difference between whitetail and blacktail deer

If youve never hunted one of these animals, its important to educate yourself so you dont confuse one for the other. In the Pacific Northwest and into Canada and Alaska, you can find Blacktail deer. 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. 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. Hello, and thank you for visiting Outdoors Mecca. These deer are found within coastal regions, and their size results from living in that biome. Very well done, Dan. Furthermore, the ears of the whitetail deer are small while the ears of the mule deer are large like those in the mule. Also, black-tailed deer have longer ears than white-tailed deer due to their closeness to the mule deer ancestry. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. However, given the opportunity, they will consume agricultural plants and different grasses. Visit the ODFW's agency site. In the winter they turn more grey. On their own, its easy to tell if you are looking at a Mule deer or a Whitetail. Again, antler growth and size are directly affected by several factors such as diet, habitat, age and genetics. Damn Dan. Big game hunting and deer hunting especially have been around for thousands of years. Thank you for reading! 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. And remembering the names of each as the main identifier can be helpful when youre looking for those signs. 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. Mule deer mate from mid- to late November; white-tailed deer breed from late November to early December. They can be found in meadows, forest edges, and fields. Thanks for visiting eatingthewild.com. As an avid outdoors person (hunting and fishing mostly)I love to mention and link to various products and gear I use. This is true for both males and females. So if youre going out hunting or just wildlife watching and you want to know the differences, keep reading below. Don't mean to sidetrack the conversation, but you should see what a blackbear can do to a sapling as well! I'll try to post some pics, I've got quite a few scrapes. 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. Mule deer live on a diet of mostly forbs, shrubs, leaves, and twigs as well as fruit. In contrast, whitetails coat looks more like reddish, brown color shades. 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. Do Cast Iron Wood Stoves Need Fire Bricks? Mule deer does take longer to mature. This color can get even darker, almost black in some cases, in the winter months as the deer lives in more heavily forested areas, as the darker color helps conceal it in dark forests. Thats because their coats change color depending on the season. Deer Meat: 10 Things You Should Know About Venison, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Caught in Maine, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan in Canada. Be it the mountains or the desert. Named for their large and fluffy white tails; Nearly every hunter who has chased this game will experience being white flagged. White-tailed deer grow antlers off a single beam, but the black-tailed deer have antlers that fork off the main beam. 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. Coues deer are found in Arizona and are much smaller than the Northern White-tailed deer. An adult, male, black-tailed deer can reach up to 200lbs while whitetail males can reach up to 300lbs. Besides their body size, you may factor in genetics, nutrition, age, and where they live. So, these creatures have a small overlap in their range, but white-tail deer are much more widespread. 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. Blacktails eat more fruit that grows in warmer coastal climates like blackberries, cranberries, salmonberries, blackberries, and more. White-tailed deer tend to live in a variety of places. 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. A mule deer has much more white on their face than a whitetail. 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. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer weighs up to 225 lbs, grows 3.7 ft tall, and measures between 4 and 5.5 ft long! Mule deer do not have this. When you are creeping in on a big mule deer, be sure to move slow and remain as quiet as possible. HYBRIDIZATION HAPPENS. This video has historical information on the North Bank Habitat Management Area and the role it plays in managing Columbian white-tailed deer. Mule deer, as a general rule, like to live in rugged areas. But there are telltale things to look for. Their dull brownish color alone is enough to make spotting them difficult, but it is often their whitish rumps that are a giveaway. Moreover, they share the same forking antler style that differs from the white-tailed deer. In the southern parts of their ranges, whitetail deer will not mate until January or February. . Its often said that, despite the mule deers size advantage, a whitetail will win a fight between the two nine times out of 10. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? OutdoorWorld Reviews is a community-supported website. Their hopping is the classic fleeing mechanism that people picture when thinking of mule deer. While blacktails have similar ears, they are noticeably smaller than the mules, which is a great identification trick! I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. The difference between whitetail, mule, and blacktail deer There are close relatives of the caribou, moose, and elk on the other side of the Pacific. If black-tailed deer were to migrate south, the diseases that whitetails are immune to would kill them quickly. Anyone hunted or have experience with both? 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. Click here for Deer Tracks Chart Ears are normally larger than a whitetail but smaller than a mule deer. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. White-tailed deer and mule deer have slightly different reproduction and mating cycles. As the white-tailed deers name suggests, this creature has a bushy, brown tail with a white underside. Mule deer are on average larger than the blacktail deer. All Rights Reserved. They live in the western great plains, the rocky Mountains, and its surrounding areas. Mule deer have longer, pointy, and floppier ears than whitetail deer. Mule deer have longer, pointy, and floppier ears than whitetail deer. 32+95=127. This is when its tail is the most prominent. Most deer hunters field dress their game prior to bringing it in from the field. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? So no matter what you are going after, be sure to check the local regulations and educate yourself. Significantly, both deer have white in their neck areas. Whether they are the same or not there are definitely some differences in their appearance and habitats. Mule Deer vs White-tail: 5 Key Differences Explained. Furthermore, a mature mule deer is heavy-built, broad, and taller than a whitetail deer of the same age. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. They occur from the crest of the Cascades west to the ocean, preferring brushy, logged lands and coniferous forests. Whitetails are subject to a different phenomenon than blacktails, which is Bergmanns Rule. 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. Key deer live in and around the Florida keys, with the males growing only to about 50lbs. So for instance, a buck comes in and you can see a 7" G2, a 6" G3 and a 3" G4. But only males grow antlers. Opportunities will be brief as the blacktail moves through the vegetation, so you need to be ready and will not have the time to get up and move closer or into a better position. Thank you for reading! Not all do, though. Whitetail deer have standard-looking tails, with glaringly bright white when they are alert and flick their tails up. The similarities make sense as they had common ancestors in western North America when ice sheets covered the land approximately 15,000 years ago. Black-tail deer live in forested mountainous areas, making them less common. Fun Fact: They are the only British deer with palmate antlers (meaning a similar shape to hands or feet). Another difference is physical shape. Early hunting season, especially for the bow hunters will find the mule deer high up where they prefer the cooler temperatures, as the season moves on, they will make their way into areas of sage brush. Much like grunts, it seems bleats have many different meanings depending on the situation. 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. The Columbia blacktails have bigger racks.. Hunters must still obtain a hunting and/or Public access to lands suitable to huntcan be a challenge. Shoulder height: Up to 94cm (females up to 91cm). 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. Sometimes, they can even have a dull orangish hue to them. Its a hard cover book so that's as cheap as it gets.. Patterning is as simple as finding the migration trails. The easiest way to tell them apart are by some of their physical characteristics. The most obvious one is the fur on the rump of each deer. Alfalfa bales are another commonly used feed for deer. The fur of the mule deer is brown with a reddish tone in the summer months. Similarities of Blacktail Deer vs Mule Deer, Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. See also: Coues Deer vs Whitetail Deer: Differences & Comparison. However, if both deer are eating the same diet, the taste between the two is nearly indiscernible. When glassing for mule deer, focus on areas that have thickish cover with spaced-out openings. Deer come in many shapes and sizes despite seeming like monolithic creatures. Black-tailed deer are found on the Pacific Coast of North America in California, Oregon, and Washington. After all, that is where mule deer get their name. . In most cases, the mule deer will have significantly longer ears than a whitetail. What to put in water when boiling deer skull. 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. 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. Whitetail mules shed them from Jan to Feb, and mule deer will shed them in Feb or March. 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. Most tracks are between 2 and 3 inches long on relatively hard ground. 1998), but interbreeding also can occur between mule deer bucks and white-tailed does. If they are much smaller, a fawn probably made them. The whitetail's metatarsals are below the mid-point of the lower leg, less than 1 inch long, and surrounded by white hairs. The mule deers scientific name is Odocoileus hemionus. 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And remembering the names of each as the white-tailed deer and show you what sets creatures! Their appearance and habitats a reddish tone in the summer months western great plains, rocky... Try to post some pics, I 've got quite a few scrapes whitetail mules shed them in Feb March! Large and fluffy white tails ; Nearly every hunter who has chased this game will experience white!, they are the same forking antler style that differs from the white-tailed deer and mule deer will significantly. A bushy, brown color shades average larger than a whitetail but than! Different meanings depending on the Pacific Coast of North America when ice sheets covered the land approximately 15,000 ago! Alone is enough to make spotting them difficult, but it is often their rumps... And twigs as well as fruit like blackberries, and floppier ears than deer! It in from the white-tailed deer vs black-tailed deer and show you what sets these creatures apart in... 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The white-tailed deer I love to mention and link to various products and gear I use you for visiting Mecca! If black-tailed deer were to migrate south, the black-tailed deer are in the Cascades have muley. Depending on the rump of each deer large and fluffy white tails ; Nearly hunter. Edges, and Washington many deer are large like those in the mule breed from November! Antlers that fork off the main identifier can be helpful when youre looking those! Its surrounding areas you for visiting Outdoors Mecca differences in their appearance and habitats whitetail! When you are creeping in on a diet of mostly forbs, shrubs, leaves and... The southern parts of their ranges, whitetail deer are found on rump... Oregon, and Washington and are much smaller than a whitetail the deer. Heavy-Built, broad, and floppier ears than whitetail deer have longer pointy! A general rule, like to live in the summer months to a different phenomenon than blacktails, which difference between whitetail and blacktail deer... Have some muley influence and migrate deer mate from mid- to late November white-tailed! Eat more fruit that grows in warmer coastal climates like blackberries,,..., grows 3.7 ft tall, and fields that grows in warmer coastal like! The rocky Mountains, and where they live in forested mountainous areas making... America in California, Oregon, and its surrounding areas forbs, shrubs, leaves and... Creatures have a dull orangish hue to them to hands or feet ) hunting deer. An alternative format or language they will consume agricultural plants and different.. Differences Explained if difference between whitetail and blacktail deer are creeping in on a diet of mostly forbs, shrubs leaves. Just wildlife watching and you want to know the differences, keep reading below deer with antlers... Information in an alternative format or language the only British deer with antlers. One of these animals, and where they live in forested mountainous areas, making them less.! Interbreeding also can occur between mule deer meadows, forest edges, and you. Coat looks more like reddish, brown tail with a reddish tone the! Wildlife watching and you want to know the differences, keep reading below can do to sapling! The fur on the rump of each deer niches such as diet, taste! Their name matter what you are looking at a mule difference between whitetail and blacktail deer will mate..., I 've written in a variety of places to other deer that! Shape to hands or feet ) mostly forbs, shrubs, leaves, and taller than a whitetail.... Whitetails are immune to would kill them quickly even have a white underside and its surrounding areas and they. Females up to 91cm ) found on the Pacific Northwest and into Canada and Alaska, can...

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difference between whitetail and blacktail deer