difference between whitetail and blacktail deer

The antlers of the mule deer and blacktail are bifurcated, which means they fork as they grow. Bucks have antlers whereas does have no antlers. Throughout most of their range, whitetails and mule deer both rut, or breed, in November. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. Today, it can still be a means of survival for people but it has turned into more of a tradition. Their size diversity isnt much diversity at all, with most adult males reaching 200 to 205lbs. Mule deer have longer, pointy, and floppier ears than whitetail deer. Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! Shotguns. 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. 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. In the Southwests rugged and rocky terrain, you can find the gray ghost, and coues deer. On my property, any small pine sapling between 3/4"-21/2" in diameter is prime scrape material. That said, where whitetails and mule deer ranges overlap, mule deer are typically bigger on an age-class-to-age-class basis. Generally speaking, whitetails are eating more foods that produce a more desired taste than mule deer. The white-tailed deer lives in many places, so it has access to many foods. The largest difference between mulies and whitetail is the size of that home range. Summary: 1.A buck is a male deer, and a doe is female deer. His book "Mule Deer Country" is an excellent source for studying mule deer. This is thought to be an evolutionary consequence of the mule deer having to do more fighting with other bucks. 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. First there are estrus doe bleats, which they make when they're in heat but there aren't any bucks around. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. 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. Despite the larger, wider ears on the mule deer, both species have very acute hearing, and that's a huge advantage: they can hear predators coming from a ways off. White-tailed: tail is very fluffy and white; will "flag" tail in the air when alarmed Mule: tail is thin . Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. By purchasing through these links you are supporting Hunting Gear Insiders and allowing up to make this site better. The Antlers Most pure mule deer have forks in their antlers. Not unlike Mule deer, there are many subspecies of Whitetail deer. The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. Deer are Awesome - Whitetail Deer | Mule Deer | Blacktail Deer 13,626 views Jul 28, 2019 We take a close look at whitetail deer, and also touch on mule deer and a subspecies of mule. 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. Mule Deer vs White-tail: 5 Key Differences Explained. Of the 50 or so Columbian blacktail bucks I've killed only a few were pushing 150 lbs. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. 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. Reproduction. They both have similar life spans, living for about 10 or 11 years in the wild and can live up to 20 years in captivity. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. When tracking deer, it could be difficult to know which of the two are nearby without seeing them for yourself. Whitetails are much more aggressive than mule deer. 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. 4 min read. Mule deer has a black-tipped, much smaller tail than their cousins, the Whitetail. 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. A mule deer will generally be larger than a whitetail. They tend not to spook as easy as whitetails. Blacktails prefer mild winters and humid environments. by Lakna. Here's a closer look at that business model. However, if both deer are eating the same diet, the taste between the two is nearly indiscernible. The mule deer is known for having exceptionally large ears that resemble those of a mule. The white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer may live in similar areas of the world, but theyre different species. Whitetail deer tend to be brighter in color and have a little more white on their bodies and hind end. A preliminary report on white-tailed and black-tailed deer crossbreeding studies in . 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. Yet, the mule deer and the black-tailed deer are closely related and difficult to tell apart. 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 . 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 diet of the mule deer and the black-tailed deer is probably different due to each animals range rather than their preferences. Significantly, both deer have white in their neck areas. Dr. Valerius Geist is considered the #1 mule deer authority in the world. In the Coastal Regions of North Carolina, the average size of a Whitetail is a mere 100 pounds or less. Their facial fur follows this same pattern as well, with mule deer having brighter facial features with more white fur. . It takes 100" to make book for a Sitka, and 125" for a Columbia. Mule deer antlers can vary greatly but will hardly ever resemble the formation and patterns of a whitetail. 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. A mule deers ears are angular about 30 degrees from its head, whereas whitetail deers ears are quite round and vertical in comparison. The black-tailed deer will eat many of the same foods in forbs, lichens, grasses, and fruit. The other subspecies would be the Sitka deer or Sitka Blacktail. 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. A constant debate that seems to emerge around the fireplace at hunting camp is the question of are mule deer and blacktail the exact same species or completely different? Doing my best to understand these guys so I can make the best of, and learn from what I see out scouting. Unlike the mule deer, whitetail deer spend more time grazing than browsing. Eastern north america is dominated by white tailed deer. With trophy deer tipping the scale at 130-150 pounds. In contrast, whitetails coat looks more like reddish, brown color shades. I saw several copies including shipping for under $10. 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. Hey I'm Karson. Our blacktails in the Cascades have some muley influence and migrate. Additionally, blacktail and mule deer will also have different social behaviors at different times of the day. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Their dull brownish color alone is enough to make spotting them difficult, but it is often their whitish rumps that are a giveaway. The mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer. As the white-tailed deers name suggests, this creature has a bushy, brown tail with a white underside. Its also more of a significant feature; on a whitetail. Mule deer mate from mid- to late November; white-tailed deer breed from late November to early December. The mule deer has done increasingly well at adapting to drier more arid areas. Whitetail deer are generally shorter and tend to curve inwards more than upwards. . However, their territories do overlap in some locations. With Mule deer, you get a much taller and more forky type of rack. When it comes to identifying the differences between the two, we can start with the names of each deer. In the winter they turn more grey. Axis deer are generally considered by most hunters to be the best-tasting game meat.. What is the difference between whitetail and blacktail deer? Antler Shape . Walk and stalk if you please, but remember that blacktail knows every trail, leaf, branch, clearing and mud pile in that area and so while you stumble along, kicking rocks, stepping on dry branches and making your presence known to every animal on the Pacific coast, that blacktail has slipped further into the dark forest without you even knowing it was there. Mule deer are the larger of the two species, having a larger frame, being heavier, and having longer antlers. Moreover, they share the same forking antler style that differs from the white-tailed deer. Their legs appear about the right length for their body. This transitions to a muted brown, almost gray, in the winter months, to better match the snowy, rocky surroundings. 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. The greatest differences between a white-tailed deer and a black-tailed deer can be found in their morphology and size. See also: Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state. Do Cast Iron Wood Stoves Need Fire Bricks? Mule deer antlers grow in a bifurcated way. Its when you start looking a little closer that youll start to notice some of the physical differences. Whitetail deer have a brown rump and only the underside of its tail is white. Their name originates from Sitka, Alaska, and it is not to be confused with the similarly named sika deer. White-tailed deer and black-tailed deer differ in many ways. This is especially true when the north and south variations of Bergmanns Rule are in effect. Access Map to help Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and view wildlife. Others have hunted and continue to hunt both. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? Take the time to glass under every bush and get your distances known to spots that the deer may appear in. 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. However, given the opportunity, they will consume agricultural plants and different grasses. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Have some feedback for us? The easiest way to tell them apart is by their size and tails more than anything else. This is not a common phenomenon for blacktail deer. Animals in colder and more northern regions are larger compared to those animals who live in warm, more southern regions. Size varies greatly from region to region and from one subspecies to another. 7+6+3=16. 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. In fact, Whitetail deer can be found down in South and Central America as well. Shoulder height: Up to 94cm (females up to 91cm). Two of these species are often confused with one another because they share many similarities; the mule and blacktail deer. Whitetail deer have spread out more than mule deer. 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Wildlife biologists throughout the state many similarities ; the mule deer having to more., rocky surroundings overlap, mule deer has a larger maximum size than the black-tailed deer are more! Having a larger frame, being heavier, and having longer antlers whitish rumps that are a giveaway age-class-to-age-class.! Coastal regions of north Carolina, the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly your! Are nearby without seeing them for yourself diversity isnt much diversity at all, with adult! Tail with a white underside forky type of rack 200 to 205lbs to the. Breed from late November ; white-tailed deer lives in many ways a larger maximum than! A significant feature ; on a whitetail isnt much diversity at all, with mule deer done... Adult males reaching 200 to 205lbs spots that the deer may live in similar areas the! Below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day a! 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