The Sitka deer or Sitka black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) is a subspecies of mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ), similar to the Columbian black-tailed subspecies ( O. h. colombianus ). But there are certainly more differences. A mule deer will generally be larger than a whitetail. Mule deer does weigh in between 100 and 220 pounds, whereas white-tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs. 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. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through our links. That said, telling a buck from a doe track is an art. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are native to the Western part of North America and have a rather large and expansive area where they can be found. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state. 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. Interestingly, both shed their antlers every year in succession to each other. 4 min read. Ears are the most obvious difference to observe between mule deer and whitetail deer. This is their number one defense against predators. Mule deer has a black-tipped, much smaller tail than their cousins, the Whitetail. To keep things straightforward, when referring to blacktail it will be with regards to the Columbia blacktail. If you go deep into the south, black-tailed females will outweigh female whitetails located that far south. Their size diversity isnt much diversity at all, with most adult males reaching 200 to 205lbs. The mule deer and the black-tailed deer have different ranges. The easiest way to tell them apart is by their size and tails more than anything else. HYBRIDIZATION HAPPENS. Typically, the stock of the antlers on a mule deer buck is about 50% thicker than those on a black-tail deer. So, at least for now, whitetails and black-tails remain distinctly different species of deer. 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 vary in size based on the location where they are found. Their dull brownish color alone is enough to make spotting them difficult, but it is often their whitish rumps that are a giveaway. Here's a closer look at that business model. They look different, live in different spots, and come from different species. See also: Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. The white-tailed deer are more widespread than the black-tailed deer. The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. Ears are normally larger than a whitetail but smaller than a mule deer. 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. Mule deer are the larger of the two species, having a larger frame, being heavier, and having longer antlers. There are many factors to differentiate mule deer and whitetail deer for hunting or observing their lifestyles. How to distinguish Columbian white-tailed and black-tailed deer That's 30-inches difference in antler material! It's almost impossible to distinguish between the East Siberian moose and the Alaska moose. Plus a few laughs. Thank you for reading! 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. Blacktail deer, Columbian black-tailed deer. The line is going to be more towards actual blacktail habitat than Mule deer. Antlers Some of the best examples of deer tracks are found in wet sand or shallow mud just like this one. White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: What Are the Differences? Although their diets are largely similar, whitetail deer typically have a wider choice of foods due to their habitat and larger stomachs. 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. Description. It's very rough but a decent way to get an idea. Their antlers have one long tine that stems from their skull. White-tailed deer does, or females, can breed at 6 months of age. White-tailed deer and black-tailed deer differ in many ways. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/publications.html, ISO Replacement Forearm Pads for a Beretta Extrema. Calls have been used with good success at luring bucks out from hiding and into a position where you can get a clean shot. Though both are descendants of whitetail, black-tailed deer are considered a sub-species of mule deer. Whitetails also have a higher birth rate, their does can often breed their first fall at 6 months of age. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? The larger ears found on desert Muleys allow them to stay cooler when its hotter out, and the smaller ones found on the mountain muleys translate to them staying a little warmer. The ranges of the subspecies of blacktail overlap latitudes, but the blacktail deer exist no . When you add up the clues, they'll tell you if it's a buck or a doe. Doing my best to understand these guys so I can make the best of, and learn from what I see out scouting. Specifically, theyll eat prickly lettuce, Gambel oak, quaking aspen, rice grass, goldeneye, and a wide variety of other foods. As stated earlier, their antlers are also much different. Some of the different Whitetail subspecies are northern white-tailed deer, Carmen Mountains white-tailed deer, Key deer or Florida Keys white-tailed deer, and Coues deer. When it comes to identifying the differences between the two, we can start with the names of each deer. Interesting. The white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer may live in similar areas of the world, but theyre different species. Click here for Deer Tracks Chart Here Is the Latest Info. The differences in the tails of these deer is the best and easiest way to differentiate between the two species. They are about three-quarters of the length of the deers entire head and help the mule deer pick up on faint sounds over their large, open territories. . Blacktails are split into two different groups within their own subspecies; Columbian black-tailed deer, found in the pacific northwest, Canada, and down into northern California. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer weighs up to 225 lbs, grows 3.7 ft tall, and measures between 4 and 5.5 ft long! Q-values of 0-0.12 were created as a pure mule deer zone, while q-values between 0.9-1 were established to . Their weight can range from 75 pounds for a young deer to 350 pounds for a mature deer. Deer vs Reindeer: What Are 8 Key Differences? Yet there is a clear difference between the antler scores of both deer. They live in the western great plains, the rocky Mountains, and its surrounding areas. 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. The main thing to remember is this overall two-toed shape, sometimes described as "heart shaped". 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. I saw several copies including shipping for under $10. There are some similarities between the two animals. 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. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. The similarities make sense as they had common ancestors in western North America when ice sheets covered the land approximately 15,000 years ago. The farther south you travel, whitetail females are more similar to black-tail females in size and weight. The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. I've measured P&Y Blacktails who have won the biennual bowhunting awards in California bigger than any Mule deer I've killed. Whitetail deer gallop away when they are scared. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. With a shoulder height of 31 42 and a nose-to-tail length of 3.9 6.9 ft. A mature mule deer buck will tip the scales from 160 to 330 lbs. Like any other deer species, nocturnal behavior may increase due to hunting pressure, predators and habitat encroachment. 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. Furthermore, the ears of the whitetail deer are small while the ears of the mule deer are large like those in the mule. The most significant differences between a mule deer and a black-tailed deer lie in their size and the morphology of their tails. White-tailed deer are slightly smaller than mule deer, but larger than Sitka black-tailed deer. Though both species are related to one another (black-tailed deer being the offshoot progeny of whitetail), several, subtle differences set them apart. Albinism is a congenital condition defined by the absence of pigment, resulting in an all-white appearance and pink eyes. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Hunters have been chasing whitetails and mule deer for thousands of years. These qualities can help immediately differentiate the two species, but other differences exist between the deer. Cost Breakdown of a Deer Shoulder Mount . The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. The biggest behavioral difference is their composure. Whitetail deer tend to be brighter in color and have a little more white on their bodies and hind end. Another key difference between Muleys and Whitetail deer is their tails. Contact 503-947-6042 orclick here. If youre going out hunting mule deer or whitetail, make sure you know the difference between the two so you dont end up shooting the wrong one. My goal is to create helpful & engaging content, that may inspire or encourage you to get outside and explore. That makes it important for hunters and other wildlife lovers to know the visual difference between the two. 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. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 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. Size Whitetail Deer An adult, male, black-tailed deer can reach up to 200lbs while whitetail males can reach up to 300lbs. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Mule deer have a darker forehead than that of a whitetail deer. The pointed end is forward. This is true for both males and females. Its when you start looking a little closer that youll start to notice some of the physical differences. The black-tailed mature bucks, specifically the Columbia blacktail deer, weigh in around 150 to 200lbs with the does coming in considerably lighter. The blacktail is notorious not only for being difficult to hunt, but just to see one. If youve never hunted one of these animals, its important to educate yourself so you dont confuse one for the other. 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. These areas provide protection from the deep snow and better foraging when plant life is scarce. Pumps, Automatics, Over & Unders, Side by Sides, Single Shot & more. 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. 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. This transitions to a muted brown, almost gray, in the winter months, to better match the snowy, rocky surroundings. Patterning is as simple as finding the migration trails. Those big old ears are there for a reason and a muley knows how to use them. Its also more of a significant feature; on a whitetail. Not unlike Mule deer, there are many subspecies of Whitetail deer. ContactODFW's public service representative at odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov. White-tailed deer are one of the most common in the Americas, but there are some less-known creatures, like black-tailed deer. Unlike the mule deer, whitetail deer spend more time grazing than browsing. 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. A preliminary report on white-tailed and black-tailed deer crossbreeding studies in . They try to see what is making the noise before bounding off. Hello, and thank you for visiting Outdoors Mecca. Is the general behavior of the backtail deer very different than that of the whitetail. The black-tailed deer has very similar ears. Both mule deer and whitetail deer hear extremely well. They also live in the desert southwest, near the coast in California and in the subtropical forests of western Washtington. What to put in water when boiling deer skull. You can find it pretty cheap online if you search. Mule deer antlers grow in a bifurcated way. A mule deer is bigger than an average whitetail deer. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Research shows that at this age, most bucks have achieved 50 to 75 percent of their antler-growth potential. Whitetail deer are generally shorter and tend to curve inwards more than upwards. It takes 100" to make book for a Sitka, and 125" for a Columbia. Antler formation may be the easiest way to tell a mule deer and a whitetail apart. We may receive a commission with purchases through certain links. Thank you for reading! 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. Its a hard cover book so that's as cheap as it gets.. Mule deer are more tolerant of noisy surroundings. 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. Blacktails in the rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks. So, hunting them one specific way is not always feasible. Also, most mule deer will have very short brow tines, or none at all. Take from it what you will, but I believe this is where most of the confusion and means for debate comes in. Most hunters and deer enthusiasts in western North America are exposed to many wonderful species of deer. Black-tailed deer dont reach the same size as their close, mule deer cousins. Mule deer are on average larger than the blacktail deer. And muddy it further behaviour-wise. . The blacktail deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) split off from the whitetail at some time in the past, thought to be a million years ago or more. They tend not to spook as easy as whitetails. It takes 100" to make book for a Sitka, and 125" for a Columbia. The white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus, and the black-tailed deer is Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. The mule deer was given its name because of its elongated, large ears that are reminiscent of a mules ears. Deer come in many shapes and sizes despite seeming like monolithic creatures. I've known for many years that the difference between prices is usually a direct link to quality and experience. 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