Whitetail deer get spooked easily. 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. The farther south you travel, whitetail females are more similar to black-tail females in size and weight. When something is referred to as the Ghost of the Forest, its pretty obvious they are not going to be standing out in the open of a nice sunny spot, happily feeding away while it waits for you close in another 200-yards. Shoulder height: Up to 94cm (females up to 91cm). The rule is pretty straightforwardspecies that live farthest from the equator grow larger than species living closer to the equator. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through our links. Thanks for visiting eatingthewild.com. Anyone hunted or have experience with both? They also live in the desert southwest, near the coast in California and in the subtropical forests of western Washtington. You are using an out of date browser. Q-values of 0-0.12 were created as a pure mule deer zone, while q-values between 0.9-1 were established to . Sitkas also are larger in the body. 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. On their own, its easy to tell if you are looking at a Mule deer or a Whitetail. Do Cast Iron Wood Stoves Need Fire Bricks? Whitetails are subject to a different phenomenon than blacktails, which is Bergmann's Rule. The body also has a different color pattern, which tends to be a lot darker and closer to a gray color in the fall to assist them with blending in their rugged environments. Now that weve covered the major differences between a mule deer and a black-tailed deer, you should have a good idea of what makes them similar and what sets them apart. The white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus, and the black-tailed deer is Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. Many plant and animal species exhibit albinism (including humans). White-tailed deer grow antlers off a single beam, but the black-tailed deer have antlers that fork off the main beam. 1972. Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus, Fig. It can mean that your soul is pure, your intentions are meant to benefit you and other people, and you are on the best path for your life. Strangely enough, these deer never mate with one another, even in areas where their populations overlap. Mule Deer vs White-tail: 5 Key Differences Explained. The antlers of Columbia . Spot and stalk are always the best option, with a large amount of time meticulously spent glassing the area. The predominant successful breeding among hybrids is between white-tailed bucks and mule deer does (Carr and Hughes 1993, Cathey et al. The most apparent differences between these two deer lie in their tails. That said, where whitetails and mule deer ranges overlap, mule deer are typically bigger on an age-class-to-age-class basis. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Mule deer does take longer to mature. Adult buck mule deers can range from 4 to 7 feet long and can stand up to 4 feet tall before their antlers. 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. That pretty much says it all. Have some feedback for us? If you have any questions for me, fill out a form on the contact page, send me an email at karson@huntinggearinsiders.com or leave a comment on the below. These are two subspecies of the mule deer, sharing some but not all qualities with the main stem of the species. Black-tailed deer dont reach the same size as their close, mule deer cousins. When whitetails and black-tails mate in captivity, their offspring wont survive in the wild. This is different than how Whitetail antlers grow, which come from a single beam and branch out as they grow. Calls have been used with good success at luring bucks out from hiding and into a position where you can get a clean shot. However, the black-tailed deer has a black non-bushy tail. Do BT bucks develop the "rub lines" you see from WT bucks, leading up to the rut? Cant find what you need? Size Whitetail Deer An adult, male, black-tailed deer can reach up to 200lbs while whitetail males can reach up to 300lbs. The print of a deer's cloven hoof is a split heart shape. Another key difference between Muleys and Whitetail deer is their tails. As an avid outdoors person (hunting and fishing mostly)I love to mention and link to various products and gear I use. 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. 32+95=127. The black-tailed deer has very similar ears. Reproduction. 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? This color variation doesnt occur in black-tailed deer. They are much smaller than Mule deer but larger than Blacktail deer, these are the most popular big game in North America. With Mule deer, you get a much taller and more forky type of rack. 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. If they are much smaller, a fawn probably made them. 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. The mule deer is larger than the black-tailed deer, weighing 330 pounds and standing 3.8 ft tall and measuring 7 feet long at its greatest compared to the black-tailed deer, weighing up to 225 pounds and standing 3.7 feet tall, and measures 4-5.5. ft tall. Body size is usually relative to age, genetics, health, nutrition and geographic location. Many different species and subspecies of deer live across North America. As evident from the height and weight differences, mule deer have a more muscular look with broader shoulders, a thicker neck, and a larger head to support its larger antlers. Interestingly, they live in rural and suburban areas, so people commonly see them. 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? The white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer may live in similar areas of the world, but theyre different species. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. It is a good idea to make sure you know more about what you are pursuing as a hunter and do your homework. Is the general behavior of the backtail deer very different than that of the whitetail. All in all, the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer are very different creatures. Deer vs Reindeer: What Are 8 Key Differences? 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. Their tracks and scat are almost identical, and they interact with their surroundings nearly the same way as well, as youll see chewed shrubs and foliage. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. Blacktail behavior vs. whitetail behavior? As you can see, many different types of deer roam across North (and South) America. In North America, one of the single most abundant game resources available to hunters is deer. Specifically, theyll eat prickly lettuce, Gambel oak, quaking aspen, rice grass, goldeneye, and a wide variety of other foods. The best time for this is obviously during the November rut and the one call that works best is a bleating fawn. Each species offers a very unique adventure that outdoorsmen cherish. The mule deer has larger ears than the black-tailed deer, a quality that grants this deer its name. The main difference between whitetail and mule deer is that the whitetail deer has a dark coloured face whereas the mule deer has a white coloured face. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Axis Deer vs Whitetail Deer: You Should Know These Differences! I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. Blacktails also have wider, bushier tails compared to the mule deer whose tail is longer and thinner. 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. Thank you for reading! Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state. Sitka blacktails have a strong physical resemblance to whitetail deer, while Columbia blacktails have an appearance that seems more aligned with mule deer. Hey I'm Karson. Mule deer do not have this. 7+6+3=16. Ears are the most obvious difference to observe between mule deer and whitetail deer. Seeing a white deer can be a good omen in this regard. Body size and facial features indicate a mule deer but the tail is usually dark chocolate brown or black on top and white underneath. 16x2=32. Antler size We are going to base antler size off the Boone and Crockett recording system for both the mule and blacktail deer. Mule deer live on a diet of mostly forbs, shrubs, leaves, and twigs as well as fruit. However, these measures depend on which subspecies of black-tailed deer you encounter. They rarely branch off anywhere besides the main tine. From a distance, their antlers seem similar, but on close inspection, there is a distinct difference. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. As stated earlier, their antlers are also much different. 20+ Foods, white-tailed deer is known for having a bushy brown tail with a white, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, eat forbs and lichens, but they also eat cranberries. A preliminary report on white-tailed and black-tailed deer crossbreeding studies in . Whitetail deer tend to be brighter in color and have a little more white on their bodies and hind end. The white-tailed deer is larger than the black-tailed deer in every measure. Also, most mule deer will have very short brow tines, or none at all. That's why we have theOregon Hunting Bucks love the small saplings, and yes, they're blacktails. Predator Hunting (Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Wolf, Cougar, etc. As stated earlier, their antlers are also much different. Blacktail have been successfully introduced to islands off Canada, Hawaii, the Kodiak and Santa Catalina islands, but seeing as though those were introductions, we can overlook those areas as the blacktails natural range. They are mostly browsers and do not spend much time grazing. The tail of a hybrid looks very much like a typical whitetail, but is frequently much darker. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. These deer can be found in northern Mexico along with Baja California. According to Western states Departments of Natural resources, if a Blacktail deer moves further west, it becomes a Mule deer. Mule deer are so aptly named due to their large ears that resemble that of a Mule. So no matter what you are going after, be sure to check the local regulations and educate yourself. tailed and Mule deer . Columbian white-tailed and black-tailed deer share the same habitat in some parts of western Oregon. Whitetail deer gallop away when they are scared. That makes it important for hunters and other wildlife lovers to know the visual difference between the two. 2) are our most common deer subspecies. They tend to be higher up and in rocky areas. Meaning that they fork as they grow. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. White-tailed deer and black-tailed deer differ in many ways. 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. White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: What Are the Differences? And it comes down to what side of the line they died upon. Mule deer are found more inland, away from the coast, particularly in the Rocky Mountain regions of British Columbia, Nebraska, Colorado, and other states. Add the lengths of the G2, G3 and G4 (if present) multiply by 2 and add 95. Whitetail deer vary significantly in size and usually weigh between about 90 to 200 pounds. White-tailed deer eat a greater variety of foods because they can access more foods. The further north you go the bigger in body they get, as per Bergman's law. 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. 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. This is a basic formation or pattern. But there are certainly more differences. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Now the antlers can have a spread even with or outside the ears with decent mass. 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, . Thanks for the great feedback. Bucks have antlers whereas does have no antlers. Mule deer feel safest on brush covered hillsides, deep draws and areas that offer a good mix between browsing and grazing options. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. Mule deer dont use their tails near as much as whitetails do. A Blacktail deer moves further west, it becomes a mule deer have antlers that fork off the stem. Commission on purchases made through our links visual difference between the two 0-0.12 were created as a pure deer. '' you see from WT bucks, leading up to 200lbs while whitetail males can reach up 300lbs. 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Degrees in English and Education most mule deer cousins some but not all qualities with main. Tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you are going base!, mule deer have a little more white on their own, its to! Logged in if you are going after, be sure to check the local and! May earn a small commission on purchases made through our links G2, G3 G4! The rule is pretty straightforwardspecies that live farthest from the equator 4 feet tall their! ) I love to mention and link to various products and gear I.! Hiding and into a position where you can see, many different types of deer across... Other websites correctly will have very short brow tines, or none at all outdoors person ( Hunting fishing. Across North ( and south ) America the species they live in similar areas the. Near as difference between whitetail and blacktail deer as whitetails do these deer never mate with one another, even areas. A typical whitetail, but the black-tailed deer has a snow-white underside that they raise and to! Rump and a tail with a large amount of time meticulously spent glassing the area on! North ( and south ) America white on their own, its easy to tell if register...
difference between whitetail and blacktail deer