Thank you for reading! The white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer may live in similar areas of the world, but theyre different species. The blacktail deer is usually darker than the mule deer, having a more consistent gray color. White-tailed deer are one of the most common in the Americas, but there are some less-known creatures, like black-tailed deer. March 1, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, February 24, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes. Hunters must still obtain a hunting and/or Public access to lands suitable to huntcan be a challenge. There is no speculation with whitetail. That's why we have theOregon Hunting They have a distinct white patch that covers a fairly large area on their rear. This is not a common phenomenon for blacktail deer. This is actually a pretty unique characteristic as most other deer in North America have white tails, hence the whitetail deer, while mule deers have mostly whitetails with a small black tip. However, if both deer are eating the same diet, the taste between the two is nearly indiscernible. Be it the mountains or the desert. Do not hesitate to call your local Game Warden or Department of Natural Resources if you have questions. Mule deer has mule-like large ears but those are small in whitetail deer. Check outourstories, videos and hard-hitting how-to'sondeer hunting. Moreover, they share the same forking antler style that differs from the white-tailed deer. Blacktails prefer mild winters and humid environments. Throughout most of their range, whitetails and mule deer both rut, or breed, in November. Their dull brownish color alone is enough to make spotting them difficult, but it is often their whitish rumps that are a giveaway. Deer Bleats Doe bleats, much like grunts, have numerous variations, all dependent on a given situation. Whitetail deer get spooked easily. 2) are our most common deer subspecies. Mule deer does take longer to mature. Assume those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy. These deer vary in size based on the location where they are found. 16x2=32. I've measured P&Y Blacktails who have won the biennual bowhunting awards in California bigger than any Mule deer I've killed. Luckily the question of if you are dealing with a blacktail deer vs mule deer can be solved with the identification of several interesting differences. Axis deer are generally considered by most hunters to be the best-tasting game meat.. What is the difference between whitetail and blacktail deer? Mule deer are on average larger than the blacktail deer. Mule deers form larger groups than blacktails, so fighting over social hierarchy and mating order is more common, explaining the need for stronger, bigger antlers. Mule deer behave much differently than whitetails. Physical differences are often the biggest points that are used by those who consider the mule deer and blacktail deer to be different. Whitehead, Jr., C. J. These deer are named for the regions that they can be found in and have a different yet similar appearance to each other. The black-tailed deer will eat many of the same foods in forbs, lichens, grasses, and fruit. 4 min read. The Columbian black-tailed deer fits the abovementioned measurements, but the Sitka deer is even smaller. Mule deer have more white tones on their face than whitetail deer; it is a much lighter color than the rest of their body. The mule deer is most common throughout the western half of the United States. Their name originates from Sitka, Alaska, and it is not to be confused with the similarly named sika deer. OutdoorWorld Reviews is a community-supported website. Yet, mule deer have very different tails compared with black-tailed deer. Thanks, Mule Deer vs Whitetail 8 Key Differences To Tell Them Apart, Mule Deer vs. Whitetail Deer Visual Differences, indigenous to the Western North American belt, Mounting And Sighting In A Rifle Scope Updated [2021], Elk vs Moose The 7 Key Differences To Help You Tell The Two Apart, Best Single Stage Reloading Press Top 5 For 2021, Best Rubber Hunting Boots Reviews And Buyers Guide, Best Light For Coyote Hunting Full Buyers Guide, Best Night Vision Scope For Coyote Hunting Full Buyers Guide, Best Coyote Decoy For 2021 Full Buyers Guide. Mule deer developed as a hybridized species between blacktail deer and whitetail deer, probably on the Rocky Mountain front. Mule deer have longer, pointy, and floppier ears than whitetail deer. 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. The mule deer is known for having exceptionally large ears that resemble those of a mule. Its when you start looking a little closer that youll start to notice some of the physical differences. Deer Tracks. Whitetail deer has a restless tail. Black-tailed females can reach up to 130lbs while whitetail females generally reach 155lbs. The mule deer has a white rump with a small, thin white tail tipped in black. Thanks for visiting eatingthewild.com. Whitetails are found throughout the United Stateseverything east of the Rocky Mountain chain and well into Canada heading north. 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. They occur from the crest of the Cascades west to the ocean, preferring brushy, logged lands and coniferous forests. Deer come in many shapes and sizes despite seeming like monolithic creatures. Ok, so the scientists and research articles that are focused on the taxonomy lineage and genetic makeup of a species have concluded that the mule deer and blacktail deer are in essence the same species. They cannot mix with other species of deer. As the name suggests, black-tailed deer have a wide, triangular tail with a dark brown or black top and a white underside. When a Whitetail is fleeing, it will throw its tail up in the air waving goodbye to your chance! Whitetails also have a higher birth rate, their does can often breed their first fall at 6 months of age. These deer are found within coastal regions, and their size results from living in that biome. Most pure mule deer have forks in their antlers. According to Western states Departments of Natural resources, if a Blacktail deer moves further west, it becomes a Mule deer. All in all, the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer are very different creatures. You must log in or register to reply here. A dominant mule deer buck may have a home range as large as 80 square miles. 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 Meat: 10 Things You Should Know About Venison, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Caught in Maine, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in Canada. Others have hunted and continue to hunt both. Depending on the location, the climate, and the time of the year, it should be fairly easy to tell the difference between the two. Significantly, both deer have white in their neck areas. The other subspecies would be the Sitka deer or Sitka Blacktail. Also, black-tailed deer have longer ears than white-tailed deer due to their closeness to the mule deer ancestry. 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. Damn Dan. Thanks Orygun. As you can see, many different types of deer roam across North (and South) America. The further north you go the bigger in body they get, as per Bergman's law. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. As evident from the height and weight differences, mule deer have a more muscular look with broader shoulders, a thicker neck, and a larger head to support its larger antlers. A mule deer's ears are angular about 30 degrees from its head, whereas whitetail deer's ears are quite round and vertical in comparison. They are a much better option than corn or hay. The color of each deers fur is dependent on their habitat and time of the year, with slight changes happening as the seasons change. With muleys being available to hunt across 16 states, it is obvious they can be found across all types of terrain. The Sitka deer or Sitka black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) is a subspecies of mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ), similar to the Columbian black-tailed subspecies ( O. h. colombianus ). Breeding season: Late September to October. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. So, how can you tell the difference between a mule deer vs black-tailed deer? In Iowa, people chase some of the worlds largest Whitetail deer. Whitetail and mule deer are two related deer . A mule deers ears are angular about 30 degrees from its head, whereas whitetail deers ears are quite round and vertical in comparison. Coat colors greatly vary in mule deer and whitetail deer species. White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: What Are the Differences? They tend to be higher up and in rocky areas. 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. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Also, most mule deer will have very short brow tines, or none at all. Mule deer evolved from Blacktail deer. All Rights Reserved. As stated earlier, their antlers are also much different. Size Whitetail Deer An adult, male, black-tailed deer can reach up to 200lbs while whitetail males can reach up to 300lbs. Antler Shape . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. They may look alike at first glance, but their unique qualities make it simple to tell them apart. . Shotguns. Blacktail deer, Columbian black-tailed deer. The blacktail deer doesnt have this feature, with the fur on its rump being the same color as the rest of its body. Not unlike Mule deer, there are many subspecies of Whitetail deer. However, Northern populations have lighter, and Southern populations are darker comparatively. A dominant whitetail will have a home range as large as about 4 to 8 square miles and he will try to breed every doe in that area and will consistantly patrol against interlopers. From a distance, their antlers seem similar, but on close inspection, there is a distinct difference. In fact, Whitetail deer can be found down in South and Central America as well. Both deer will grow up to 36 to 42 inches at the shoulders. While blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the mules, which is a great identification trick! Mule deer mate from mid- to late November; white-tailed deer breed from late November to early December. Sharper toes typically indicate a younger deer, but this varies . The print of a deer's cloven hoof is a split heart shape. That makes it important for hunters and other wildlife lovers to know the visual difference between the two. Cost Breakdown of a Deer Shoulder Mount . 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. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? The size of their ears is determined by what biome you find them in. But mule deer also have some white in their tails, so whats the difference? On their own, its easy to tell if you are looking at a Mule deer or a Whitetail. 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. To recap, the basic idea is that bucks tend to have proportionally larger front versus hind feet than does. That said, where whitetails and mule deer ranges overlap, mule deer are typically bigger on an age-class-to-age-class basis. Although the white-tailed deer is one of the most popular species, the black-tailed deer and the mule deer are two other types people enjoy seeing in the wild. Dr. Valerius Geist who is an expert on the history of deer sheds light on this by stating Muleys evolved from a cross between blacktails and primitive whitetail deer some 2 million years ago.. Taxonomically, they are the same, but you can see a clear difference in each subspecies when you view them. Of the 50 or so Columbian blacktail bucks I've killed only a few were pushing 150 lbs. Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and many species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game . Yet there is a clear difference between the antler scores of both deer. Southern populations are darker comparatively 2 Table Wild Game Recipes is a white! 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