The white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus, and the black-tailed deer is Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. . Take from it what you will, but I believe this is where most of the confusion and means for debate comes in. in SW Oregon you have some chaparral/oaks/ with doug fir forests. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/publications.html, ISO Replacement Forearm Pads for a Beretta Extrema. Deer Bleats Doe bleats, much like grunts, have numerous variations, all dependent on a given situation. Pumps, Automatics, Over & Unders, Side by Sides, Single Shot & more. Throughout most of the year, both blacktails and mule deer like to travel alone or in very small groups. At first glance, mule deer and whitetail deer look the same. The females will go into heat for a 24 hour period and most go in to heat in November in the northern portions of their range. The white-tailed deer lives in many places, so it has access to many foods. White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: What Are the Differences? Sharper toes typically indicate a younger deer, but this varies . 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. A mule deers ears are angular about 30 degrees from its head, whereas whitetail deers ears are quite round and vertical in comparison. They are edge-adapted species using the region's dense forest cover . I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. They do this to feast on new-growth shrubbery and other emerging vegetation in the spring. Salem, OR 97302 I guess the old saying It isnt the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog, holds true. Both deer are reddish-brown in the warm months, and their coat turns dark brown and gray in the fall and winter. Genetic samples from far outside of the "cross-over" zone were used to establish those value ranges. Bucks love the small saplings, and yes, they're blacktails. Size Whitetail Deer An adult, male, black-tailed deer can reach up to 200lbs while whitetail males can reach up to 300lbs. So, how can you tell the difference between a mule deer vs black-tailed deer? Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? In most of North America a mature whitetail buck's track will be between 23/4 and 31/2 inches long. 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. In the warmer months, blacktail moves to higher elevations into steep mountain ranges where there are fewer predators and new growth of vegetation. However, these measures depend on which subspecies of black-tailed deer you encounter. That said, telling a buck from a doe track is an art. But it by no means implies that just because you have hunted a mule deer, there is no need to pursue a blacktail. But as their habitats and ranges are rather separated, each has a different diet unique to their areas. The white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer may live in similar areas of the world, but theyre different species. 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. Big game hunting and deer hunting especially have been around for thousands of years. 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? Color variations between the two species are subtle but stand out once you see them. Shotguns. But there are certainly more differences. Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? This example will show you how to read a pointsummary report. That said, where whitetails and mule deer ranges overlap, mule deer are typically bigger on an age-class-to-age-class basis. 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. Whitetail deer have standard-looking tails, with glaringly bright white when they are alert and flick their tails up. 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. Many of the physical characteristics of black-tailed deer are similar to those of the larger mule deer. This is all about heat dissipation. Here's a closer look at that business model. 7+6+3=16. Blacktails also have wider, bushier tails compared to the mule deer whose tail is longer and thinner. Its estimated that there are 30 million deer worldwide. Their dull brownish color alone is enough to make spotting them difficult, but it is often their whitish rumps that are a giveaway. The antlers of Columbia . Whitetail deer showcase a brownish tint on their face, with white rings or small circles around their face closer to the nose and eye parts. In most cases, the mule deer will have significantly longer ears than a whitetail. Named for their large and fluffy white tails; Nearly every hunter who has chased this game will experience being white flagged. 1972. White-tailed deer and black-tailed deer differ in many ways. Cost Breakdown of a Deer Shoulder Mount . Another key difference between Muleys and Whitetail deer is their tails. 32+95=127. They are much smaller than Mule deer but larger than Blacktail deer, these are the most popular big game in North America. Most black-tails live in British Columbia and Alaska, far to the north. As you can see, these animals eat similar types of food, but they eat many unique foods based on where they live worldwide. Mule deer evolved from Blacktail deer. First there are estrus doe bleats, which they make when they're in heat but there aren't any bucks around. Here Is the Latest Info. Whitetail deer has a restless tail. However, the species has a variety of subspecies, including the black-tailed deer. Once you have located the ideal habitat, get to a vantage point, and find a comfortable spot, settle in and be patient. They tend to be higher up and in rocky areas. Assume those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy. Besides their body size, you may factor in genetics, nutrition, age, and where they live. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Whitehead, Jr., C. J. Their antlers have one long tine that stems from their skull. Take the time to glass under every bush and get your distances known to spots that the deer may appear in. ContactODFW's public service representative at odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov. You can find it pretty cheap online if you search. And start the migration generally the first week of bow season regardless of the weather. Even with the tail down, a black-tailed deers tail has an outline of black, from the point to the base. Have some feedback for us? Each species offers a very unique adventure that outdoorsmen cherish. Whitetails don't do that. Meaning that they fork as they grow. Mule deer have larger ears than the blacktail which is an obvious difference to the untrained eye. As you can see, many different types of deer roam across North (and South) America. Gestation for mule deer is seven months, for white-tailed deer 6 1/2 months. This is thought to be an evolutionary consequence of the mule deer having to do more fighting with other bucks. But mule deer also have some white in their tails, so whats the difference? The mule deer has done increasingly well at adapting to drier more arid areas. Sitka blacktails have a strong physical resemblance to whitetail deer, while Columbia blacktails have an appearance that seems more aligned with mule deer. A black-tailed deers antlers will branch from the main beam. Now the antlers can have a spread even with or outside the ears with decent mass. Dr. Valerius Geist who is an expert on the history of deer sheds light on this by stating Muleys evolved from a cross between blacktails and primitive whitetail deer some 2 million years ago.. 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? These are two subspecies of the mule deer, sharing some but not all qualities with the main stem of the species. The blacktail is notorious not only for being difficult to hunt, but just to see one. Blacktail deer are generally much smaller than Mule deer and form their racks similarly to that of Whitetail deer. During the rut, their tarsal glands will be dark and may show a lot of staining. With Mule deer, you get a much taller and more forky type of rack. 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. As an avid outdoors person (hunting and fishing mostly)I love to mention and link to various products and gear I use. The long tail has a snow-white underside that they raise and flash to signal to other deer. Mule deer have longer, pointy, and floppier ears than whitetail deer. Albinism is a congenital condition defined by the absence of pigment, resulting in an all-white appearance and pink eyes. There are many factors to differentiate mule deer and whitetail deer for hunting or observing their lifestyles. How do you identify a deer doe? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Coues deer are found in Arizona and are much smaller than the Northern White-tailed deer. White-tailed deer does, or females, can breed at 6 months of age. Sitkas also are larger in the body. These qualities can help immediately differentiate the two species, but other differences exist between the deer. Be it the mountains or the desert. Both turn grey in the winter time and this tends to lead to mistaken identities. An adult buck will weigh from 150 to . In the spring when it starts to warm up they shed their grey color coat and grow a new brownish color coat. The similarities make sense as they had common ancestors in western North America when ice sheets covered the land approximately 15,000 years ago. Whitetail are the oldest living species of deer at 3.5 million years old. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Are you adeer hunter thirsty for knowledge? Whitetails are much more aggressive than mule deer. This is not a common phenomenon for blacktail deer. Interestingly, both shed their antlers every year in succession to each other. But by keeping an eye out for the main differences in their habitats, social and physical traits, identifying them can be a breeze. His book "Mule Deer Country" is an excellent source for studying mule deer. Whitetail deer have spread out more than mule deer. However, if both deer are eating the same diet, the taste between the two is nearly indiscernible. The mule deer is most common throughout the western half of the United States. 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. Whitetail deer gets its name due to its whitetail. Stories of successfully calling in muleys or bringing in bucks by rattling antlers together are few and far between, but it may still be a good option to get a buck to show himself, if the signs of tracks are fresh and you are certain he is held up in some dense brush. Yet, the mule deer has a long, thin tail that is mostly white and ends in a black tip, while the black-tailed deer has a wider tail that is black when hanging down. The black-tailed deer has a distinct range too. The average mule deer will grow between 95 and 330 pounds in weight, 2.8-3.9 feet in height, and between 4 and 7 feet in length. Now calling them just deer is an understatement. Breeding season: Late September to October. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. Furthermore, a mature mule deer is heavy-built, broad, and taller than a whitetail deer of the same age. 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. So if youre going out hunting or just wildlife watching and you want to know the differences, keep reading below. Blacktail mothers are more protective and will chase away other deer to protect their young. Or as difficult as finding them. Land approximately 15,000 years ago more fighting with other bucks tend to be an evolutionary difference between whitetail and blacktail deer of the,... Evolutionary consequence of the & quot ; cross-over & quot ; cross-over & quot ; zone were used establish... The time to glass under every bush and get your distances known to spots that deer... Love to mention and link to various products and gear I use and are! Vs black-tailed deer may live in similar areas of the United States that stems from their skull appearance and eyes. Heavy-Built, broad, and where they live spring when it starts to up. 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