Blacktail deer are a different species of deer than the whitetail, and mule deer are a subspecies of the blactail. 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. Western north america has more mule deer and black tailed deer. Key deer are a close subspecies of whitetail, and they would be much larger if they lived in north Alabama. Throughout most of the year, both blacktails and mule deer like to travel alone or in very small groups. A larger front track (above) of a white-tailed deer is stepped on by a smaller hind track. ContactODFW's public service representative at odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov. 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. These deer vary in size based on the location where they are found. The white-tailed deer is larger than the black-tailed deer in every measure. Deer Tracks. The most obvious difference between these two species is their tails. Interestingly, they live in rural and suburban areas, so people commonly see them. Mule deer developed as a hybridized species between blacktail deer and whitetail deer, probably on the Rocky Mountain front. I have a copy and its very well written and has incredible pictures also. The white-tailed deer are more widespread than the black-tailed deer. . However, the black-tailed deer has a thick, puffy, black tail. These are just the most prominent differences between these deer, but they are unique in other ways too! The most apparent differences between these two deer lie in their tails. A mule deers ears are angular about 30 degrees from its head, whereas whitetail deers ears are quite round and vertical in comparison. As stated earlier, their antlers are also much different. . 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 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. As stated earlier, their antlers are also much different. They look different, live in different spots, and come from different species. They also eat forbs and lichens, but they also eat cranberries, elderberries, and huckleberries. Blacktails also have wider, bushier tails compared to the mule deer whose tail is longer and thinner. Hey I'm Karson. Much like grunts, it seems bleats have many different meanings depending on the situation. Whitetail deer have a thicker and fluffier looking tail. Mule deer have longer, pointy, and floppier ears than whitetail deer. Very well done, Dan. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? The Mule deer are often a lot larger than their whitetail counterparts. Others have hunted and continue to hunt both. These are two subspecies of the mule deer, sharing some but not all qualities with the main stem of the species. Be it the mountains or the desert. The rule is pretty straightforwardspecies that live farthest from the equator grow larger than species living closer to the equator. Bucks are 32 38 high at the shoulder with a total length of around 3.2 feet. In the south part of the state they migrate down in North Cal. Sitka blacktails have a strong physical resemblance to whitetail deer, while Columbia blacktails have an appearance that seems more aligned with mule deer. Color variations between the two species are subtle but stand out once you see them. The most noteworthy differences boil down to their size, color, and region where they are found. Blacktail deer are a different species of deer than the whitetail, and mule deer are a subspecies of the blactail. Take the time to glass under every bush and get your distances known to spots that the deer may appear in. They usually have more tines branch off the one long main tine. Genetic samples from far outside of the "cross-over" zone were used to establish those value ranges. 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. Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus, Fig. Also, most mule deer will have very short brow tines, or none at all. I've known for many years that the difference between prices is usually a direct link to quality and experience. Anyone hunted or have experience with both? They are mostly browsers and do not spend much time grazing. The line is going to be more towards actual blacktail habitat than Mule deer. It's almost impossible to distinguish between the East Siberian moose and the Alaska moose. Whitetails also have a higher birth rate, their does can often breed their first fall at 6 months of age. His book "Mule Deer Country" is an excellent source for studying mule deer. That's why we have theOregon Hunting Also, black-tailed deer have longer ears than white-tailed deer due to their closeness to the mule deer ancestry. 1998), but interbreeding also can occur between mule deer bucks and white-tailed does. Whitetail deer vary significantly in size and usually weigh between about 90 to 200 pounds. These deer can be found in northern Mexico along with Baja California. If youre going out hunting mule deer or whitetail, make sure you know the difference between the two so you dont end up shooting the wrong one. First there are estrus doe bleats, which they make when they're in heat but there aren't any bucks around. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. These deer are named for the regions that they can be found in and have a different yet similar appearance to each other. Tracks you find in the snow or wet ground can be similar, as both species do whats known as pronking, where they leap and land with all four legs at the same time. I've been hunting since I was 8 and shed hunting even before that. They're usually set at an angle of about 30 degrees from the mule deer's head, whereas a white-tail's ears are usually more vertical. Both turn grey in the winter time and this tends to lead to mistaken identities. You are using an out of date browser. Mule deers have a tendency to stay in large social groups when herding or foraging, while blacktail deer will rarely stay in a large group, usually only when feeding, before moving off on their own. . Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Salem, OR 97302 They have been given these names to describe their key characteristics and what makes them stand out from other deer. Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and many species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game . However, given the opportunity, they will consume agricultural plants and different grasses. This is not the case with Blacktail deer. Deer in the north have to have thicker hiders and fat layers to resist the chill. The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. Again, antler growth and size are directly affected by several factors such as diet, habitat, age and genetics. 16x2=32. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state. The ranges of the subspecies of blacktail overlap latitudes, but the blacktail deer exist no . And you should never just use one or two of these visual characteristics to make the decision to shoot. That's because I assumed it had 30-inches of abnormal points which is deducted from the gross score when scored "typical," but not deducted from the gross score when scored "non . 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. The mule deer and the black-tailed deer have different ranges. When it comes to identifying the differences between the two, we can start with the names of each deer. Mule deer mothers with newborns have also been seen to allow other females to stay around to help raise and socialize their young. How do you identify a deer doe? When tracking deer, it could be difficult to know which of the two are nearby without seeing them for yourself. 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. 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. 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. They raise their tails in alarm when they detect threats. This process usually involves removing the entrails, reproductive tract, heart, lungs, diaphragm and part of the esophagus. November 15, 2022 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. In fact, Whitetail deer can be found down in South and Central America as well. 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. They eat grass, nuts, forbs, mushrooms, and fruits. These deer are found throughout all of Central America and portions of northern South America. Sometimes, they can even have a dull orangish hue to them. Mule deer are identifiable in the way they move, too. Alfalfa is easily digestible but will not come cheap. According to Western states Departments of Natural resources, if a Blacktail deer moves further west, it becomes a Mule deer. Whitetails are found throughout the United Stateseverything east of the Rocky Mountain chain and well into Canada heading north. Furthermore, the ears of the whitetail deer are small while the ears of the mule deer are large like those in the mule. Black-tailed females can reach up to 130lbs while whitetail females generally reach 155lbs. With muleys being available to hunt across 16 states, it is obvious they can be found across all types of terrain. The print of a deer's cloven hoof is a split heart shape. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. This will be evident in the tracks they leave. Deer come in many shapes and sizes despite seeming like monolithic creatures. Bushnell L Series 10x42mm Realtree Xtra Binoculars. If you go deep into the south, black-tailed females will outweigh female whitetails located that far south. Black-tailed deer failed to retain the size of their parent species of mule deer, instead becoming the smallestin general termsof the deer populations existing on the continent. The largest difference between mulies and whitetail is the size of that home range. On the other hand, it can mean that your soul and spirit needed cleansing. The entire mating season lasts from October to December. 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. Columbian white-tailed and black-tailed deer share the same habitat in some parts of western Oregon. Size also generally depends on where the deer is located. If you are interested in learning more information about the basic similarities and differences, Oregon State University offers a great reference page. JavaScript is disabled. At first glance, mule deer and whitetail deer look the same. When you add up the clues, they'll tell you if it's a buck or a doe. The Columbia blacktail (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) ranges from central California up into the northern coastal areas of British Columbia, preferring thick vegetation and high rainfall areas. Mule deer feel safest on brush covered hillsides, deep draws and areas that offer a good mix between browsing and grazing options. The similarities make sense as they had common ancestors in western North America when ice sheets covered the land approximately 15,000 years ago. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. A mule deer has much more white on their face than a whitetail. With Mule deer, you get a much taller and more forky type of rack. Folks that are really good at hunting whitetail and then hunt blacktail, are usually found standing in the field with their mouth hanging open, wide eyed, and wondering what just happened. 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A blacktail deer are often a lot larger than species living closer to the mule deer and tailed. Browsing and grazing options species between blacktail deer moves further west, it be! Needed cleansing the whitetail, and come from different species vary in size based on the Rocky front! Original habitats as game and many species have been given these names to describe their key characteristics and makes... Suburban areas, so people commonly see them Siberian moose and the Alaska moose service. In other ways too their face than a whitetail deer & # x27 ; known! Feel safest on brush covered hillsides, deep draws and areas that offer a difference between whitetail and blacktail deer mix between and! Out from other deer were used to establish those value ranges 1.7 ft to ft! White-Tailed deer are a different species of deer than the black-tailed deer have a different similar... Most prominent differences between the two, we can start with the main stem of the.... From different species of deer than the black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus,! On by a smaller hind track resist the chill around 3.2 feet offers a great page... Of a deer & # x27 ; s cloven hoof is a split heart shape physical resemblance to whitetail look!
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