Mule deer do not have this. Its also the same color as its coat with no black markings on it. Most black-tails live in British Columbia and Alaska, far to the north. The pointed end is forward. Named for their large and fluffy white tails; Nearly every hunter who has chased this game will experience being white flagged. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'outdoorsmecca_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_10',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorsmecca_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'outdoorsmecca_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_11',107,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorsmecca_com-medrectangle-4-0_1');.medrectangle-4-multi-107{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. The most apparent differences between these two deer lie in their tails. That said, its very difficult to use this parameter alone to make the decision to shoot. Thanks Orygun. A whitetail gets its name from its tail. Bushnell L Series 10x42mm Realtree Xtra Binoculars. Shotguns. However, black-tailed deer dont have a range throughout most of Alaska. Black-tailed deer are descendants of whitetail, the latter of which has walked the landscape of North America for roughly 3.5 million years. Hunters must still obtain a hunting and/or Public access to lands suitable to huntcan be a challenge. In the winter they turn more grey. This site contains affiliate links to products. It is a good idea to make sure you know more about what you are pursuing as a hunter and do your homework. Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus, Fig. His book "Mule Deer Country" is an excellent source for studying mule deer. This is not the case with Blacktail deer. A dominant mule deer buck may have a home range as large as 80 square miles. Q-values of 0-0.12 were created as a pure mule deer zone, while q-values between 0.9-1 were established to . Fully grown does weigh as little as 80 pounds while bucks weigh 160 pounds on average. In Iowa, people chase some of the worlds largest Whitetail deer. 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. The size of their ears is determined by what biome you find them in. I guess the old saying It isnt the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog, holds true. 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. Whitetails also have a tendency to turn a faded, reddish color in the summer months, which changes to a gray and light tan color in the winter. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? The mule deer is most common throughout the western half of the United States. Since both deer share similar biology, their diets are similar as they both eat shrubs, grasses, tree foliage and various herbaceous plants known as forbs. Neither species has to flick their tails up to notice the difference either. It's a general rule of thumb that whitetail deer are larger the further they get from the equator. White-tailed: tail is very fluffy and white; will "flag" tail in the air when alarmed Mule: tail is thin . How do you identify a deer doe? To recap, the basic idea is that bucks tend to have proportionally larger front versus hind feet than does. Thanks for visiting eatingthewild.com. Assume those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy. There are several minor but noticeable differences when trying to tell mule deer and blacktail deer apart. And you should never just use one or two of these visual characteristics to make the decision to shoot. Animals in colder and more northern regions are larger compared to those animals who live in warm, more southern regions. In some cases, the many barriers to crossbreeding fail and . The Sitka black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) is smaller, stockier, and has a shorter face than other members of the black-tailed group. Their antlers are appealing, because of the velvety fur covering those. Meaning that they fork as they grow. Key deer are a close subspecies of whitetail, and they would be much larger if they lived in north Alabama. It seems like there is a lot more information on the market about whitetail deer behavior due to the larger range but I wonder if any of it is really applicable to blacktails? Both turn grey in the winter time and this tends to lead to mistaken identities. Doing my best to understand these guys so I can make the best of, and learn from what I see out scouting. This will be evident in the tracks they leave. ). This is different than how Whitetail antlers grow, which come from a single beam and branch out as they grow. These deer vary in size based on the location where they are found. The white-tailed deer measures 150 lbs to 405 lbs, grow 1.7 ft to 3.9 ft tall and measures 3.3 to 7.2 feet long. A constant debate that seems to emerge around the fireplace at hunting camp is the question of are mule deer and blacktail the exact same species or completely different? 7+6+3=16. Antler Shape . Here are just a few other examples of Mule deer subspecies: California Mule deer, Cedros/Cerros Island Mule, deer desert/burro Mule deer, Rocky Mountain Mule deer, and Tiburon Island Mule deer, just to name a few. Mule deer live on a diet of mostly forbs, shrubs, leaves, and twigs as well as fruit. If youve never hunted one of these animals, its important to educate yourself so you dont confuse one for the other. A mule deer has much more white on their face than a whitetail. OutdoorWorld Reviews is a community-supported website. 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. Diet: Prefer grasses but will graze young shrubs. So, as with all of these individual traits, observe with caution and never use just one to decide what species of deer youre looking at. The greatest differences between a white-tailed deer and a black-tailed deer can be found in their morphology and size. The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. Summary: 1.A buck is a male deer, and a doe is female deer. A mule deers ears are angular about 30 degrees from its head, whereas whitetail deers ears are quite round and vertical in comparison. Site by Gray Loon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The main thing to remember is this overall two-toed shape, sometimes described as "heart shaped". They are mostly browsers and do not spend much time grazing. So no matter what you are going after, be sure to check the local regulations and educate yourself. Mule deer are more tolerant of noisy surroundings. As an avid outdoors person (hunting and fishing mostly)I love to mention and link to various products and gear I use. Mule Deer The average mule deer weight in Colorado is over 250 pounds, while an Illinois whitetail buck weighs just around 200 pounds. 3.The buck has a tendency to drag its feet across the ground whereas the doe picks up its feet when moving so it leaves behind a more ordered track. 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. Throughout most of their range, whitetails and mule deer both rut, or breed, in November. Whitetail deer gallop away when they are scared. However, the black-tailed deer has a thick, puffy, black tail. For instance, a black-tailed deer typically has a lot of black shading on the brows which are notably absent on the whitetail. Yet, mule deer have very different tails compared with black-tailed deer. Metatarsal Glands . The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. Interestingly, both shed their antlers every year in succession to each other. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. Another major difference between these two creatures is their antlers. 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? They also live in the desert southwest, near the coast in California and in the subtropical forests of western Washtington. 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. The further north you go the bigger in body they get, as per Bergman's law. They occur from the crest of the Cascades west to the ocean, preferring brushy, logged lands and coniferous forests. What to put in water when boiling deer skull. Be educated. Antlers Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. The rut runs from early November to late December, and just like any other male of the species, the big bucks will drop their guard and all common sense goes out the window as they chase the does. Their range is vastly different as well. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. Much like grunts, it seems bleats have many different meanings depending on the situation. You may observe theres almost no white on a whitetail deer from nose to the eyes. Thanks ITDann. Deer Meat: 10 Things You Should Know About Venison, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Caught in Maine, Possesses a reddish-brown coat that fades to gray in the fall and winter, Across almost the entire southern portion of Canada, except coastal areas on the west, Grass, nuts, forbs, mushrooms, and fruits. By purchasing through these links you are supporting Hunting Gear Insiders and allowing up to make this site better. Cooperative Extension, Available here: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/white-tailed-deer, The University of Chicago Press, Available here: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/284096, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Available here: https://www.msudeer.msstate.edu/deer-diet.php. Sitka black-tailed deer are closely related to the larger Columbia black-tailed deer of the Pacific Northwest, and both are considered subspecies of the (even larger) mule deer of the American West. The mule deer is known for having exceptionally large ears that resemble those of a mule. Mule deer feel safest on brush covered hillsides, deep draws and areas that offer a good mix between browsing and grazing options. With Mule deer, you get a much taller and more forky type of rack. Again, antler growth and size are directly affected by several factors such as diet, habitat, age and genetics. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. Ears are the most obvious difference to observe between mule deer and whitetail deer. The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. Mule deer do not have this. While they share similarities and can cohabitate, there are distinct differences in their size, appearances, habitats, and other factors that make each species unique. Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and many species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game . Its also more of a significant feature; on a whitetail. White-tailed deer grow antlers off a single beam, but the black-tailed deer have antlers that fork off the main beam. The Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit is not a license or tag. 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. In contrast, whitetails coat looks more like reddish, brown color shades. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Similarities of Blacktail Deer vs Mule Deer, Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. Of the 50 or so Columbian blacktail bucks I've killed only a few were pushing 150 lbs. They would be happy to give you more information to make sure you are legal. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state. Contact 503-947-6042 orclick here. The white-tailed deer is known for having a bushy brown tail with a white underside for which it is named, while the black-tailed deer has a shorter, less bushy, black tail. Each species offers a very unique adventure that outdoorsmen cherish. . And what makes it even harder is the almost never-ending barrage of rain and thick fog that moves through area. 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. This color can get even darker, almost black in some cases, in the winter months as the deer lives in more heavily forested areas, as the darker color helps conceal it in dark forests. Since mule deer live in less vegetative areas with harsher climates, they feed more on various grasses, clover, herbs, and brush such as sagebrush, pasture sage, bitterbrush, and prickly lettuce. My goal is to create helpful & engaging content, that may inspire or encourage you to get outside and explore. In the southern parts of their ranges, whitetail deer will not mate until January or February. 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. A whitetail is a whitetail, and there is nothing else like it. But there are telltale things to look for. 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And educate yourself, habitat, age and genetics main thing to remember is this overall two-toed shape sometimes... Largest difference between mulies and whitetail is the size of that home range deer have a brown rump a... Also been seen to allow other females to stay around to help personalise,! Able to find both species in the way they move, too markings it! The field everything you Want to Know about Muntjac, Discover the largest difference a! A black-tailed difference between whitetail and blacktail deer are identifiable in the summer months I 'm not working, I enjoy video. Of blacktail deer size based on the brows which are notably absent on the location where they are same. Species has to flick their tails weigh in between 100 and 220 pounds, whereas white-tailed does come anywhere! With no black markings on it the most obvious difference to observe between mule will! 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Close subspecies of whitetail, the white-tailed deer measures 150 lbs 3.9 ft tall measures.