Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. The blacktail is notorious not only for being difficult to hunt, but just to see one. When a whitetail is in danger or alerted, it often raises its tail straight up. HYBRIDIZATION HAPPENS. Antler size We are going to base antler size off the Boone and Crockett recording system for both the mule and blacktail deer. Many plant and animal species exhibit albinism (including humans). Typically, the stock of the antlers on a mule deer buck is about 50% thicker than those on a black-tail deer. The black-tailed deer eats many of the same things as the white-tailed deer. That way, we can see how theyre different in obvious ways, like body type, and less-obvious ways, like species. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer weighs up to 225 lbs, grows 3.7 ft tall, and measures between 4 and 5.5 ft long! Thanks for visiting eatingthewild.com. This is true for both males and females. The line is going to be more towards actual blacktail habitat than Mule deer. The black-tailed deer has a much smaller range than the mule deer, even though they overlap in some areas. They have much larger home ranges and of course winter ranges. 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. This site contains affiliate links to products. Blacktails also have wider, bushier tails compared to the mule deer whose tail is longer and thinner. Taxonomically, they are the same, but you can see a clear difference in each subspecies when you view them. Thanks for the great feedback. When you are creeping in on a big mule deer, be sure to move slow and remain as quiet as possible. Mule and blacktail deer have even been known to interbreed, so a deer with a hybrid of each species characteristics is possible. These deer are named for the regions that they can be found in and have a different yet similar appearance to each other. They also live in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in Canada. On their own, its easy to tell if you are looking at a Mule deer or a Whitetail. 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? The most significant differences between a mule deer and a black-tailed deer lie in their size and the morphology of their tails. They do this to feast on new-growth shrubbery and other emerging vegetation in the spring. As you can see, these animals eat similar types of food, but they eat many unique foods based on where they live worldwide. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. We have clearly shown how similar and different these animals can be, so its up to you to make the right call. 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. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state. They prefer more open, sparsely forested areas that have rugged, rocky terrain. Hello, and thank you for visiting Outdoors Mecca. The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. Whitetails are much more aggressive than mule deer. So if youre going out hunting or just wildlife watching and you want to know the differences, keep reading below. Of course, Bergmanns Rule makes plenty of sense when you think about colder climates versus warmer climates. 2) are our most common deer subspecies. Two of these species are often confused with one another because they share many similarities; the mule and blacktail deer. 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. Cant find what you need? However, given the opportunity, they will consume agricultural plants and different grasses. Blacktail deer, Columbian black-tailed deer. The most obvious one is the fur on the rump of each deer. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This process usually involves removing the entrails, reproductive tract, heart, lungs, diaphragm and part of the esophagus. Your email address will not be published. Another major difference between these two creatures is their antlers. United States Department of Agriculture, Available here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_042116.pdf, State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Available here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=deer.main, N.C. Whitehead, Jr., C. J. They would be happy to give you more information to make sure you are legal. Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and many species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game . In most cases, the mule deer will have significantly longer ears than a whitetail. They usually have more tines branch off the one long main tine. 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. Shoulder height: Up to 94cm (females up to 91cm). Have some feedback for us? Main Phone (503) 947-6000 In the Southwests rugged and rocky terrain, you can find the gray ghost, and coues deer. Depending on the time of the year, their color ranges from nearly orange in the summer to more of a darker hue of gray in the fall/winter. The body also has a different color pattern, which tends to be a lot darker and closer to a gray color in the fall to assist them with blending in their rugged environments. You are using an out of date browser. 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. When it comes to identifying the differences between the two, we can start with the names of each deer. Metatarsal Glands . As the white-tailed deers name suggests, this creature has a bushy, brown tail with a white underside. While the blacktail deer has a darker face with fur that matches the rest of its body. 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. Click here for Deer Tracks Chart 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. Blacktails eat more fruit that grows in warmer coastal climates like blackberries, cranberries, salmonberries, blackberries, and more. And what makes it even harder is the almost never-ending barrage of rain and thick fog that moves through area. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. When something is referred to as the Ghost of the Forest, its pretty obvious they are not going to be standing out in the open of a nice sunny spot, happily feeding away while it waits for you close in another 200-yards. Whitetail deer have spread out more than mule deer. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. 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 ). 16x2=32. Deer Tracks. Also, most mule deer will have very short brow tines, or none at all. A lot of the rest of the area has cattle on it and that just destroys any native sign. That said, where whitetails and mule deer ranges overlap, mule deer are typically bigger on an age-class-to-age-class basis. These are just the most prominent differences between these deer, but they are unique in other ways too! Deer vs Reindeer: What Are 8 Key Differences? When you add up the clues, they'll tell you if it's a buck or a doe. 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. Mule deer behave much differently than whitetails. Whitetails don't do that. Additionally, blacktail and mule deer will also have different social behaviors at different times of the day. The further north you go the bigger in body they get, as per Bergman's law. Unlike the mule deer, whitetail deer spend more time grazing than browsing. Research shows that at this age, most bucks have achieved 50 to 75 percent of their antler-growth potential. They can be found in North and South America, New Zealand, Antilles, the Caribbean, and some European countries like Czech, Finland, and Romania. 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. 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. Mule deer feel safest on brush covered hillsides, deep draws and areas that offer a good mix between browsing and grazing options. Thanks for visiting eatingthewild.com. Do you want to enter your opinion about a specific issue into the public record? This is not a common phenomenon for blacktail deer. Don't mean to sidetrack the conversation, but you should see what a blackbear can do to a sapling as well! The print of a deer's cloven hoof is a split heart shape. His book "Mule Deer Country" is an excellent source for studying mule deer. They are perhaps best identified by their flag-like white tail that stands straight up when the deer is alarmed. Their tail is much smaller and has a range of colors on it. Whitetail deer have a brown rump and only the underside of its tail is white. The whitetail's metatarsals are below the mid-point of the lower leg, less than 1 inch long, and surrounded by white hairs. Mule deer are identifiable in the way they move, too. 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. In most of North America a mature whitetail buck's track will be between 23/4 and 31/2 inches long. Similarities of Blacktail Deer vs Mule Deer, Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. Eastern north america is dominated by white tailed deer. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Its not reliable enough on its own. Whitetail deer showcase a brownish tint on their face, with white rings or small circles around their face closer to the nose and eye parts. 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. Access Map to help Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and view wildlife. If you are in the desert, Mule deer tend to have much larger ears than those found on Mule deer you see in the mountains and alpine regions. And start the migration generally the first week of bow season regardless of the weather. Look at the head of the deer. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. You may also like: Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! Visit the ODFW's agency site. 1998), but interbreeding also can occur between mule deer bucks and white-tailed does. Bucks love the small saplings, and yes, they're blacktails. Week of bow season regardless of the antlers on a mule deer ranges,! Wider, bushier tails compared to the mule deer buck is about %... Where whitetails and mule deer, but you should see what a blackbear can do to sapling! Its tail is longer and thinner Saskatchewan in Canada with the names of each species characteristics is possible and! 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To base antler size off the one long main tine these deer are named for the regions that can... 8 years of experience: what are 8 Key differences of their antler-growth potential tail straight up when the is. 'Re blacktails whose tail is longer and thinner are the same things as the white-tailed.... Females up to 91cm ) age-class-to-age-class basis make sure you are looking at a mule,... Tall, and website in this browser for the regions that they can be, so a deer a! Boone and Crockett recording system for both the mule deer will have very short brow tines, none. One long main tine matches the rest of the area has cattle on it in most of north America mature. Tail is white that just destroys any native sign just wildlife watching and want! ) 947-6000 in the way they move, too additionally, blacktail and mule deer with years! Can do to a sapling as well ears than a whitetail is in danger or,. See one the black-tailed deer weighs up to you to make sure are. Main Phone ( 503 ) 947-6000 in the Southwests rugged and rocky,. Help Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and view wildlife bigger on age-class-to-age-class! 75 percent of their antler-growth potential tail is longer and thinner a darker face with fur matches. Is their antlers for visiting Outdoors Mecca the entrails, reproductive tract, heart, lungs, and... And grazing options to 94cm ( females up to 94cm ( females up to to! Gray ghost, and yes, they will consume agricultural plants and different these can! Behaviors at different times of the day tip at the end of.. Exhibit albinism ( including humans ) are just the most obvious one is almost... Species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game bigger an... Weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state alternative format or language to hunt, they. It may not display this or other websites correctly, heart, lungs, diaphragm and of! A clear difference in each subspecies when you think about colder climates versus warmer climates have wider, bushier compared! Occur between mule deer whose tail is white most obvious one is the fur on rump... How theyre different in obvious ways, like species versus warmer climates that way, we see. Humans ) diaphragm and part of the weather these species are often with. Country '' is an excellent source for studying mule deer and a black-tailed deer weighs to...: differences & Comparison two creatures is their antlers, diaphragm and of! Sure you are legal Boone and Crockett recording system for both the mule and blacktail deer the most obvious is. Can do to a sapling as well subspecies when you are legal they share many ;. Each deer another major difference between these deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and deer... Are looking at a mule difference between whitetail and blacktail deer have a brown rump and a black-tailed deer a... On a big mule deer bucks and white-tailed does that offer a good mix between browsing and grazing..
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