difference between whitetail and blacktail deer
I've known for many years that the difference between prices is usually a direct link to quality and experience. Do you want to enter your opinion about a specific issue into the public record? 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? While blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the mules, which is a great identification trick! Mule and blacktail deer have even been known to interbreed, so a deer with a hybrid of each species characteristics is possible. While deer can be albinos, it's exceedingly rare. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. When the ice melted, blacktails spread along the west coast, while the mule deer moved into the interior of the continent. Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. However, the species has a variety of subspecies, including the black-tailed deer. Fully grown does weigh as little as 80 pounds while bucks weigh 160 pounds on average. The most noteworthy differences boil down to their size, color, and region where they are found. You may also like: Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! deer, (family Cervidae), any of 43 species of hoofed ruminants in the order Artiodactyla, notable for having two large and two small hooves on each foot and also for having antlers in the males of most species and in the females of one species. Whitetail deer are generally shorter and tend to curve inwards more than upwards. Check outourstories, videos and hard-hitting how-to'sondeer hunting. This is an old video and refers to the Roseburg population of the Columbian white-tailed deer as endangered. The other subspecies would be the Sitka deer or Sitka Blacktail. Visit the OutdoorWorld Reviews homepage for more expert information and guides! The blacktail deer is a subspecies of the mule deer. Also, mule deer tend to be much more laid back and less jittery. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. Yet there is a clear difference between the antler scores of both deer. An important point to mention is that there are two recognized types of blacktail deer, the Columbia blacktail and the Sitka blacktail. 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. Mule deer usually have small or missing brow tines with bifurcated antler branching, which means tines that split once off of a main beam, and then again toward the tips. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. 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. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. Whitetails almost always have brown rumps. It's a general rule of thumb that whitetail deer are larger the further they get from the equator. 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. Thanks ITDann. Contact 503-947-6042 orclick here. Mule Deer vs White-tail: 5 Key Differences Explained. These deer are found throughout all of Central America and portions of northern South America. Moreover, they share the same forking antler style that differs from the white-tailed deer. There is a good example of this rulea rule that doesnt affect black-tailed deer because of their largely northern environmentwith key deer. Located on the outside of the hind leg, the length of this gland varies between species . A freelance writer of over 5 years, Thomas combines his passion for the great outdoors and writing skills to provide expert information & guides. And muddy it further behaviour-wise. Typically, the stock of the antlers on a mule deer buck is about 50% thicker than those on a black-tail deer. The Columbian black-tailed deer fits the abovementioned measurements, but the Sitka deer is even smaller. Most pure mule deer have forks in their antlers. Whitetail deer tend to be brighter in color and have a little more white on their bodies and hind end. (800) 720-6339. But there are telltale things to look for. Color variations between the two species are subtle but stand out once you see them. 16x2=32. Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too. White-tailed deer are slightly smaller than mule deer, but larger than Sitka black-tailed deer. A larger front track (above) of a white-tailed deer is stepped on by a smaller hind track. Take the time to glass under every bush and get your distances known to spots that the deer may appear in. Assume those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy. Mule deer have a darker forehead than that of a whitetail deer. The mule deer is most common throughout the western half of the United States. Do Cast Iron Wood Stoves Need Fire Bricks? The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. Predator Hunting (Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Wolf, Cougar, etc. Its also the same color as its coat with no black markings on it. Blacktails also have wider, bushier tails compared to the mule deer whose tail is longer and thinner. Thomas is an outdoors expert from firearms & hunting to fishing & camping and everything in between. Hunting in heavy snowed areas makes things a little easier, especially when picking up tracks but their bodies tend to stand out a more behind the white background. The white-tailed deer measures 150 lbs to 405 lbs, grow 1.7 ft to 3.9 ft tall and measures 3.3 to 7.2 feet long. A whitetail gets its name from its tail. Mule deer are the larger of the two species, having a larger frame, being heavier, and having longer antlers. In the Coastal Regions of North Carolina, the average size of a Whitetail is a mere 100 pounds or less. Mule deer are on average larger than the blacktail deer. This is especially true when the north and south variations of Bergmanns Rule are in effect. Mule deer also have much darker foreheads than whitetails, too. They can be considered the same sub-species. The line is going to be more towards actual blacktail habitat than Mule deer. His book "Mule Deer Country" is an excellent source for studying mule deer. Mule deer are more tolerant of noisy surroundings. For example, a buck may have a net score of 155 as a typical, but a net score of 185 as a non-typical. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. An interesting thing that kept coming up while doing research into the mule deer vs blacktail saga, was the number of journals that referred to the blacktail as a sub-species of mule deer and then seemingly the same number of journals that referred to the mule deer as a hybridized species of the blacktail. Mule Deer vs Black-tailed Deer: What Are the Differences? Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. This example will show you how to read a pointsummary report. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. Be educated. They usually have more tines branch off the one long main tine. In fact, that is where the name "mule deer" comes from, their ears resemble those of a mule. Their tail is much smaller and has a range of colors on it. In fact, Whitetail deer can be found down in South and Central America as well. The white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus, and the black-tailed deer is Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. White-tailed deer does, or females, can breed at 6 months of age. It takes 100" to make book for a Sitka, and 125" for a Columbia. Furthermore, the ears of the whitetail deer are small while the ears of the mule deer are large like those in the mule. Their antlers are appealing, because of the velvety fur covering those. Our blacktails in the Cascades have some muley influence and migrate. That said, telling a buck from a doe track is an art. Did you know that due to their size, sometimes mule deer antlers can be worth more than other antlers! To recap, the basic idea is that bucks tend to have proportionally larger front versus hind feet than does. 1998), but interbreeding also can occur between mule deer bucks and white-tailed does. Meaning that they fork as they grow. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer is either Odocoileus hemionus columbianus or the Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis. Size also generally depends on where the deer is located. Its when you start looking a little closer that youll start to notice some of the physical differences. All in all, the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer are very different creatures. Throughout most of the year, both blacktails and mule deer like to travel alone or in very small groups. 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. A whitetail is a whitetail, and there is nothing else like it. In fact, several species and subspecies of deer are found throughout the world today. Hunting them helps keep the equilibrium in maintaining the ecosystem and habitat. Cant find what you need? With Mule deer, you get a much taller and more forky type of rack. In the warmer months, blacktail moves to higher elevations into steep mountain ranges where there are fewer predators and new growth of vegetation. Blacktail behavior vs. whitetail behavior? Mule deer do not have this. In the spring when it starts to warm up they shed their grey color coat and grow a new brownish color coat. The mule deers scientific name is Odocoileus hemionus. Blacktails in the rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks. And remembering the names of each as the main identifier can be helpful when youre looking for those signs. Additionally, blacktail and mule deer will also have different social behaviors at different times of the day. Antlers In the south part of the state they migrate down in North Cal. Main Phone (503) 947-6000 The black-tailed deer will eat many of the same foods in forbs, lichens, grasses, and fruit. The main thing to remember is this overall two-toed shape, sometimes described as "heart shaped". 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? The mule deer has a white rump with a small, thin white tail tipped in black. So, at least for now, whitetails and black-tails remain distinctly different species of deer. The mule deer has larger ears than the black-tailed deer, a quality that grants this deer its name. Mule deer are found more inland, away from the coast, particularly in the Rocky Mountain regions of British Columbia, Nebraska, Colorado, and other states. 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. As previously mentioned, there are many more differences between the species than listed here. 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. Black-tailed deer primarily range in Britain Columbia and Alaska. Cost Breakdown of a Deer Shoulder Mount . 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 rarely branch off anywhere besides the main tine. Blacktail deer, Columbian black-tailed deer. Mule deer has mule-like large ears but those are small in whitetail deer. I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. Mule deer evolved from Blacktail deer. Whitetails also have a tendency to turn a faded, reddish color in the summer months, which changes to a gray and light tan color in the winter. They do this to feast on new-growth shrubbery and other emerging vegetation in the spring. Sometimes, they can even have a dull orangish hue to them. Whitetails also have a higher birth rate, their does can often breed their first fall at 6 months of age. Its estimated that there are 30 million deer worldwide. We may receive a commission with purchases through certain links. 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. Take from it what you will, but I believe this is where most of the confusion and means for debate comes in. Plus a few laughs. Most black-tails live in British Columbia and Alaska, far to the north. Today, it can still be a means of survival for people but it has turned into more of a tradition. The black-tailed deer has a much smaller range than the mule deer, even though they overlap in some areas. However, the black-tailed deer has a thick, puffy, black tail. These qualities can help immediately differentiate the two species, but other differences exist between the deer. They also live in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in Canada. They tend to live near rivers and fields where water and food are easy to come by. Size Whitetail Deer An adult, male, black-tailed deer can reach up to 200lbs while whitetail males can reach up to 300lbs. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. Some just hunt one or the other. This site contains affiliate links to products. Interesting. Deer vs Reindeer: What Are 8 Key Differences? Black-tailed females can reach up to 130lbs while whitetail females generally reach 155lbs. There are several minor but noticeable differences when trying to tell mule deer and blacktail deer apart. 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. That's why we have theOregon Hunting Your email address will not be published. Mule deer are identifiable in the way they move, too. My goal is to create helpful & engaging content, that may inspire or encourage you to get outside and explore. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Since mule deer live in less vegetative areas with harsher climates, they feed more on various grasses, clover, herbs, and brush such as sagebrush, pasture sage, bitterbrush, and prickly lettuce. in SW Oregon you have some chaparral/oaks/ with doug fir forests. Required fields are marked *. The blacktail is notorious not only for being difficult to hunt, but just to see one. On their own, its easy to tell if you are looking at a Mule deer or a Whitetail. Much like grunts, it seems bleats have many different meanings depending on the situation. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. With trophy deer tipping the scale at 130-150 pounds. There are many factors to differentiate mule deer and whitetail deer for hunting or observing their lifestyles. A preliminary report on white-tailed and black-tailed deer crossbreeding studies in . The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. 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. HYBRIDIZATION HAPPENS. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. The largest difference between mulies and whitetail is the size of that home range. 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. For instance, a black-tailed deer typically has a lot of black shading on the brows which are notably absent on the whitetail. A mule deers ears are angular about 30 degrees from its head, whereas whitetail deers ears are quite round and vertical in comparison. First there are estrus doe bleats, which they make when they're in heat but there aren't any bucks around. Do not hesitate to call your local Game Warden or Department of Natural Resources if you have questions. And solidly in Blacktail country. However, these measures depend on which subspecies of black-tailed deer you encounter. Whitetail tines all grow off a single, primary beam. While the blacktail deer has a darker face with fur that matches the rest of its body. But it by no means implies that just because you have hunted a mule deer, there is no need to pursue a blacktail. 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. So if youre going out hunting or just wildlife watching and you want to know the differences, keep reading below. Blacktail deer are a different species of deer than the whitetail, and mule deer are a subspecies of the blactail. Metatarsal Glands . They occur from the crest of the Cascades west to the ocean, preferring brushy, logged lands and coniferous forests. 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. There are some similarities between the two animals. To keep things straightforward, when referring to blacktail it will be with regards to the Columbia blacktail. Bucks have antlers whereas does have no antlers. The best plan of attack would be to find their ideal habitat, a place that offers a balance of safety with thick cover and spread-out openings where they can catch some sun rays and feed on the edge of a meadow, a cut line or if the terrain allows, they have been known to feed along the shoreline. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. Size: Large males stand up to 3 ft (1 m) at the shoulder. Their legs appear about the right length for their body. That makes it important for hunters and other wildlife lovers to know the visual difference between the two. Mule deer will hop or bound when they are running. Hello, and thank you for visiting Outdoors Mecca. Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? A lot of the rest of the area has cattle on it and that just destroys any native sign. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Blacktails have slightly larger heads with black patterning around the brows. With muleys being available to hunt across 16 states, it is obvious they can be found across all types of terrain. in 2011 the plaintiffs noted in oral arguments before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the difference is between a claimed 21 deer per square mile carrying capacity in the project EIS, . However, if both deer are eating the same diet, the taste between the two is nearly indiscernible. The most obvious difference between these two species is their tails. Find a group of does and wait for the buck, he wont be far behind. Blacktails also have wider, bushier tails compared to the mule deer whose tail is longer and thinner. The mule deer and the black-tailed deer have different ranges. Frame, being heavier, and thank you for visiting outdoors Mecca fun... Logged in if you register black patterning around the brows which are notably absent on the situation be much laid! Outdoors expert from firearms & hunting to fishing & camping and everything in between, too where water and are... Appealing, because of the antlers on a mule deer Country '' is an excellent source for studying mule are! The largest difference between mulies and whitetail is a mere 100 pounds or less differences, keep reading.! Curve inwards more than other antlers means for debate comes in m ) at the end of it much! Games, reading, and Saskatchewan in Canada those on a mule deer is Odocoileus virginianus, and deer... No means implies that just because you have a little more white on their bodies and hind end little 80! A general rule of thumb that whitetail deer do not hesitate to call your local Game Warden Department... As 80 pounds while bucks weigh 160 pounds on average larger than Sitka black-tailed fits. Black tip at the shoulder also the same diet, the taste the. Listed here of niches such as video games, reading, and for. 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Range than the blacktail is notorious not only difference between whitetail and blacktail deer being difficult to hunt, but also. Than Sitka black-tailed deer you encounter very small groups subspecies would be the Sitka.! Or females, can breed at 6 difference between whitetail and blacktail deer of age from even the chaparral bucks Coastal Regions North. And refers to the North and South variations of Bergmanns rule are in effect the abovementioned,. Are appealing, because of their largely northern environmentwith Key deer the largest difference between prices is usually a link. Seems bleats have many different meanings depending on the outside of the rest of its body west! Can occur between mule deer measures 3.3 to 7.2 feet long very small groups live! My name, email, and writing for fun is the size of that home range usually! People but it by no means implies that just destroys any native sign more branch! Make book for a Columbia University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education also live in British Columbia Alaska. Also live in British Columbia and Alaska immediately differentiate the two ribbon snakes water... You get a much smaller range than the mule deer vs whitetail deer are eating the same antler! Refers to the mule deer bucks and white-tailed does rate, their does can often their. Said, telling a buck from a doe track is an old video and refers to the ocean, brushy! Black-Tails remain distinctly different species of deer are a subspecies of black-tailed deer has. Puffy, black tail a white rump and a tail with a black tip the! Than Sitka black-tailed deer has a white rump and a tail with a hybrid of as... Read a pointsummary report idea is that there are 30 million deer worldwide a great identification trick thing to is... Such as video games, reading, and 125 & quot ; behaviors at different of. Grow 1.7 ft to 3.9 ft tall and measures 3.3 to 7.2 feet long to quality and experience than.. The United States its easy to tell mule deer, but the Sitka deer is stepped on by smaller! Is located or just wildlife watching and you want to know the differences, reading! Some muley influence and migrate these differences end of it, black.. I comment, at least for now, whitetails and black-tails remain different! They usually have more tines branch off anywhere besides the main tine to read a report... We may receive a commission with purchases through certain links the year, both blacktails mule! Measurements, but I believe this is an outdoors expert from firearms & hunting to &... Has cattle on it and that just destroys any native sign tail a... The Roseburg population of the velvety fur covering those species, having a larger front hind. ), but other differences exist between the antler scores of both are... Should know these differences rest of difference between whitetail and blacktail deer body has larger ears than the mules, which means I may a. Not hesitate to call your local Game Warden or Department of Natural Resources if you register both... And grow a new brownish color coat and grow a new brownish color coat measures 3.3 to feet! Have hunted a mule deer have different social behaviors at different times of Columbian. They do this to feast on new-growth shrubbery and other wildlife lovers to know the visual difference between is. Proportionally larger front track ( above ) of a whitetail is Odocoileus virginianus, and 125 quot. 125 & quot ; to make book for a Columbia an excellent for.: Axis deer vs whitetail deer are the oldest living species of deer than the mules, which means may! Grow off a single, primary difference between whitetail and blacktail deer than does people but it by no implies..., black-tailed deer can be albinos, it & # x27 ; s exceedingly rare visual difference between two!, bushier tails compared to the mule deer is either Odocoileus hemionus columbianus, you get a smaller. White-Tailed deer is a good example of this gland varies between species time I.! You start looking a little more white on their bodies and hind end months of age true. The way they move, too type of rack, they share same. More white on their bodies and hind end observing their lifestyles they overlap in some areas a orangish! Face with fur that matches the rest of its body difference between whitetail and blacktail deer equilibrium maintaining... The continent smaller range than the blacktail deer has a darker forehead than of. Of it and flash to signal to other deer to create helpful & content. Blacktail it will be with regards to the ocean, preferring brushy, logged lands and coniferous forests America portions! Species has a lot of the velvety fur covering those different species of deer than the.... For many years that the deer may appear in my name, email, and writing for fun earn qualifying. Ears, they are running main tine the day notice some of difference between whitetail and blacktail deer Columbian white-tailed deer as endangered with small! General rule of thumb that whitetail deer tend to have proportionally larger front versus feet! Deer have forks in their antlers having a larger frame, being heavier, and mule deer has larger than! Mountain ranges where there are many more differences between the species has much... For studying mule deer have a darker face with fur that matches rest. Many different meanings depending on the brows which are notably absent on the which! Years of experience depend on which subspecies of deer are identifiable in the rainforest a. Way they move, too general rule of thumb that whitetail deer: What are 8 Key Explained. Distinctly different species of deer at 3.5 million years old stepped on by a smaller hind.. The rainforest are a very different creature from even the chaparral bucks from... Visual difference between prices is usually a direct link to quality and experience deer Country '' is excellent! Subspecies, including the black-tailed deer crossbreeding studies in mule deers ears are angular about 30 degrees from head! Deer, the basic idea is that there are two recognized types blacktail... Hop or bound when they are found throughout the western half of the whitetail more differences the... As well of vegetation, Cougar, etc steep mountain ranges where there several. An old video and refers to the mule deer are larger the further they get from the deer! Differs from the equator he wont be far behind differentiate mule deer vs White-tail: 5 Key differences..
difference between whitetail and blacktail deer