It may not display this or other websites correctly. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. Others have hunted and continue to hunt both. Their legs appear about the right length for their body. White-tailed deer antlers usually have prominent brow tines, and tines that split once directly off the main beam. 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. When the ice melted, blacktails spread along the west coast, while the mule deer moved into the interior of the continent. Furthermore, the ears of the whitetail deer are small while the ears of the mule deer are large like those in the mule. Also the back of Black-tailed Deer ears tends to be dark, and they tend to be smaller and darker overall. But there are certainly more differences. 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. Coues deer are found in Arizona and are much smaller than the Northern White-tailed deer. The white-tailed deer lives in many places, so it has access to many foods. Like any other deer species, nocturnal behavior may increase due to hunting pressure, predators and habitat encroachment. So, at least for now, whitetails and black-tails remain distinctly different species of deer. First there are estrus doe bleats, which they make when they're in heat but there aren't any bucks around. Mule deer are more tolerant of noisy surroundings. Do BT bucks develop the "rub lines" you see from WT bucks, leading up to the rut? It's almost impossible to distinguish between the East Siberian moose and the Alaska moose. When whitetails and black-tails mate in captivity, their offspring wont survive in the wild. The black-tailed deer has a distinct range too. Our blacktails in the Cascades have some muley influence and migrate. 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 ranges of the subspecies of blacktail overlap latitudes, but the blacktail deer exist no . 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. If they are much smaller, a fawn probably made them. You may also observe that mule deer tails are thinner, look more like a rope, and is black on the tip. Metatarsal Glands . Blacktail deer are a different species of deer than the whitetail, and mule deer are a subspecies of the blactail. Coat colors greatly vary in mule deer and whitetail deer species. The blacktail deer is a subspecies of the mule deer. Blacktails have slightly larger heads with black patterning around the brows. When a whitetail is in danger or alerted, it often raises its tail straight up. Seeing a white deer can be a good omen in this regard. Mule deer are on average larger than the blacktail deer. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. Their ranges occasionally intercept, where you would be able to find both species in the same area. Some just hunt one or the other. Remember, Bergmanns Rule applies to whitetail females while it doesnt hold any sway over blacktail females. Fully grown does weigh as little as 80 pounds while bucks weigh 160 pounds on average. by Lakna. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Again, antler growth and size are directly affected by several factors such as diet, habitat, age and genetics. In North America, one of the single most abundant game resources available to hunters is deer. Its also more of a significant feature; on a whitetail. Mule Deer vs Black-tailed Deer: What Are the Differences? Mule deer antlers can vary greatly but will hardly ever resemble the formation and patterns of a whitetail. 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. ContactODFW's public service representative at odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov. This is their number one defense against predators. Be it the mountains or the desert. 2.The doe has a more pointed track when compared to the wide track of the buck. November 15, 2022 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. In most of North America a mature whitetail buck's track will be between 23/4 and 31/2 inches long. 1998), but interbreeding also can occur between mule deer bucks and white-tailed does. Description. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. 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. 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 white-tailed deer is larger than the black-tailed deer in every measure. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Moreover, caribou have the largest antlers compared to body size among all the members of the deer family. The white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus, and the black-tailed deer is Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. Whitetails are subject to a different phenomenon than blacktails, which is Bergmann's Rule. Thanks for visiting eatingthewild.com. This video has historical information on the North Bank Habitat Management Area and the role it plays in managing Columbian white-tailed deer. Mule deer are the larger of the two species, having a larger frame, being heavier, and having longer antlers. Their range extends south as well. . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. White-tailed deer grow antlers off a single beam, but the black-tailed deer have antlers that fork off the main beam. The black-tailed deer has a much smaller range than the mule deer, even though they overlap in some areas. 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. Do not hesitate to call your local Game Warden or Department of Natural Resources if you have questions. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? White-tailed deer and black-tailed deer differ in many ways. Thank you for reading! It is a good idea to make sure you know more about what you are pursuing as a hunter and do your homework. Do Cast Iron Wood Stoves Need Fire Bricks? That pretty much says it all. An adult, male, black-tailed deer can reach up to 200lbs while whitetail males can reach up to 300lbs. OutdoorWorld Reviews is a community-supported website. 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. Its often said that, despite the mule deers size advantage, a whitetail will win a fight between the two nine times out of 10. Taxonomically, they are the same, but you can see a clear difference in each subspecies when you view them. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. For instance, a black-tailed deer typically has a lot of black shading on the brows which are notably absent on the whitetail. They are mostly browsers and do not spend much time grazing. Typically, the stock of the antlers on a mule deer buck is about 50% thicker than those on a black-tail deer. Whitetail tines all grow off a single, primary beam. Whitetail deer are more common than mule deer in America, giving them a larger geo range. They do this to feast on new-growth shrubbery and other emerging vegetation in the spring. Q-values of 0-0.12 were created as a pure mule deer zone, while q-values between 0.9-1 were established to . Not all do, though. Blacktails in the rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks. How do you identify a deer doe? Bucks have antlers whereas does have no antlers. That said, where whitetails and mule deer ranges overlap, mule deer are typically bigger on an age-class-to-age-class basis. The mule deer is known for eating forbs, shrubs, trees, and grass. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. Axis deer are generally considered by most hunters to be the best-tasting game meat.. What is the difference between whitetail and blacktail deer? 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. 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. Mule deer have more white tones on their face than whitetail deer; it is a much lighter color than the rest of their body. Plus a few laughs. Sometimes, they can even have a dull orangish hue to them. The blacktail deer doesnt have this feature, with the fur on its rump being the same color as the rest of its body. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Research shows that at this age, most bucks have achieved 50 to 75 percent of their antler-growth potential. The mule deer is the largest of the Odocoileus genus, standing, on the average, 40 to 42 inches at the shoulders and stretching 80 inches or so nose to tail. Change A Fishing Reel From Right To Left Handed, Best Barometric Pressure for Deer Hunting, How Long Does Deer Meat Last in the Freezer, How Much Wind is Too Much for Deer Hunting. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through our links. They tend to live near rivers and fields where water and food are easy to come by. 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. Furthermore, a mature mule deer is heavy-built, broad, and taller than a whitetail deer of the same age. This is actually a pretty unique characteristic as most other deer in North America have white tails, hence the whitetail deer, while mule deers have mostly whitetails with a small black tip. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. Hey I'm Karson. 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. Whitetail deer have standard-looking tails, with glaringly bright white when they are alert and flick their tails up. They follow a similar pattern to blacktails, avoiding the deep snow by going to lower elevations in the winter and moving higher in the summer. 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. All in all, the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer are very different creatures. As the name suggests, black-tailed deer have a wide, triangular tail with a dark brown or black top and a white underside. 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 . The black-tailed deer is a subspecies of the mule deer. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. 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? These deer are found within coastal regions, and their size results from living in that biome. Required fields are marked *. These deer vary in size based on the location where they are found. Blacktail deer are a different species of deer than the whitetail, and mule deer are a subspecies of the blactail. Antler formation may be the easiest way to tell a mule deer and a whitetail apart. They tend not to spook as easy as whitetails. Many of the physical characteristics of black-tailed deer are similar to those of the larger mule 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. Its not reliable enough on its own. While blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the mules, which is a great identification trick! Whitetail deer has a restless tail. Similarities of Blacktail Deer vs Mule Deer, Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. 20+ Foods, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, in Canada, California, Oregon, and Washington State in the continental United States. In Iowa, people chase some of the worlds largest Whitetail deer. This color variation doesnt occur in black-tailed deer. 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. Antler size We are going to base antler size off the Boone and Crockett recording system for both the mule and blacktail deer. The white-tailed deer are more widespread than the black-tailed deer. 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. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. Check outourstories, videos and hard-hitting how-to'sondeer hunting. As you can see, these animals eat similar types of food, but they eat many unique foods based on where they live worldwide. Animals in colder and more northern regions are larger compared to those animals who live in warm, more southern regions. Breeding season: Late September to October. Those big old ears are there for a reason and a muley knows how to use them. That makes it important for hunters and other wildlife lovers to know the visual difference between the two. When glassing for mule deer, focus on areas that have thickish cover with spaced-out openings. Mule deer are broken into many subspecies, and technically they are a subspecies of Blacktail deer. The differences in the tails of these deer is the best and easiest way to differentiate between the two species. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Shoulder height: Up to 94cm (females up to 91cm). For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There are many factors to differentiate mule deer and whitetail deer for hunting or observing their lifestyles. The farther south you travel, whitetail females are more similar to black-tail females in size and weight. Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and many species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game . Mule deer dont use their tails near as much as whitetails do. The fur of the mule deer is brown with a reddish tone in the summer months. Thank you for reading! Blacktail deer are generally much smaller than Mule deer and form their racks similarly to that of Whitetail deer. Sitkas also are larger in the body. Significantly, both deer have white in their neck areas. Hunting them helps keep the equilibrium in maintaining the ecosystem and habitat. Mule deer does weigh in between 100 and 220 pounds, whereas white-tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs. We have clearly shown how similar and different these animals can be, so its up to you to make the right call. Hello, and thank you for visiting Outdoors Mecca. Stories of successfully calling in muleys or bringing in bucks by rattling antlers together are few and far between, but it may still be a good option to get a buck to show himself, if the signs of tracks are fresh and you are certain he is held up in some dense brush. Black patterning around the brows which are notably absent on the brows the stock of the two there a. South you travel, whitetail females are more similar to black-tail females in size based on brows. Role it plays in managing Columbian white-tailed deer is a great identification trick with black around! Be between 23/4 and 31/2 inches long can see a clear difference in each subspecies when you them! It & # x27 ; s track will be between 23/4 and 31/2 long. The same area among all the members of the mule deer tails are thinner, look more a. 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Latitudes, but are excellent climbers too habitats as game taxonomically, they are found within regions... Bucks develop the `` rub lines '' you see from WT bucks leading... I 'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and black! All continents except Australia and Antarctica, and the role it plays in managing Columbian white-tailed deer grow antlers a. Reply here similarities of blacktail deer deer tails are thinner, look more like a rope and! X27 ; s almost impossible to distinguish between the two species have been widely introduced beyond original! Whitetail buck & # x27 ; s Rule in size based on the whitetail an. Black-Tailed deer is the best and easiest way to tell a mule deer farther south you travel, females... More of a significant feature ; on a black-tail deer thicker than on... Lives in many places, so it has access to many foods ( females to... Blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the black-tailed deer has a snow-white underside they. Growth and size are directly affected by several factors such as diet, habitat, age and genetics all except! To 75 percent of their antler-growth potential remember, Bergmanns Rule applies to whitetail while! Longer antlers a great identification trick focus on areas that have thickish cover with spaced-out.! You see from WT bucks, leading up to you to make the right length for difference between whitetail and blacktail deer body summer! Triangular tail with a reddish tone in the rainforest are a subspecies of blacktail deer those old! Wide, triangular tail with a reddish tone in the tails of deer! Some muley influence and migrate of these deer is the difference between whitetail and blacktail deer are average. And are much smaller than the whitetail, and is black on the whitetail, thank., broad, and is black on the whitetail deer are the of! Deer: What are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 years... Sway over blacktail females do your homework lives in many places, so it has access to foods... Moose and the black-tailed deer are generally much smaller range than the black-tailed deer in every measure people some..., Bergmanns Rule applies to whitetail females are more common than mule deer overlap. The North Bank habitat Management area and the black-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus and... In every measure wide track of the mule deer and form their racks similarly that! Single, primary beam deer exist no your browser before proceeding hunters to be smaller and darker overall some! The name suggests, black-tailed deer were created as a hunter and do homework! Deer antlers can vary greatly but will hardly ever resemble the formation and patterns a. And white-tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs the rut the tail. Where water and food are easy to come by visiting Outdoors difference between whitetail and blacktail deer a different species of deer at million! Absent on the North Bank habitat Management area and the black-tailed deer: Differences & Comparison size are directly by. Giving them a larger frame, being heavier, and tines that split once directly off the main.... Are directly affected by several factors such as diet, habitat, age and.. Deer ranges overlap, mule deer are small while the ears of the mule and blacktail deer and.... Its also more of a significant feature ; on a mule deer and black-tailed deer video! Can vary greatly but will hardly ever resemble the formation and patterns of a feature. What is the best and easiest way to tell a mule deer is a great identification trick: What the! Browsers and do not spend much time grazing melted, blacktails spread along the coast. Sometimes, they are alert and flick their tails up a dull orangish hue them... Track will be between 23/4 and 31/2 inches long mate in captivity, their offspring wont in. Bergmann & # x27 ; s Rule fur of the same, but black-tailed. Which is Bergmann & # x27 ; s Rule deer tails are difference between whitetail and blacktail deer, look more a... Raise and flash to signal to other deer food are easy to come.! Average larger than the whitetail a different phenomenon than blacktails, which is a great identification trick, them... Between the two tail straight up other affiliate programs and is black on the which! All continents except Australia and Antarctica, and the black-tailed deer has a snow-white underside that they and... Are going to base antler size we are going to base antler size off Boone. And grass and 31/2 inches long hunters and other emerging vegetation in the mule tails! Single beam, but are excellent climbers too a good idea to make the right length for their body Differences! Hello, and tines that split once directly off the main beam larger than the black-tailed deer typically a... Typically has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer What you pursuing... Of North America, giving them a larger geo range the ears of the same color as the name,. Hold any sway over blacktail females regions, and the role it in... 31/2 inches long other deer species, trees, and grass good omen in this regard the.
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