They tend not to spook as easy as whitetails. In some areas, including northern regions, bucks can be as heavy as 450 pounds: Coloring Therefore, regardless of how in-shape you get before the hunt, like me, you’ll soon learn that the Good Lord has given high-mountain … The blacktaildeer ( Odocoileus hemionus) split offfrom the whitetail at some time in the past, thought to be a million yearsago or more. Mule deer are identifiable in the way they move, too. A mule deer’s face is mostly white from eyes to nose and lighter than the rest of their coat. When you decide to go bow hunting for high-mountain mule deer, you know you’re in for a physical challenge. That said, where whitetails and mule deer ranges overlap, mule deer are typically bigger on an age-class-to-age-class basis. Mule deer … When it comes to body size, both follow Bergmann’s rule, which states that an animal’s body mass is larger the further away from the equator it lives. In general, mule deer are stockier than white-tailed deer. They just tuck tail (or, raise tail, rather) and run for the hills. known record-keeping organizations the Pope & Young Club and the Boone & Crockett Club, there are four major subspecies of deer: While they are all deer, in the scientific classification Odocoileus, the mule deer gets its name from its overly large ears; its Latin name, Odocoileus hemionus, means “half-mule.” Whitetails are Odocoileus virginianus — the latter part of that title referring to when the species was once known as the “Virginia deer.”. White-tailed deer have been around at least 4 million years as opposed to the mule deer, which has only been in existence for approximately 15,000 years. Whitetails are much more aggressive than mule deer. Check out our stories, videos and hard-hitting how-to's on deer hunting. Ear Size. Mule deer behave much differently than whitetails. Others have hunted and continue to hunt both. Each species offers a very unique adventure that outdoorsmen cherish. Here are some other differences between the two: A mule deer’s face is mostly white from eyes to nose and lighter than the rest of their coat. Whitetails don't do that. Whitetail Deer: Mule Deer: Size: Whitetail deer usually weigh between about 90 to 200 pounds. Here are eight of them. A mule deer has much more white on their face than a whitetail. So, as with all of these individual traits, observe with caution and never use just one to decide what species of deer you’re looking at. There are other differences too from facial distinctions to the gait of each animal. December 23, 2020   |  The Realblog with Stephanie Mallory, October 8, 2018   |  Brow Tines and Backstrap. Mule deer have reddish coloring in the summer and are blue-gray in the winter. © 2020 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved Whitetails don't do that. Mule Deer Vs Whitetail Deer Hunting. Blacktail deer are a different species of deer than the whitetail, and mule deer are a subspecies of the blactail. In comparison, the top of a black tail’s tail, as the name implies, is almost entirely dark or black. A whitetail gets its name from its tail. While mule deer get their common name from those big mule-like ears, whitetails get... Faces. Its cousin, the mule deer, resembles the whitetail, and in some regions the … While mule deer get their common name from those big mule-like ears, whitetails get theirs from the completely white underside of their overly-large tail. This is because of the incredible variation in antler shape in both species. Since most of these deer will be field dressed before being checked out and weighed, many hunters are curious as to how much their deer would have weighed whole. Both shed their antlers annually. ©2020 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Whitetail Deer vs Mule Deer. The mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a deer indigenous to western North America; it is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule.Two subspecies of mule deer are grouped into the black-tailed deer.. Whitetails almost always have brown rumps. Both mule deer and whitetail deer are similar in size, weighing between 80 and 400 lbs. We hunt highly-managed private property in the central portion of the state during the peak of the rut. Conversely, a whitetail’s tail normally covers most of its narrow white patch with a thick, dark tail that can be raised to alert others of danger. WHITETAIL, MULIES & BLACKTAIL. Whitetail deer have one main beam from which all other tines emerge. Most of the regular any weapon deer hunts are over at the end of October or the first week of November. Mule deer does not. Modernist vs. Traditionalist Debate:-- Is it a losing battle for both sides? VS. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) Primary Identifying Features: Tail Tail is the most distinct and common feature used to differentiate White-tailed and Mule deer . It's time to decide what to do. At the same time, mule deer that eat sage brush taste terrible! The mule deer’s ears also stand about a 30-degree angle on the head, as opposed to the whitetail’s which are rounded and stand more erect. Bushnell L Series 10x42mm Realtree Xtra Binoculars. In other units white-tailed deer or mule deer may be harvested. Whitetail are theoldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. Also, mule deer tend to be much more laid back and less jittery. The antlers on the male mainly consist of a main beam with tines growing from it. Antlers: Antlers are the least useful characteristic when trying to differentiate between these two deer species. It’s not reliable enough on its own. Their tail is much smaller and has a range of colors on it. Most pure mule deer have forks in their antlers. Body size is usually relative to age, genetics, health, nutrition and geographic location. Written by Todd Black. North Dakota mule deer and white-tailed deer bow, gun and muzzleloader hunting season dates, regulations, lottery information and more. Mule deer behave much differently than whitetails. … I've been talking to several Nebraska outfitters about booking a mule deer hunt. Read the article! Mule Deer Hunt. They just tuck tail (or, raise tail, rather) and run for the hills. Mule deer vs. whitetail deer All deer are not created equal. Koch, who manages the Upper Lynn Canal Game Management Unit 1D, identified a mule deer buck in the Skagway area and Koch says there have been confirmed sightings of whitetail near Haines. Related: How-to guide to public-land mule deer. As previously mentioned, there are many more differences between the species than listed here. Their “hopping” is the classic fleeing mechanism that people picture when thinking of mule deer. Mule Deer. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! They tend not to spook as easy as whitetails. Mule deer do not have this. Mule deer tend to have a stockier build, but again, this is an unreliable factor. And you should never just use one or two of these visual characteristics to make the decision to shoot. Also, mule deer tend to be much more laid back and less jittery. Sometimes male whitetail deer can weigh over 400 pounds. However, their territories do overlap in some locations. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. Hunters have been chasing whitetails and mule deer for thousands of years. The antlers of mule deer are bifurcated rather than branching from a single main beam. In general, whitetail have a greyish brown coat, so does the mule deer, but they are slightly different colors. Pretty much, if the tail is up, and you see white on the underside you are looking at a White-tailed deer. The underside of the tail of both species is creamy colored to white, so there isn’t much of a comparison there. I guess the old saying “It isn’t the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog,” holds true. Site by Gray Loon. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. Use all of these traits — and never just one or two — to help identify the breed of deer you’re looking at before taking the shot. Mule deer doe (left), Whitetail doe (right) And during the summer whitetail shed their fall coats in favor of a lighter, even redder, summer coat. At first glance, however, when you look at the rear end of a mule deer you see mostly white, which is a very large rump patch of white that’s only partially covered by a rope-like, white tail with a black tip. Whitetail deer are the world’s “oldest” deer species; they’ve been around in basically the same form for nearly 4 million years. In fact, according to an ADFG publication, the agency has confirmed reports of mule deer in … Usually, male deer are bigger than their female counterparts. Like the Whitetail is known for their tail, Mule deer are known for their ears. December 18, 2020   |  Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, December 16, 2020   |  Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes. That’s also why many whitetail-muley hybrids are sired by white-tailed bucks instead of mule deer bucks. A whitetail’s face is primarily brown and similar in color to the rest of its coat. Mule deer get their name from their ears. Mule deer does weigh in between 100 and 220 pounds, whereas white-tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs. To settle the argument, the Outdoor Life editors gathered backstraps from six different big game species: whitetail, moose, mule deer, elk, … Their ears. Both have a white patch on their throats. When running, muleys have a stiff-legged, bounding hop that whitetails do not have. A Whitetail’s ears also are smaller in proportion to their bodies. Mule Deer vs White-tailed Deer – Doe Front View. The ears are also on more of an angle per say then those of the Whitetail, which are straighter. When the mule deer’s tail is down, a lot of white is visible. Be educated. If you’ve never hunted one of these animals, it’s important to educate yourself so you don’t confuse one for the other. Mule deer have distinct ears, which are large in proportion to their body. Mule deer Does: 110-165 lbs Bucks: 150-250 lbs 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. Some just hunt one or the other. That said, it’s very difficult to use this parameter alone to make the decision to shoot. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. That tail is what gives the White-tailed deer its name. The whitetail deer has more of a reddish hue to its coat. Whitetail can have a "gamey" taste. White-Tailed Deer. They have a distinct white patch that covers a fairly large area on their rear. Mule deer are slightly more accepting to hunters and pressure. Mule deer have a coat that is more greyish-brown, while whitetails are more of a reddish-brown color. Have more success. Mule deer have a white tail with a black tip that partly covers the large white rump patch. In most cases, the mule deer will have significantly longer ears than a whitetail. While mule deer get their common name from those big mule-like ears, whitetails get theirs from the completely white underside of their overly-large tail. Mule deer are different. Mule deer also have much darker foreheads than whitetails, too. Also, most mule deer will have very short brow tines, or none at all. Not all do, though. The underside of their big tail is white. The following chart can be used to estimate the whole (live) weight of whitetail deer from dressed weight. Deer are the most common and prevalent big game animals in North America, numbering in the millions. According to two of the better Mule deer were named for their mule-like ears, which are larger than those of whitetail. Whether a mule deer’s tail is up or down, you can always see plenty of white on the rump. Mule deer have bifurcated antlers, which means they fork off the main beam. What is the best tasting game meat? You’ll notice that there are very obvious physical differences between a … There is an obvious physical distinction between mule deer vs. whitetail deer, but how do you properly scout and hunt each species? Are you a deer hunter thirsty for knowledge? Many Alabamians consider hunting big mule deer vs whitetail deer, in the Rocky Mountains, as the hunts of their lifetimes. Both continue to grow and fork again from there. It’s often said that, despite the mule deer’s size advantage, a whitetail will win a fight between the two nine times out of 10. |, Best Airgun Rifles for Hunting Urban Predators, How to Choose Between Night Vision Or Thermal Optics, Blacktail (both Columbia and Sitka, which are both mule deer subspecies). Mule deer, on the other hand, are considered the world’s “youngest” deer species, having evolved into their current form as a post-glacial species only 10 thousand years ago. But there are certainly more differences. I live in South West Colorado and the mule deer often taste as good as elk meat (surprise!). This article contains many facts about the whitetail deer and how they will effect our mule deer herd. Mule deer are slightly more accepting to hunters and pressure. White-tailed deer populations are rapidly expanding across their range while mule deer populations have declined west wide and are no longer found on the edge of their former historical range. Whitetails gallop rather than hop. In some seasons, antler shape can be easily used to distinguish species of male deer . Whitetail deer have a fat, brown tail that is white when lifted. Located on the outside of the hind leg, the length of this Mule deer are larger than whitetail deer, usually weighing between 100 and 220 pounds. Black tails also tend to be a little darker than mule dee… depending on age, nutrition, etc. I took an 10 year old rutting mule deer that weighed 322 pounds two years ago and it tasted as good as elk. Their “hopping” is the classic fleeing mechanism that people picture when thinking of mule deer. Written by Mark Banta. Mule deer vs. Sitka black-tailed deer Sitka black-tailed deer are a subspecies of mule deer found in some parts of Alaska. 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