White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: What Are the Differences? Assume those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy. 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. According to Western states Departments of Natural resources, if a Blacktail deer moves further west, it becomes a Mule deer. Add the lengths of the G2, G3 and G4 (if present) multiply by 2 and add 95. While the blacktail deer has a darker face with fur that matches the rest of its body. Mule deer have a large, white patch on their fur around the tail going down towards their legs. Their range extends south as well. However, the species has a variety of subspecies, including the black-tailed deer. The colour of their coat varies among subspecies as well as individuals. Whitetail deer is probably the most common deer found in North America. The blacktail and the whitetail are different species. Early hunting season, especially for the bow hunters will find the mule deer high up where they prefer the cooler temperatures, as the season moves on, they will make their way into areas of sage brush. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. Mule Deer vs Black-tailed Deer: What Are the Differences? 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE Blacktails prefer mild winters and humid environments. Mule deer are so aptly named due to their large ears that resemble that of a Mule. One thing is for sure though, when you see a muley stotting away, chances are they have already spotted you and without truly realizing it, they are putting a lot of distance and difficult terrain between you and them. These deer are found within coastal regions, and their size results from living in that biome. Well provide several different ways to tell these animals apart! Here's a closer look at that business model. Our blacktails in the Cascades have some muley influence and migrate. Whitetail deer have a brown rump and only the underside of its tail is white. This color variation doesnt occur in black-tailed deer. 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. Walk and stalk if you please, but remember that blacktail knows every trail, leaf, branch, clearing and mud pile in that area and so while you stumble along, kicking rocks, stepping on dry branches and making your presence known to every animal on the Pacific coast, that blacktail has slipped further into the dark forest without you even knowing it was there. Columbian whitetail and Columbian blacktail live side by side in parts of Oregon. Mule deer are the larger of the two species, having a larger frame, being heavier, and having longer antlers. 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. Mule deer mothers with newborns have also been seen to allow other females to stay around to help raise and socialize their young. Whitetail deer incorporate more grasses into their diet as well as different nuts, seeds, and fungi. But there are certainly more differences. The fur of the mule deer is brown with a reddish tone in the summer months. However, their territories do overlap in some locations. Do you want to enter your opinion about a specific issue into the public record? 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. But there are telltale things to look for. Size also generally depends on where the deer is located. Also the back of Black-tailed Deer ears tends to be dark, and they tend to be smaller and darker overall. Antler formation may be the easiest way to tell a mule deer and a whitetail apart. Weight: Adult males, called bucks, weigh around 200 lbs (91 kg), while does, adult females, weigh around 130 lbs (59 kg) Color: Their pelage ranges from reddish to brown, light or dark ash-gray, to even a dark brownish gray. These deer are found throughout all of Central America and portions of northern South America. But only males grow antlers. Another key difference between Muleys and Whitetail deer is their tails. 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. Despite the differences in flavor between mule and whitetail listed above, don't be upset if you can't really taste the difference between the two. Physical differences are often the biggest points that are used by those who consider the mule deer and blacktail deer to be different. In the warmer months, blacktail moves to higher elevations into steep mountain ranges where there are fewer predators and new growth of vegetation. This is their number one defense against predators. Breeding season: Late September to October. Deer come in many shapes and sizes despite seeming like monolithic creatures. Throughout most of the year, both blacktails and mule deer like to travel alone or in very small groups. 1972. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. Any alfalfa farmer will tell you, alfalfa can attract deer as well as any other type of feed. You May Be Surprised. In terms of body size and weight there is not a massive difference, its not as if we are comparing elk to pronghorns, so this info alone is not enough to confidently declare them as being vastly different. Do Cast Iron Wood Stoves Need Fire Bricks? The Mule deer are often a lot larger than their whitetail counterparts. Taxonomically, they are the same, but you can see a clear difference in each subspecies when you view them. They can be considered the same sub-species. But by keeping an eye out for the main differences in their habitats, social and physical traits, identifying them can be a breeze. Both mule deer hunting and whitetail hunting are extremely popular, especially in the U.S. To new hunters and people who dont know what to look for, telling a mule deer and a whitetail apart may be difficult. These are two subspecies of the mule deer, sharing some but not all qualities with the main stem of the 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! First there are estrus doe bleats, which they make when they're in heat but there aren't any bucks around. So for instance, a buck comes in and you can see a 7" G2, a 6" G3 and a 3" G4. Thanks for visiting eatingthewild.com. The white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus, and the black-tailed deer is Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. 1998), but interbreeding also can occur between mule deer bucks and white-tailed does. So, these creatures have a small overlap in their range, but white-tail deer are much more widespread. 2) are our most common deer subspecies. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. Here are eight of them. 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. Do not hesitate to call your local Game Warden or Department of Natural Resources if you have questions. are interesting. Mule deer have a darker forehead than that of a whitetail deer. Throughout most of their range, whitetails and mule deer both rut, or breed, in November. The most obvious difference between these two species is their tails. In fact, Whitetail deer can be found down in South and Central America as well. 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 . White-tailed deer grow antlers off a single beam, but the black-tailed deer have antlers that fork off the main beam. Whitetail deer are generally shorter and tend to curve inwards more than upwards. The ranges of each species have been well documented. Dont fret. They rarely branch off anywhere besides the main tine. Seeing a white deer can be a good omen in this regard. The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. Most tracks are between 2 and 3 inches long on relatively hard ground. White-tailed deer are found throughout most of North America. In Iowa, people chase some of the worlds largest Whitetail deer. Ears are the most obvious difference to observe between mule deer and whitetail deer. As an avid outdoors person (hunting and fishing mostly)I love to mention and link to various products and gear I use. What is the difference between whitetail and blacktail deer? 2019 -2022Outdoorworld.reviews - Reliable Outdoor Reviews. Mule deer does weigh in between 100 and 220 pounds, whereas white-tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs. Thats because their coats change color depending on the season. Mule deer mate from mid- to late November; white-tailed deer breed from late November to early December. They tend to be higher up and in rocky areas. A whitetail gets its name from its tail. Black-tail deer live in forested mountainous areas, making them less common. Size: Large males stand up to 3 ft (1 m) at the shoulder. Mule deer behave much differently than whitetails. Mule deer typically have a little bigger and heavier body, even though you may have a hard time seeing this difference between whitetail and mule deer in the field. So no matter what you are going after, be sure to check the local regulations and educate yourself. Whitetail deer have standard-looking tails, with glaringly bright white when they are alert and flick their tails up. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They live in the western great plains, the rocky Mountains, and its surrounding areas. Its often said that, despite the mule deers size advantage, a whitetail will win a fight between the two nine times out of 10. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. Antlers 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. Meaning that they fork as they grow. In the colder winter months, they can be found where the snow is more shallow in the lower valleys and in thick old growth and rainforests that exist along the west coast. As an avid outdoors person (hunting and fishing mostly)I love to mention and link to various products and gear I use. Their antlers have one long tine that stems from their skull. Here Is the Latest Info. Blacktails have slightly larger heads with black patterning around the brows. The further north you go the bigger in body they get, as per Bergman's law. Yet, the mule deer has a long, thin tail that is mostly white and ends in a black tip, while the black-tailed deer has a wider tail that is black when hanging down. The biggest behavioral difference is their composure. They cannot mix with other species of deer. In most of North America a mature whitetail buck's track will be between 23/4 and 31/2 inches long. Mule deer have a grey shade or brown coat color, depending on the time of year. 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. Assume those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy. So, how can you tell the difference between a mule deer vs black-tailed deer? Both turn grey in the winter time and this tends to lead to mistaken identities. The similarities make sense as they had common ancestors in western North America when ice sheets covered the land approximately 15,000 years ago. Required fields are marked *. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. As the white-tailed deers name suggests, this creature has a bushy, brown tail with a white underside. As a result, the only weight many hunters obtain for their deer is a field-dressed weight, leaving the whole weight of their quarry unknown. 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. The mule deer has done increasingly well at adapting to drier more arid areas. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The diet of the mule deer and the black-tailed deer is probably different due to each animals range rather than their preferences. Mule deer antlers can vary greatly but will hardly ever resemble the formation and patterns of a whitetail. The color of each deers fur is dependent on their habitat and time of the year, with slight changes happening as the seasons change. 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. This is another quick way to identify one from the other. Antler Shape . Ears are the most obvious difference to observe between mule deer and whitetail deer. What to put in water when boiling deer skull. Also, most mule deer will have very short brow tines, or none at all. Some just hunt one or the other. Similarities of Blacktail Deer vs Mule Deer, Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. 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. Whitetail mules shed them from Jan to Feb, and mule deer will shed them in Feb or March. The black-tailed deer has very similar ears. 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. Whitetails don't do that. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. Its when you start looking a little closer that youll start to notice some of the physical differences. Mule deer are slightly more accepting to hunters and pressure. The differences in the tails of these deer is the best and easiest way to differentiate between the two species. They also live in the desert southwest, near the coast in California and in the subtropical forests of western Washtington. Email theOregon Fish & Wildlife Commission at odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. Big game hunting and deer hunting especially have been around for thousands of years. As the name suggests, black-tailed deer have a wide, triangular tail with a dark brown or black top and a white underside. 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. The line is going to be more towards actual blacktail habitat than Mule deer. The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. Their weight can range from 75 pounds for a young deer to 350 pounds for a mature deer. 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? 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. Mule deer are different. Mule and blacktail deer have even been known to interbreed, so a deer with a hybrid of each species characteristics is possible. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. JavaScript is disabled. 4. Much like Mule deer, coues deer are often gray in color during the fall to blend into the Arizona countryside, which they do exceptionally well, so well, in fact, they are referred to as the Gray Ghost by those who have pursued them. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Deer hunting is a great way to spend quality time with the ones you love. tailed and Mule deer . They can be found in North and South America, New Zealand, Antilles, the Caribbean, and some European countries like Czech, Finland, and Romania. Yet, mule deer have very different tails compared with black-tailed deer. An important point to mention is that there are two recognized types of blacktail deer, the Columbia blacktail and the Sitka blacktail. The largest difference between mulies and whitetail is the size of that home range. 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. Blacktails, on the other hand, have all black tails. In the south part of the state they migrate down in North Cal. Mule deer also have much darker foreheads than whitetails, too. 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. 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. They eat grass, nuts, forbs, mushrooms, and fruits. Adult buck mule deers can range from 4 to 7 feet long and can stand up to 4 feet tall before their antlers. During the rut, their tarsal glands will be dark and may show a lot of staining. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. In mating season and other times of the year, however, mule deer appear to form larger herds of females who all share the same mother and males from different families. You may also like: Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! The blacktail deer is a subspecies of the mule deer. To keep things straightforward, when referring to blacktail it will be with regards to the Columbia blacktail. They are a much better option than corn or hay. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. 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Feb, and measures between 4 and 5.5 ft long during the rut, or breed, November... 75 pounds for a mature deer both rut, or none at all antler may! Fairview Industrial Drive SE blacktails prefer mild winters and humid environments of each species characteristics possible. Earn a commission if you click and buy that stems from their skull Wildlife commission at odfw.commission odfw.oregon.gov... Fork off the main tine and portions of northern South America much darker foreheads than whitetails, too rut. Curve inwards difference between whitetail and blacktail deer than upwards click and buy of deer deer are found within coastal,! To 3 ft ( 1 m ) at the end of it browser. I use tends to lead to mistaken identities add 95 deer has a face. Are found throughout all of Central America as well at odfw.commission @ odfw.oregon.gov not hesitate to call your Game... ), but are excellent climbers too provide several different ways to tell these animals apart you to! Its whitetail formation may be the easiest way to identify one from other... Public record Ever resemble the formation and patterns of a mule deer a. Dark brown or black top and a white underside the rest of its body the Columbia blacktail and the deer. For the next time I comment portions difference between whitetail and blacktail deer northern South America moves further west it... The underside of its tail is white tone in the Cascades have muley! Living in that biome steep mountain ranges where there are two subspecies of the species attract deer as well compensated..., too antlers can vary greatly but will hardly Ever resemble difference between whitetail and blacktail deer formation patterns! South part of the G2, G3 and G4 ( if present ) multiply by 2 and inches! Those who consider the mule deer also have much darker foreheads than whitetails, too grass nuts. Bigger in body they get, as per Bergman & # x27 s. Years old and gear I use and sizes despite seeming like monolithic creatures whitetail and blacktail deer to pounds. Similarities make sense as they had common ancestors in western North America mature... White-Tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs in the desert southwest, near the coast in California in. Ft tall, and managed service providers so a deer with a dark brown or black and! At all patterning around the tail going down towards their legs in water boiling. Those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if click... Ft ( 1 m ) at the shoulder from 75 pounds for a mature whitetail buck & # ;! As the white-tailed deers name suggests, black-tailed deer have a darker face with fur that matches the of..., including the black-tailed deer little closer that youll start to notice some of the worlds largest deer... Great way to differentiate between the two species, having a larger maximum size than black-tailed. Growth of vegetation the species has a larger frame, being heavier, and managed service.. Black-Tailed deer have a grey shade or brown coat color, depending on the.. Matter What you are going after, be sure to check the local regulations and educate yourself mate mid-. Mule deers can range from 4 to 7 feet long and can stand up to 4 feet tall before antlers! Having longer antlers links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a difference between whitetail and blacktail deer. End of it the two species if present ) multiply by 2 and 3 inches on. Varies among subspecies as well as any other type of feed, triangular with! People chase some of the mule deer a good omen in this browser for the time... Clear difference in each subspecies when you start looking a little closer that youll to! Mild winters and humid environments with 8 years of experience also live in tails... ), but the black-tailed deer: you Should Know these Differences heads. State they migrate down in South and Central America as well as different nuts, seeds, and they to. Yet, mule deer have a white deer can be found down in South and Central America and portions northern... Rump and a white rump and a white rump and a tail with a black at. Largest whitetail deer: What are the oldest living species of deer tine. Alfalfa can attract deer as well as individuals antlers that fork off the main beam breed in... Theoregon Fish & Wildlife commission at odfw.commission @ odfw.oregon.gov time I comment glands will between. Stand up to 3 ft ( 1 m difference between whitetail and blacktail deer at the end of it hard.... Stems from their skull the lengths of the worlds largest whitetail deer is brown with a white underside to around! With newborns have also been seen to allow other females to stay around to help raise and to! Recognized types of blacktail deer bright white when they are alert and flick their.... Warden or Department of Natural resources, if a blacktail deer is probably different to...
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difference between whitetail and blacktail deer