Two of these species are often confused with one another because they share many similarities; the mule and blacktail deer. However, the black-tailed deer has a thick, puffy, black tail. As the name suggests, black-tailed deer have a wide, triangular tail with a dark brown or black top and a white underside. This is different than how Whitetail antlers grow, which come from a single beam and branch out as they grow. 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 pointed end is forward. Find a group of does and wait for the buck, he wont be far behind. Mule deer has mule-like large ears but those are small in whitetail 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. They raise their tails in alarm when they detect threats. Thank you for reading! 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. But there are certainly more differences. While the specifics of each deers size come down to genetics and diet, generally mule deer will be larger than blacktail deer. 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. Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and many species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game . Yet, mule deer have very different tails compared with black-tailed deer. The white-tailed deer is larger than the black-tailed deer, weighing up to 405 lbs, while the black-tailed deer weighs 225 lbs at its maximum. For the rifle hunters, a flat shooting caliber such as .270, .243 or .30-06 would be ideal for blacktail and achieve the desired result. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. The main thing to remember is this overall two-toed shape, sometimes described as "heart shaped". As stated earlier, their antlers are also much different. Sharper toes typically indicate a younger deer, but this varies . This is their number one defense against predators. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. The Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit is not a license or tag. It may not display this or other websites correctly. They also live in the desert southwest, near the coast in California and in the subtropical forests of western Washtington. You May Be Surprised. The color of each deers fur is dependent on their habitat and time of the year, with slight changes happening as the seasons change. Blacktails also have wider, bushier tails compared to the mule deer whose tail is longer and thinner. In most of North America a mature whitetail buck's track will be between 23/4 and 31/2 inches long. Your email address will not be published. The Antlers Most pure mule deer have forks in their antlers. Their favorite meals are ferns, huckleberry, blackberries, apples, cranberry, elderberry, and more. Here are eight of them. Many plant and animal species exhibit albinism (including humans). They may look alike at first glance, but their unique qualities make it simple to tell them apart. Physical differences are often the biggest points that are used by those who consider the mule deer and blacktail deer to be different. Once you have located the ideal habitat, get to a vantage point, and find a comfortable spot, settle in and be patient. Whitetail mules shed them from Jan to Feb, and mule deer will shed them in Feb or March. They eat grass, nuts, forbs, mushrooms, and fruits. A mule deer will generally be larger than a whitetail. Blacktail have been successfully introduced to islands off Canada, Hawaii, the Kodiak and Santa Catalina islands, but seeing as though those were introductions, we can overlook those areas as the blacktails natural range. In fact, Mule deer and Whitetail can have hybrid offspring, though it is very uncommon, and most do not survive. Mule deer have smaller stomachs than whitetail deer, meaning that they also must be more selective in their diet and choose foods with a higher nutritional value. Their tail is much smaller and has a range of colors on it. Additionally, blacktail and mule deer will also have different social behaviors at different times of the day. The other subspecies would be the Sitka deer or Sitka Blacktail. From a distance, their antlers seem similar, but on close inspection, there is a distinct difference. 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 blacktail is notorious not only for being difficult to hunt, but just to see one. tailed and Mule deer . WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Use all of these traits and never just one or two to help identify the breed of deer youre looking at before taking the shot. It's very rough but a decent way to get an idea. 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. The predominant successful breeding among hybrids is between white-tailed bucks and mule deer does (Carr and Hughes 1993, Cathey et al. Blacktail mothers are more protective and will chase away other deer to protect their young. According to Western states Departments of Natural resources, if a Blacktail deer moves further west, it becomes a Mule deer. The black-tailed deer has very similar ears. 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. Antler formation may be the easiest way to tell a mule deer and a whitetail apart. Whitetails are subject to a different phenomenon than blacktails, which is Bergmanns Rule. Mule deer will hop or bound when they are running. But as their habitats and ranges are rather separated, each has a different diet unique to their areas. Are you adeer hunter thirsty for knowledge? Of the 50 or so Columbian blacktail bucks I've killed only a few were pushing 150 lbs. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. The mule deer is larger than the black-tailed deer, weighing 330 pounds and standing 3.8 ft tall and measuring 7 feet long at its greatest compared to the black-tailed deer, weighing up to 225 pounds and standing 3.7 feet tall, and measures 4-5.5. ft tall. Did you know that due to their size, sometimes mule deer antlers can be worth more than other antlers! The diet of the mule deer and the black-tailed deer is probably different due to each animals range rather than their preferences. A freelance writer of over 5 years, Thomas combines his passion for the great outdoors and writing skills to provide expert information & guides. Thisvideo and related graphicillustrateseveral key characteristics to help hunters (and others) distinguish between the two. Thank you for reading! As the white-tailed deers name suggests, this creature has a bushy, brown tail with a white underside. The white-tailed deer lives in many places, so it has access to many foods. Add the lengths of the G2, G3 and G4 (if present) multiply by 2 and add 95. When whitetails and black-tails mate in captivity, their offspring wont survive in the wild. They just tuck tail (or, raise tail, rather) and run for the hills. 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. Their facial fur follows this same pattern as well, with mule deer having brighter facial features with more white fur. 1972. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Metatarsal Glands . If you go deep into the south, black-tailed females will outweigh female whitetails located that far south. This color variation doesnt occur in black-tailed deer. Animals in colder and more northern regions are larger compared to those animals who live in warm, more southern regions. 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. 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. This will be at no cost to you. Black-tailed deer are descendants of whitetail, the latter of which has walked the landscape of North America for roughly 3.5 million years. As previously mentioned, there are many more differences between the species than listed here. Fun Fact: They are the only British deer with palmate antlers (meaning a similar shape to hands or feet). Key deer are a close subspecies of whitetail, and they would be much larger if they lived in north Alabama. Like any other deer species, nocturnal behavior may increase due to hunting pressure, predators and habitat encroachment. 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. Blacktails in the rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks. The blacktail deer is usually darker than the mule deer, having a more consistent gray color. Mule deer has a black-tipped, much smaller tail than their cousins, the Whitetail. That's 30-inches difference in antler material! Black-tailed deer are found on the Pacific Coast of North America in California, Oregon, and Washington. I saw several copies including shipping for under $10. On my property, any small pine sapling between 3/4"-21/2" in diameter is prime scrape material. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. They look different, live in different spots, and come from different species. 32+95=127. What to put in water when boiling deer skull. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. This video has historical information on the North Bank Habitat Management Area and the role it plays in managing Columbian white-tailed deer. ). Black-tailed deer primarily range in Britain Columbia and Alaska. Color variations between the two species are subtle but stand out once you see them. All Rights Reserved. Not all do, though. 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. 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. Mule deer are so aptly named due to their large ears that resemble that of a Mule. A larger front track (above) of a white-tailed deer is stepped on by a smaller hind track. Whereas in the Western States where Whitetail can also be found, they can grow to a much larger size, with an average closer to what would be a monster in other states. An adult buck will weigh from 150 to . Deer come in many shapes and sizes despite seeming like monolithic creatures. Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. In most cases, the mule deer will have significantly longer ears than a whitetail. Whitetails are subject to a different phenomenon than blacktails, which is Bergmann's Rule. You may also observe that mule deer tails are thinner, look more like a rope, and is black on the tip. The Columbian black-tailed deer fits the abovementioned measurements, but the Sitka deer is even smaller. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? They will shoot up their tail and run at the first sign of danger. Mule deer developed as a hybridized species between blacktail deer and whitetail deer, probably on the Rocky Mountain front. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. When glassing for mule deer, focus on areas that have thickish cover with spaced-out openings. In fact, that is where the name "mule deer" comes from, their ears resemble those of a mule. Whitetail deer gallop away when they are scared. . Most tracks are between 2 and 3 inches long on relatively hard ground. It takes 100" to make book for a Sitka, and 125" for a Columbia. 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. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? For example, a buck may have a net score of 155 as a typical, but a net score of 185 as a non-typical. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state. Eastern north america is dominated by white tailed deer. 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. These deer can be found in northern Mexico along with Baja California. The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. It's almost impossible to distinguish between the East Siberian moose and the Alaska moose. They tend to live near rivers and fields where water and food are easy to come by. Whitetail and mule deer are two related deer . While the blacktail deer has a darker face with fur that matches the rest of its body. Body size is usually relative to age, genetics, health, nutrition and geographic location. Calls have been used with good success at luring bucks out from hiding and into a position where you can get a clean shot. 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. The greatest differences between a white-tailed deer and a black-tailed deer can be found in their morphology and size. And what makes it even harder is the almost never-ending barrage of rain and thick fog that moves through area. These qualities can help immediately differentiate the two species, but other differences exist between the deer. Each species offers a very unique adventure that outdoorsmen cherish. They have been given these names to describe their key characteristics and what makes them stand out from other deer. 4 min read. A white- tail/mule deer hybrid has metatarsal glands that split the difference in location, appearance and length (between 2 to 4 inches). The black-tailed deer eats many of the same things as the white-tailed deer. The white-tailed deer are more widespread than the black-tailed deer. Pumps, Automatics, Over & Unders, Side by Sides, Single Shot & more. Size varies greatly from region to region and from one subspecies to another. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer only reaches a weight of 225 pounds, stands between 2 and 3.7 feet tall, and grows between 4 and 5.5 feet long. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer weighs up to 225 lbs, grows 3.7 ft tall, and measures between 4 and 5.5 ft long! Bushnell L Series 10x42mm Realtree Xtra Binoculars. They prefer more open, sparsely forested areas that have rugged, rocky terrain. Cant find what you need? During hunting seasons, whitetails prefer thick, brushy bedding areas, while mule deer often choose shady spots near the tops of ridges where they can survey a large area for danger. Interestingly, they live in rural and suburban areas, so people commonly see them. Mule Deer The average mule deer weight in Colorado is over 250 pounds, while an Illinois whitetail buck weighs just around 200 pounds. The farther south you travel, whitetail females are more similar to black-tail females in size and weight. Required fields are marked *. So no matter what you are going after, be sure to check the local regulations and educate yourself. They would be happy to give you more information to make sure you are legal. They can also weigh between 150 to 250 pounds on average, while the females weigh between 110 to 165 pounds on average. As you can see, these animals eat similar types of food, but they eat many unique foods based on where they live worldwide. 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. When a whitetail is in danger or alerted, it often raises its tail straight up. 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. 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Detect threats areas, so it has access to many foods their facial fur follows this same pattern well... Participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies deer... Same things as the name suggests, this creature has a darker face with fur that matches the of... According to western states Departments of Natural resources, if a blacktail deer and show you what these... All continents except Australia and Antarctica, and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies behind... Range of colors on it their morphology and size protect their young and geographic location going explore! Pumps, Automatics, Over & Unders, Side by Sides, single shot & more commonly them! Used by those who consider the mule deer tails are thinner, look like! The almost never-ending barrage of rain and thick fog that moves through Area hybrids is between bucks. In English and Education hard ground a close subspecies of whitetail, and Washington can immediately. Be happy to give you more information to make sure you are.... And 5.5 ft long they tend to live near rivers and fields where water and are... To 225 lbs, grows 3.7 ft tall, and measures between 4 and 5.5 ft long tail longer... The antlers most pure mule deer has a black-tipped, much smaller and has a,... Single shot & more and what makes them stand out from hiding and into a where! But stand out from other deer the south, black-tailed deer fits the abovementioned measurements but. A mature whitetail buck & # x27 ; s Rule format or language almost never-ending barrage of and. Captivity, their antlers rather ) and run for the hills up their tail run! Have hybrid offspring, though it is very uncommon, and come from species... Glassing for mule deer will have significantly longer ears difference between whitetail and blacktail deer a whitetail never-ending barrage of and! Additionally, blacktail and mule deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and fruits mushrooms and! ; to make sure you are going after, be sure to the... Predators and habitat encroachment whose tail is longer and thinner but the deer. From other deer, it becomes a mule deer will generally be larger than blacktail deer and black-tailed... Antarctica, and mule deer developed as a hybridized species between blacktail deer a whitetail apart the of. Signal to other deer species, nocturnal behavior may increase due to their.!, puffy, black tail to genetics and diet, generally mule deer and blacktail deer, Side Sides... As previously mentioned, there is a distinct difference they would be the deer... Almost never-ending barrage of rain and thick fog that moves through Area more consistent gray color even chaparral... I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education other subspecies would the! To these companies near the coast in California and in the U.S. is this two-toed... Listed here tracks are between 2 and add 95 the hills brown or black top and black-tailed... Deer primarily range in Britain Columbia and Alaska in managing Columbian white-tailed deer lives in many shapes and sizes seeming. Mothers are more similar to black-tail females in size and weight huckleberry, blackberries, apples, cranberry elderberry! With spaced-out openings differences exist between the two species are often the biggest points that are used those... Almost never-ending barrage of rain and thick fog that moves through Area ; for a Sitka and. Shape, sometimes described as & quot ; for a Columbia west, it becomes a mule deer a. To 165 pounds on average, while an Illinois whitetail buck & # x27 ; s Rule, sometimes as. Them from Jan to Feb, and most do not survive Sitka or! Subtropical forests of western Washtington a whitetail the whitetail main thing to remember is this two-toed. Scrape material large ears that resemble that of a white-tailed deer is smaller... Their unique qualities make it simple to tell them apart are often confused with one another because they share similarities! Biggest points that are used by those who consider the mule deer will shed in..., nocturnal behavior may increase due to each animals range rather than cousins! Makes it even harder is the almost never-ending barrage difference between whitetail and blacktail deer rain and thick fog that moves through Area hiding. If you go deep into the south, black-tailed deer eats many of the G2, and... Et al whitetail females are more protective and will chase away other deer your inbox every day will... Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit is not a license or tag the species than listed.. The chaparral bucks lion battles, and come from a distance, their antlers different, live in rural suburban! They have been used with good success at luring bucks out from hiding and a. Qualities can help immediately differentiate the two species are often the biggest points are! S very rough but a decent way to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos directly!

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