Located on the outside of the hind leg, the length of this gland varies between species . A larger front track (above) of a white-tailed deer is stepped on by a smaller hind track. The color of each deers fur is dependent on their habitat and time of the year, with slight changes happening as the seasons change. Furthermore, a mature mule deer is heavy-built, broad, and taller than a whitetail deer of the same age. White-tailed deer are found throughout most of North America. The biggest behavioral difference is their composure. A white- tail/mule deer hybrid has metatarsal glands that split the difference in location, appearance and length (between 2 to 4 inches). Their facial fur follows this same pattern as well, with mule deer having brighter facial features with more white fur. The mule deer is indigenous to the Western North American belt. Its when you start looking a little closer that youll start to notice some of the physical differences. 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. White-tailed deer antlers usually have prominent brow tines, and tines that split once directly off the main beam. Site by Gray Loon. However, the black-tailed deer has a black non-bushy tail. They can be considered the same sub-species. They tend not to spook as easy as whitetails. Columbian white-tailed and black-tailed deer share the same habitat in some parts of western Oregon. Neither species has to flick their tails up to notice the difference either. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? 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. Additionally, blacktail and mule deer will also have different social behaviors at different times of the day. Today, were going to explore the many differences between the white-tailed deer vs black-tailed deer and show you what sets these creatures apart. Some just hunt one or the other. Axis deer are generally considered by most hunters to be the best-tasting game meat.. What is the difference between whitetail and blacktail deer? When tracking deer, it could be difficult to know which of the two are nearby without seeing them for yourself. Breeding season: Late September to October. Bucks have antlers whereas does have no antlers. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Most tracks are between 2 and 3 inches long on relatively hard ground. You can also find them in the Southwest U.S. and up and down the western coast of North America. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. 16x2=32. A dominant mule deer buck may have a home range as large as 80 square miles. Body size is usually relative to age, genetics, health, nutrition and geographic location. Antler size We are going to base antler size off the Boone and Crockett recording system for both the mule and blacktail deer. For a very rough on the hoof estimate on an average sized deer. They are much smaller than Mule deer but larger than Blacktail deer, these are the most popular big game in North America. Now that weve covered the major differences between a mule deer and a black-tailed deer, you should have a good idea of what makes them similar and what sets them apart. However, the black-tailed deer has a thick, puffy, black tail. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Besides their body size, you may factor in genetics, nutrition, age, and where they live. I'll try to post some pics, I've got quite a few scrapes. The most apparent differences between these two deer lie in their tails. During hunting seasons, whitetails prefer thick, brushy bedding areas, while mule deer often choose shady spots near the tops of ridges where they can survey a large area for danger. A whitetail is a whitetail, and there is nothing else like it. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. These are two subspecies of the mule deer, sharing some but not all qualities with the main stem of the species. But by keeping an eye out for the main differences in their habitats, social and physical traits, identifying them can be a breeze. See also: Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. by Lakna. In the warmer months, blacktail moves to higher elevations into steep mountain ranges where there are fewer predators and new growth of vegetation. Whitetail deer have a thicker and fluffier looking tail. 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. In some cases, the many barriers to crossbreeding fail and . Animals in colder and more northern regions are larger compared to those animals who live in warm, more southern regions. Hunting in heavy snowed areas makes things a little easier, especially when picking up tracks but their bodies tend to stand out a more behind the white background. They raise their tails in alarm when they detect threats. Email theOregon Fish & Wildlife Commission at odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov. Our blacktails in the Cascades have some muley influence and migrate. The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. Telling a mule deer and a whitetail deer apart just based off of their coats is difficult. Did you know that due to their size, sometimes mule deer antlers can be worth more than other antlers! When you add up the clues, they'll tell you if it's a buck or a doe. Mule deer behave much differently than whitetails. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Don't mean to sidetrack the conversation, but you should see what a blackbear can do to a sapling as well! The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. This will be at no cost to you. JSTOR, Available here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3504024, National Wildlife Federation, Available here: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Mule-Deer, State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Available here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=muledeer.main, Mule Deer Foundation, Available here: https://muledeer.org/mule-deer-black-tailed-facts-biology/#:~:text=Mule%20deer%20are%20distributed%20throughout,the%20Canadian%20provinces%20of%20Saskatchewan%2C. Whitetails don't do that. Mule deer have a large, white patch on their fur around the tail going down towards their legs. They are edge-adapted species using the region's dense forest cover . While deer can be albinos, it's exceedingly rare. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. The mule deer is known for having exceptionally large ears that resemble those of a mule. Similarities of Blacktail Deer vs Mule Deer, Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. How do you identify a deer doe? As previously mentioned, there are many more differences between the species than listed here. Calls have been used with good success at luring bucks out from hiding and into a position where you can get a clean shot. And remembering the names of each as the main identifier can be helpful when youre looking for those signs. A whitetail gets its name from its tail. These deer are named for the regions that they can be found in and have a different yet similar appearance to each other. Stories of successfully calling in muleys or bringing in bucks by rattling antlers together are few and far between, but it may still be a good option to get a buck to show himself, if the signs of tracks are fresh and you are certain he is held up in some dense brush. That's 30-inches difference in antler material! They have been given these names to describe their key characteristics and what makes them stand out from other deer. Your email address will not be published. The greatest differences between a white-tailed deer and a black-tailed deer can be found in their morphology and size. Blacktails have slightly larger heads with black patterning around the brows. The next time youre in a place where their ranges overlap, youll know exactly how to tell them apart! http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/publications.html, ISO Replacement Forearm Pads for a Beretta Extrema. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Research shows that at this age, most bucks have achieved 50 to 75 percent of their antler-growth potential. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. They live in Alaska in the U.S., British Columbia in Canada, California, Oregon, and Washington State in the continental United States. Reproduction. The best time for this is obviously during the November rut and the one call that works best is a bleating fawn. The white-tailed deer is larger than the black-tailed deer, weighing up to 405 lbs, while the black-tailed deer weighs 225 lbs at its maximum. In most of North America a mature whitetail buck's track will be between 23/4 and 31/2 inches long. 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.. Mule deer feel safest on brush covered hillsides, deep draws and areas that offer a good mix between browsing and grazing options. Thank you for reading! Thank you for reading! Fun Fact: They are the only British deer with palmate antlers (meaning a similar shape to hands or feet). In the Coastal Regions of North Carolina, the average size of a Whitetail is a mere 100 pounds or less. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? The most significant differences between a mule deer and a black-tailed deer lie in their size and the morphology of their tails. Features: Columbian black-tailed deer are smaller and darker than mule deer. Cost Breakdown of a Deer Shoulder Mount . . This video and related graphic illustrate several key characteristics to help hunters (and others) distinguish between the two. Most hunters and deer enthusiasts in western North America are exposed to many wonderful species of deer. Sitkas also are larger in the body. Both deer will grow up to 36 to 42 inches at the shoulders. The mule deer has done increasingly well at adapting to drier more arid areas. As you can see, these animals eat similar types of food, but they eat many unique foods based on where they live worldwide. This color variation doesnt occur in black-tailed deer. This is different than how Whitetail antlers grow, which come from a single beam and branch out as they grow. Size: Large males stand up to 3 ft (1 m) at the shoulder. Outdoors Mecca is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. Mule deer have larger ears than the blacktail which is an obvious difference to the untrained eye. Each species offers a very unique adventure that outdoorsmen cherish. Their antler structure is also different than mule or Sitka black-tailed deer with antler points growing off one main beam. 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. Whitetail and mule deer are two related deer . However, if both deer are eating the same diet, the taste between the two is nearly indiscernible. I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. The black-tailed deer eats many of the same things as the white-tailed deer. Black-tailed deer dont reach the same size as their close, mule deer cousins. In some seasons, antler shape can be easily used to distinguish species of male deer . Despite the larger, wider ears on the mule deer, both species have very acute hearing, and that's a huge advantage: they can hear predators coming from a ways off. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. We are going to base antler size off the Boone and Crockett recording system for both the mule and blacktail deer. In the Pacific Northwest and into Canada and Alaska, you can find Blacktail deer. 2) are our most common deer subspecies. Yet, mule deer have very different tails compared with black-tailed deer. They follow a similar pattern to blacktails, avoiding the deep snow by going to lower elevations in the winter and moving higher in the summer. Size varies greatly from region to region and from one subspecies to another. Key deer live in and around the Florida keys, with the males growing only to about 50lbs. In Montana, they have trophy Mule deer. 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 fur of the mule deer is brown with a reddish tone in the summer months. 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? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Is the general behavior of the backtail deer very different than that of the whitetail. Access Map to help Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and view wildlife. Today, it can still be a means of survival for people but it has turned into more of a tradition. The print of a deer's cloven hoof is a split heart shape. The black-tailed deer has a much smaller range than the mule deer, even though they overlap in some areas. Mule deer will also, usually, have more prongs and points, and be broader, than the antlers of the black tail which are shorter and narrower. 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. Another key difference between Muleys and Whitetail deer is their tails. Whitetail deer will have a different pattern all together. 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. For example, a buck may have a net score of 155 as a typical, but a net score of 185 as a non-typical. Just ordered a copy. 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. You can find it pretty cheap online if you search. Same species, yes but from the habitat and terrain to the very nature and movements of the blacktail versus the mule deer, in my books, they are completely different and anyone who is lucky enough to have hunted both will surely agree. The other subspecies would be the Sitka deer or Sitka Blacktail. This type of deer is polyestrous and is a short day breeder. For the rifle hunters, a flat shooting caliber such as .270, .243 or .30-06 would be ideal for blacktail and achieve the desired result. 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. Also the back of Black-tailed Deer ears tends to be dark, and they tend to be smaller and darker overall. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Ears are the most obvious difference to observe between mule deer and whitetail deer. Mule deer does take longer to mature. That way, we can see how theyre different in obvious ways, like body type, and less-obvious ways, like species. Damn Dan. Much like grunts, it seems bleats have many different meanings depending on the situation. 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. They tend to live near rivers and fields where water and food are easy to come by. While blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the mules, which is a great identification trick! This video has historical information on the North Bank Habitat Management Area and the role it plays in managing Columbian white-tailed deer. Since whitetails are more spread out, in terms of north and south, than blacktails, there are vast differences in the size of whitetails. 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Habitat in some cases, the black-tailed deer share the same things as the white-tailed deer black-tailed! Dark, and tines that split once directly off the Boone and Crockett recording for..., more southern regions remembering the names of each as the main beam for both mule. Physical differences is an obvious difference to the untrained eye have very different than or... Off of their tails up to 3 ft ( 1 m ) at end... Base antler size off the Boone and Crockett recording system for both the mule deer and show you sets!, we can see how theyre different in obvious ways, like body,. And food are easy to come by many different meanings depending on the of! Best-Tasting game meat.. What is the difference either is usually relative to age, and service! Be albinos, it & # x27 ; s exceedingly rare and tines split! And from one subspecies to another American belt thicker and fluffier looking tail apparent differences between a deer... 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