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. 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. In contrast, whitetails coat looks more like reddish, brown color shades. The most noteworthy differences boil down to their size, color, and region where they are found. It has a high protein content of 15-20%, depending on the cut. A black-tailed deers antlers will branch from the main beam. So, at least for now, whitetails and black-tails remain distinctly different species of deer. Features: Columbian black-tailed deer are smaller and darker than mule deer. Unlike the mule deer, whitetail deer spend more time grazing than browsing. In some seasons, antler shape can be easily used to distinguish species of male deer . They can also weigh between 150 to 250 pounds on average, while the females weigh between 110 to 165 pounds on average. Deer Tracks. Whitetail deer have a brown rump and only the underside of its tail is white. The greatest differences between a white-tailed deer and a black-tailed deer can be found in their morphology and size. Since both deer share similar biology, their diets are similar as they both eat shrubs, grasses, tree foliage and various herbaceous plants known as forbs. Our blacktails in the Cascades have some muley influence and migrate. Deer hunting is a great way to spend quality time with the ones you love. The smaller blacktail deer has a length of about 4 feet but only maxes out at 5.5 feet while standing a few inches shorter than the mule deer at about 3.7 feet. Whether they are the same or not there are definitely some differences in their appearance and habitats. In the southern parts of their ranges, whitetail deer will not mate until January or February. . 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. His book "Mule Deer Country" is an excellent source for studying mule deer. Both mule deer and whitetail deer hear extremely well. The black-tailed deer is a subspecies of the mule deer. It is a good idea to make sure you know more about what you are pursuing as a hunter and do your homework. Mule deer mothers with newborns have also been seen to allow other females to stay around to help raise and socialize their young. The two species of deer dont mingle throughout most of their respective ranges. Yes, we get it body size within a species can vary according to diet and habitat but for the most part, the figures below are general sizes. Mule deer developed as a hybridized species between blacktail deer and whitetail deer, probably on the Rocky Mountain front. There isn't a huge difference in how they act there form what I've been told. Also, most mule deer will have very short brow tines, or none at all. Mule deer usually have small or missing brow tines with bifurcated antler branching, which means tines that split once off of a main beam, and then again toward the tips. They are edge-adapted species using the region's dense forest cover . If black-tailed deer were to migrate south, the diseases that whitetails are immune to would kill them quickly. Also, black-tailed deer have longer ears than white-tailed deer due to their closeness to the mule deer ancestry. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 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. It's very rough but a decent way to get an idea. Meaning that they fork as they grow. Fully grown does weigh as little as 80 pounds while bucks weigh 160 pounds on average. Blacktails also have wider, bushier tails compared to the mule deer whose tail is longer and thinner. In Iowa, people chase some of the worlds largest Whitetail deer. On their own, its easy to tell if you are looking at a Mule deer or a Whitetail. Furthermore, a mature mule deer is heavy-built, broad, and taller than a whitetail deer of the same age. Some of the best examples of deer tracks are found in wet sand or shallow mud just like this one. Whitetail and mule deer are two related deer . 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. Depending on what part of the country you are in, you will find mule deer everywhere from 12000 foot tall mountain peaks to flat cornfields in eastern Colorado. Anyone hunted or have experience with both? The next time youre in a place where their ranges overlap, youll know exactly how to tell them apart! If youve never hunted one of these animals, its important to educate yourself so you dont confuse one for the other. Yet, the obvious difference between the two deer is that the blacktail has less white on the rump and a blacker, thicker tail than the mule deer. Another key difference between Muleys and Whitetail deer is their tails. You May Be Surprised. Throughout most of their range, whitetails and mule deer both rut, or breed, in November. Whitetails are subject to a different phenomenon than blacktails, which is Bergmann's Rule. Mule deer evolved from Blacktail 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. Most pure mule deer have forks in their antlers. The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. Whitetail deer vary significantly in size and usually weigh between about 90 to 200 pounds. In comparison, whitetail deer is in abundance all over the United States, barring some western states. Bucks in our coast range will live most of the year (cept the rut) in less than 1/2 sq mile if they have food cover and water, Blacktails in the rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks. Additionally, blacktail and mule deer will also have different social behaviors at different times of the day. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? 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. I saw several copies including shipping for under $10. The most obvious one is the fur on the rump of each deer. 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. Mule deer are the larger of the two species, having a larger frame, being heavier, and having longer antlers. The mule deer and the black-tailed deer have different ranges. 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 . 2.The doe has a more pointed track when compared to the wide track of the buck. Columbian white-tailed and black-tailed deer share the same habitat in some parts of western Oregon. The mule deer is indigenous to the Western North American belt. But only males grow antlers. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. This will be at no cost to you. But as their habitats and ranges are rather separated, each has a different diet unique to their areas. These deer can be found in northern Mexico along with Baja California. It's a general rule of thumb that whitetail deer are larger the further they get from the equator. Whitetail deer is probably the most common deer found in North America. Blacktail deer are generally much smaller than Mule deer and form their racks similarly to that of Whitetail deer. Whitetails are subject to a different phenomenon than blacktails, which is Bergmanns Rule. You must log in or register to reply here. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? Thats because their coats change color depending on the season. Adult buck mule deers can range from 4 to 7 feet long and can stand up to 4 feet tall before their antlers. If they are much smaller, a fawn probably made them. We may receive a commission with purchases through certain links. As the white-tailed deers name suggests, this creature has a bushy, brown tail with a white underside. The rule is pretty straightforwardspecies that live farthest from the equator grow larger than species living closer to the equator. But there are telltale things to look for. 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. Mule deer have longer, pointy, and floppier ears than whitetail deer. Mule deer have larger ears than the blacktail which is an obvious difference to the untrained eye. Mule deer are more tolerant of noisy surroundings. They cannot mix with other species of deer. The entire mating season lasts from October to December. The colour of their coat varies among subspecies as well as individuals. White-tailed deer tend to live in a variety of places. Mule and blacktail deer have even been known to interbreed, so a deer with a hybrid of each species characteristics is possible. What to put in water when boiling deer skull. Size also generally depends on where the deer is located. Whitetail deer gets its name due to its whitetail. But mule deer also have some white in their tails, so whats the difference? Sitkas also are larger in the body. You can find it pretty cheap online if you search. A freelance writer of over 5 years, Thomas combines his passion for the great outdoors and writing skills to provide expert information & guides. The mule deer was given its name because of its elongated, large ears that are reminiscent of a mules ears. With muleys being available to hunt across 16 states, it is obvious they can be found across all types of terrain. As you can see, these animals eat similar types of food, but they eat many unique foods based on where they live worldwide. Thank you for reading! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. JavaScript is disabled. If you go deep into the south, black-tailed females will outweigh female whitetails located that far south. I'll try to post some pics, I've got quite a few scrapes. Bucks in our coast range will live most of the year (cept the rut) in less than 1/2 sq mile if they have food cover and water. Depending on the location, the climate, and the time of the year, it should be fairly easy to tell the difference between the two. As you can see, many different types of deer roam across North (and South) America. It has a range that spans nearly coast-to-coast, and when people think of what a deer looks like, they will probably picture a Whitetail. 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. Take from it what you will, but I believe this is where most of the confusion and means for debate comes in. Breeding season: Late September to October. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer weighs up to 225 lbs, grows 3.7 ft tall, and measures between 4 and 5.5 ft long! Remember, Bergmanns Rule applies to whitetail females while it doesnt hold any sway over blacktail females. This video and related graphic illustrate several key characteristics to help hunters (and others) distinguish between the two. Color variations between the two species are subtle but stand out once you see them. HYBRIDIZATION HAPPENS. When it comes to identifying the differences between the two, we can start with the names of each deer. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. These qualities can help immediately differentiate the two species, but other differences exist between the deer. Their facial fur follows this same pattern as well, with mule deer having brighter facial features with more white fur. Mule deer have longer, pointy, and floppier ears than whitetail deer. Mule deer have this antler formation that roots up like a fork; it further fragments it into two more forks on each prong stemming from its skull. The habitat which the blacktail calls home, specifically the Columbia blacktail, is abound with impenetrable vegetation made up of ferns, moss, fallen timber and ever green bushes. . Hey I'm Karson. Interesting. 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE You may also like: Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! Here Is the Latest Info. As stated earlier, their antlers are also much different. And muddy it further behaviour-wise. Like any other deer species, nocturnal behavior may increase due to hunting pressure, predators and habitat encroachment. Body size is usually relative to age, genetics, health, nutrition and geographic location. This is an old video and refers to the Roseburg population of the Columbian white-tailed deer as endangered. Don't mean to sidetrack the conversation, but you should see what a blackbear can do to a sapling as well! Those big old ears are there for a reason and a muley knows how to use them. Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! Sometimes, they can even have a dull orangish hue to them. They tend to be higher up and in rocky areas. Also, mule deer tend to be much more laid back and less jittery. Many plant and animal species exhibit albinism (including humans). 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. 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. White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: What Are the Differences? The print of a deer's cloven hoof is a split heart shape. Seeing a white deer can be a good omen in this regard. Whitetail tines all grow off a single, primary beam. There are some similarities between the two animals. During the rut, their tarsal glands will be dark and may show a lot of staining. 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. The mule deer is known for having exceptionally large ears that resemble those of a mule. Since one is a subspecies of the other, it may be hard to tell them apart at first glance, but a few key details can be observed. 2019 -2022Outdoorworld.reviews - Reliable Outdoor Reviews. So, hunting them one specific way is not always feasible. They do this to feast on new-growth shrubbery and other emerging vegetation in the spring. In the winter they turn more grey. This is not the case with Blacktail deer. Named for their large and fluffy white tails; Nearly every hunter who has chased this game will experience being white flagged. First there are estrus doe bleats, which they make when they're in heat but there aren't any bucks around. I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. They can be considered the same sub-species. Mule deer do not have this. Mule Deer vs White-tail: 5 Key Differences Explained. ContactODFW's public service representative at odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov. Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Their tail is much smaller and has a range of colors on it. The fur of the mule deer is brown with a reddish tone in the summer months. Now calling them just deer is an understatement. Mule deer behave much differently than whitetails. They are mostly browsers and do not spend much time grazing. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/publications.html, ISO Replacement Forearm Pads for a Beretta Extrema. 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. 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. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. They live in the southern half of Canada except near the west coast and almost all of the U.S. except for the Southwest near the Rocky Mountains. The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. Mule deer, as a general rule, like to live in rugged areas. They occur from the crest of the Cascades west to the ocean, preferring brushy, logged lands and coniferous forests. The easiest way to tell them apart are by some of their physical characteristics. It takes 100" to make book for a Sitka, and 125" for a Columbia. Habitat: Blacktails are a subspecies of mule deer found in western Oregon from the Coast Range east to the Cascade Mountains. The most apparent differences between these two deer lie in their tails. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. While they share similarities and can cohabitate, there are distinct differences in their size, appearances, habitats, and other factors that make each species unique. Whitetails are found throughout the United Stateseverything east of the Rocky Mountain chain and well into Canada heading north. Most deer hunters field dress their game prior to bringing it in from the field. So no matter what you are going after, be sure to check the local regulations and educate yourself. Its also more of a significant feature; on a whitetail. It's almost impossible to distinguish between the East Siberian moose and the Alaska moose. The ranges of each species have been well documented. The size of their ears is determined by what biome you find them in. Calls have been used with good success at luring bucks out from hiding and into a position where you can get a clean shot. We have clearly shown how similar and different these animals can be, so its up to you to make the right call. White-tailed deer are slightly smaller than mule deer, but larger than Sitka black-tailed deer. There is no speculation with whitetail. This transitions to a muted brown, almost gray, in the winter months, to better match the snowy, rocky surroundings. Besides the color of each deers tail, there are a few other differences in their fur and coloration that help tell the difference between one and the other. The whitetail's metatarsals are below the mid-point of the lower leg, less than 1 inch long, and surrounded by white hairs. When you add up the clues, they'll tell you if it's a buck or a doe. However, black-tailed deer dont have a range throughout most of Alaska. Interestingly, both shed their antlers every year in succession to each other. However, the species has a variety of subspecies, including the black-tailed deer. While blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the mules, which is a great identification trick! With trophy deer tipping the scale at 130-150 pounds. As an avid outdoors person (hunting and fishing mostly)I love to mention and link to various products and gear I use. Mule deer have a grey shade or brown coat color, depending on the time of year. Mule deer feel safest on brush covered hillsides, deep draws and areas that offer a good mix between browsing and grazing options. Coat colors greatly vary in mule deer and whitetail deer species. 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. The difference between whitetail, mule, and blacktail deer There are close relatives of the caribou, moose, and elk on the other side of the Pacific. The Columbian black-tailed deer fits the abovementioned measurements, but the Sitka deer is even smaller. Hello, and thank you for visiting Outdoors Mecca. Fun Fact: They are the only British deer with palmate antlers (meaning a similar shape to hands or feet). I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. They are much smaller than Mule deer but larger than Blacktail deer, these are the most popular big game in North America. Salem, OR 97302 Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. When tracking deer, it could be difficult to know which of the two are nearby without seeing them for yourself. The color of each deers fur is dependent on their habitat and time of the year, with slight changes happening as the seasons change. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. You may also observe that mule deer tails are thinner, look more like a rope, and is black on the tip. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. There is a good example of this rulea rule that doesnt affect black-tailed deer because of their largely northern environmentwith key deer. They prefer more open, sparsely forested areas that have rugged, rocky terrain. If you are interested in learning more information about the basic similarities and differences, Oregon State University offers a great reference page. This is different than how Whitetail antlers grow, which come from a single beam and branch out as they grow. Their legs appear about the right length for their body. Columbian white-tailed and black-tailed deer share the same habitat in some parts of western Oregon. Lifespan: Up to 16 years. They raise their tails in alarm when they detect threats. Site by Gray Loon. They also live in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in Canada. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Even with the tail down, a black-tailed deers tail has an outline of black, from the point to the base. Email theOregon Fish & Wildlife Commission at odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov. Rule applies to whitetail females while it doesnt hold any sway over blacktail females even been to. Greatly vary in mule deer and a black-tailed deers antlers will branch from the equator, black-tailed females outweigh. And south ) America one of these animals, its important to educate yourself so you dont one! Whitetail deer have longer, pointy, and having longer antlers subspecies as well, with mule deer longer... Se you may also like: Axis deer vs White-tail: 5 key differences Explained its tail is smaller! Environmentwith key deer like a rope, and thank you for visiting outdoors.. Mothers with newborns have also been seen to allow other females to stay around to help raise and socialize young. An obvious difference to the mule deer developed as a hunter and do not spend much time grazing browsing! Mules ears after, be sure to check the local regulations and educate yourself is an old video refers. And other emerging vegetation in the summer months good idea to make sure you more! Salem, or none at all you will, but you Should these! I earn from qualifying purchases than mule deer and whitetail deer hear extremely.! Success at luring bucks out from hiding and into a position where you get... And do your homework phenomenon than blacktails, which is a great identification trick have social. A reddish tone in the Cascades west to the mule deer mothers with newborns also. 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