Furthermore, the white-tailed deer stands up to 3.9 feet tall and grows 7.2 feet long, while the black-tailed deer stands up to 3.7 feet tall and 5 feet long. The color of each deers fur is dependent on their habitat and time of the year, with slight changes happening as the seasons change. Strangely enough, these deer never mate with one another, even in areas where their populations overlap. However, given the opportunity, they will consume agricultural plants and different grasses. Yet, the mule deer and the black-tailed deer are closely related and difficult to tell apart. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state. Thanks for the great feedback. Mule deer mate from mid- to late November; white-tailed deer breed from late November to early December. Mule deer dont use their tails near as much as whitetails do. If youve never hunted one of these animals, its important to educate yourself so you dont confuse one for the other. The blacktail deer is usually darker than the mule deer, having a more consistent gray color. Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! It takes 100" to make book for a Sitka, and 125" for a Columbia. It has a high protein content of 15-20%, depending on the cut. 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE
However, the species has a variety of subspecies, including the black-tailed deer. 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. Their favorite meals are ferns, huckleberry, blackberries, apples, cranberry, elderberry, and more. A white- tail/mule deer hybrid has metatarsal glands that split the difference in location, appearance and length (between 2 to 4 inches). The blacktail deer is a subspecies of the mule deer. The mule deer and the black-tailed deer have different ranges. See also: Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. Deer in the north have to have thicker hiders and fat layers to resist the chill. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All in all, the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer are very different creatures. 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. The mule deer is most common throughout the western half of the United States. What to put in water when boiling deer skull. 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. The black-tailed deer has a much smaller range than the mule deer, even though they overlap in some areas. You May Be Surprised. These areas provide protection from the deep snow and better foraging when plant life is scarce. JSTOR, Available here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3504024, National Wildlife Federation, Available here: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Mule-Deer, State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Available here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=muledeer.main, Mule Deer Foundation, Available here: https://muledeer.org/mule-deer-black-tailed-facts-biology/#:~:text=Mule%20deer%20are%20distributed%20throughout,the%20Canadian%20provinces%20of%20Saskatchewan%2C. In terms of body size and weight there is not a massive difference, its not as if we are comparing elk to pronghorns, so this info alone is not enough to confidently declare them as being vastly different. Mule Deer vs White-tail: 5 Key Differences Explained. Sitka black-tailed deer are closely related to the larger Columbia black-tailed deer of the Pacific Northwest, and both are considered subspecies of the (even larger) mule deer of the American West. 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. The antlers of the mule deer and blacktail are bifurcated, which means they fork as they grow. Access Map to help Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and view wildlife. Assume those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy. In the winter they turn more grey. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? The black-tailed deer eats many of the same things as the white-tailed deer. White-tailed deer grow antlers off a single beam, but the black-tailed deer have antlers that fork off the main beam. In comparison, whitetail deer is in abundance all over the United States, barring some western states. When glassing for mule deer, focus on areas that have thickish cover with spaced-out openings. Spot and stalk are always the best option, with a large amount of time meticulously spent glassing the area. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. The tail is Email theOregon Fish & Wildlife Commission at odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov. The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. It's a general rule of thumb that whitetail deer are larger the further they get from the equator. Both mule deer hunting and whitetail hunting are extremely popular, especially in the U.S. To new hunters and people who dont know what to look for, telling a mule deer and a whitetail apart may be difficult. And muddy it further behaviour-wise. They raise their tails in alarm when they detect threats. 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 ). Mule deer antlers grow in a bifurcated way. Deer vs Reindeer: What Are 8 Key Differences? They have much larger home ranges and of course winter ranges. You can also find them in the Southwest U.S. and up and down the western coast of North America. The black-tailed mature bucks, specifically the Columbia blacktail deer, weigh in around 150 to 200lbs with the does coming in considerably lighter. When a Whitetail is fleeing, it will throw its tail up in the air waving goodbye to your chance! Blacktails prefer mild winters and humid environments. Deer Meat: 10 Things You Should Know About Venison, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Caught in Maine, Possesses a reddish-brown coat that fades to gray in the fall and winter, Across almost the entire southern portion of Canada, except coastal areas on the west, Grass, nuts, forbs, mushrooms, and fruits. Columbian white-tailed and black-tailed deer share the same habitat in some parts of western Oregon. Fully grown does weigh as little as 80 pounds while bucks weigh 160 pounds on average. This will be evident in the tracks they leave. 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. From a distance, their antlers seem similar, but on close inspection, there is a distinct difference. Cooperative Extension, Available here: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/white-tailed-deer, The University of Chicago Press, Available here: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/284096, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Available here: https://www.msudeer.msstate.edu/deer-diet.php. The main thing to remember is this overall two-toed shape, sometimes described as "heart shaped". Cant find what you need? With muleys being available to hunt across 16 states, it is obvious they can be found across all types of terrain. Their facial fur follows this same pattern as well, with mule deer having brighter facial features with more white fur. A dominant mule deer buck may have a home range as large as 80 square miles. The most apparent differences between these two deer lie in their tails. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Both deer will grow up to 36 to 42 inches at the shoulders. White-tailed deer tend to live in a variety of places. The ranges of each species have been well documented. Of course, Bergmanns Rule makes plenty of sense when you think about colder climates versus warmer climates. This is a basic formation or pattern. Black-tailed deer primarily range in Britain Columbia and Alaska. Typically, the stock of the antlers on a mule deer buck is about 50% thicker than those on a black-tail deer. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'outdoorsmecca_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_16',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-outdoorsmecca_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Blacktail deer can be found along the west coast, from southern Alaska, to British Columbia, to northern Mexico, and even to islands off the coast of Vancouver. They also eat forbs and lichens, but they also eat cranberries, elderberries, and huckleberries. An important point to mention is that there are two recognized types of blacktail deer, the Columbia blacktail and the Sitka blacktail. 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. Whitetail tines all grow off a single, primary beam. Interestingly, both shed their antlers every year in succession to each other. The white-tailed deer lives in many places, so it has access to many foods. Two forms of black-tailed deer or blacktail deer that occupy coastal woodlands in the Pacific Northwest of North America are subspecies of the mule deer . http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/publications.html, ISO Replacement Forearm Pads for a Beretta Extrema. Most black-tails live in British Columbia and Alaska, far to the north. Metatarsal Glands . During the rut, their tarsal glands will be dark and may show a lot of staining. Their size diversity isnt much diversity at all, with most adult males reaching 200 to 205lbs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Whitetail mules shed them from Jan to Feb, and mule deer will shed them in Feb or March. The further north you go the bigger in body they get, as per Bergman's law. Their range is vastly different as well. Doing my best to understand these guys so I can make the best of, and learn from what I see out scouting. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Significantly, both deer have white in their neck areas. Its also more of a significant feature; on a whitetail. Antler size We are going to base antler size off the Boone and Crockett recording system for both the mule and blacktail deer. Of the 50 or so Columbian blacktail bucks I've killed only a few were pushing 150 lbs. Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus, Fig. Blacktails eat more fruit that grows in warmer coastal climates like blackberries, cranberries, salmonberries, blackberries, and more. The biggest behavioral difference is their composure. But mule deer also have some white in their tails, so whats the difference? In most cases, the mule deer will have significantly longer ears than a whitetail. Anyone hunted or have experience with both? 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