Across most of the U.S., the terms "mule deer" and "blacktail deer" are used to describe the same animal although there are sub-species of blacktail deer … You can find an archery store near you here. These long ears, which resemble a mule’s ears, help muleys dissipate heat and detect far-off dangers. Male Mule Deer Female Mule Deer Antlers vs. Some posts may contain affiliate links. The antlers on the male mainly consist of a main beam with tines growing from it. Size Mule deer tend to be larger in size. Since mule deer are much more likely to feed on sagebrush and rabbit-brush, the meat can be a little bitter or strong. White-tailed deer are reddish-brown to blue-gray or tan. If mule deer have one weakness, they tend to stop and look back. Mule deer populations reached the most recent peak in the early 1980s. If you hunt on the east side, chances are that if you are fortunate enough to bring home a venison, it will probably be a mule deer. Mule deer have reddish coloring in the summer and are blue-gray in the winter. In most conditions, the tails bright-white underside is covered. But even if you live in Maine, and the closest wild mule deer lives in South Dakota, you’ll be a better outdoors-person if know what they look like and which habitats they prefer. Mule deer mate from mid- to late-November; white-tailed deer breed from late-November to early December. Mule deer scat Deer scat will be oblong in shaped (possibly with a nipple on the end) and typically less than 1/2 inch long for does and larger than 3/4 inch for bucks. I do not hunt the lowlands. Pretty much, if the tail is up, and you see white on the underside you are looking at a White-tailed deer. If the mule deer buck is typical and healthy, he can weigh in excess of 300 pounds. So the blacktail and mule deer are the same species, but the mulie is a subspecies of the blacktail, and they are both close cousins to the whitetail. Mule deer, on the other hand, are animals that are perfectly at home in open pine forests, sagebrush flats and dry desert country. Keep reading to find out. A common tactic for bowhunting whitetails is to hang treestands in travel corridors and feeding areas. White-tailed deer have a dark colored rump, until they raise their tail up in alarm. Adult males, or bucks, weigh 68 to 113 kg, but bucks in peak physical condition may weigh up to 180 kg. The blacktail’s two subspecies are the Columbian and Sitka. In Valerius Geist's informative book Mule Deer Country he explains that by testing the mitochondrial DNA (the mothers DNA ) of the three species (blacktail, whitetail and mule deer), researchers have now determined that it was the mating of Whitetail does, and Blacktail buck's, that gave rise to the Mule deer and not the opposite as was once suspected. Mule deer are found nearly anywhere from the Rocky Mountains westward to the Cascade Mountains and from Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico all the way up into Canada and Alaska. A mule deer is the largest deer in North America, not counting elk or moose, which are both deer species. Photo Credit: John Hafner. Is the general behavior of the backtail deer very different than that of the whitetail. This information is based solely off of my experience which is in the State of Washington only. The Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806 re… Total mule deer populations in the lower 48 are difficult to estimate accurately due to overlap with blacktail deer populations in coastal states and some confusion over what constitutes a mule deer or a coastal blacktail deer where they share habitat. All 48 contiguous states, Mexico and Canada have white-tailed deer, but some hold far more than others. 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? Mule deer declined through about 2000 and since then have probably increased. In most conditions, the tails bright-white underside is covered. Dennis Holmes here. Mule deer, however, don’t just live at high elevations. These can be excellent places to set up a treestand and patiently wait. He was one of the authors of the articles referenced above. However, the top of a mule deer’s tail is the same color as the sides and back of the pelt, down to a small, dark or black tip on the tail. This can make black tail meat taste sweeter and milder, in comparison to mule deer. Tagearplanet.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It’s important to study their daily patterns and place treestands in well-used travel corridors. Black tails, living on the side of the mountains that usually gets the most rain and has the mildest temperatures, tend to eat plants that are more succulent. As the name suggests, black-tailed deer have a wide, triangular tail with a dark brown or black top and a white underside. The mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a deer indigenous to western North America; it is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule.Two subspecies of mule deer are grouped into the black-tailed deer.. Bowhunting requires an array of outdoors skills, one of which is animal identification. To complete this research, I brought together Drs. What is the comparison of black tails and mule deer? White-Tailed Deer. Mule Deer have a reddish brown coat that changes The underside of their big tail is white. Mule deer are Western icons. They seldom get heavier than 200 pounds, often less than this, and are generally a half a foot shorter and a foot less in length, even for large specimens. Some of this info could be extremely helpful some of it may not be applicable at all. What’s the difference between black-tailed, white-tailed and mule deer? Black tails also tend to be a little darker than mule deer overall, regardless of the season. Mule deer does weigh in between 100 and 220 pounds, whereas white-tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs. Photo Credit: wideopenspaces.com. Mule deer does take longer to mature. Hunters use binoculars and spotting scopes to locate distant deer. The Mule Deer in our area don't reach that size. They are one of the fastest growing natural materials in the world. Naturally, this is a general flavor comparison since black tails might eat sagebrush on occasion and mule deer enjoy succulent plants, too. Selecting the Best Skinning Knife For Hunting, Stay Comfortable with the Best Turkey Vest, What’s the Best M4 Scope? THE BLACKTAILS . The underside of the tail of both species is creamy colored to white, so there isn’t much of a comparison there. In most cases it will be quite obvious. Then there’s the black-tailed deer, which is closely related to the mule deer and inhabits the Pacific Northwest. Mule deer, however, don’t just live at high elevations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Practically speaking, here are some of the comparisons: The term blacktail refers to a sub-specie of the mule deer. Class: Mammalia Family: Cervidae Order: Artiodactyla Genus: Odocoileus There are two subspecies of mule deer in California: Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), and California mule deer (O.h. They’re an elusive deer species, and characterized by dark antlers and a black tail. In 2012, 7,144 mule deer were harvested, indicating a 36% increase – An average black tail buck, in comparison, is normally smaller. Their smaller size allows them to move through thick underbrush that a mule deer might not be able to negotiate easily. Another tactic is to set up a treestand or ground blind near a watering hole or food source. Then they sneak into bow range for a shot. Being larger than black tails, the open country allows them to move freely. Mule deer are gregarious; they form groups of as many as 24, but over 60 percent of … The mule deer’s most telling feature is its large ears, which gave them their name. A mule deer has much more white on their face than a whitetail. This relatively close relationship between whitetail and mule deer and their genetic differences from blacktails has spawned a new theory that the mule deer itself is actually a hybrid form; the result of a mixing of genes from coastal blacktail bucks mating with whitetails does when the glaciers of the last Ice Age receded, bringing the two species together. Both black tails and mule deer have pelts that vary from brown to golden brown in the summer and grayish in the winter. We probably have the most diversity of deer in the United States here in California – six different species. If you want to harvest your own tasty venison, start by visiting an archery shop to learn everything you need to know about bowhunting. The mule deer’s most telling feature is its large ears, which gave them their name. I do not know the extent of all the studies he has been involved in, but would expect to see more results like … There is an obvious physical distinction between mule deer vs. whitetail deer, but how do you properly scout and hunt each species? California's deer herds are a valuable resource to both hunters and non-hunters alike. Antlers grow from the … It’s believed there’s around three and half million of the two species combined. However, the flavor of the venison is mostly a feature of what the animals have been eating. The first thing you need to do when you’re scoring a mule or blacktail deer is determine whether it should be scored as a typical or non-typical once you have identified the five normal points. In a comparison of black tails and mule deer, it is easy to see that there is a difference, even though the black tail is a sub-species of mule deer. Specifically, total mule deer harvest reached the most recent low in 2003, with a harvest of only 5,254 (all weapon types). Telling the difference between deer species is especially important if you live or hunt in areas that hold whitetails and muleys, or blacktails and muleys. Black-tailed deer are referred to as the “Ghost of the Pacific” for their ability to move unheard and unseen through the thick rainforests of the Pacific Coast. Black-tailed deer have a native range that extends across the Pacific Northwest. Photo Credit: John Hafner. The reason for this is the terrain they normally inhabit. A group of mule deer bucks feeding along a mountainside can inspire hunters to hike high and far, bow in hand. The deer rest by lying on their chests and bellies with legs tucked under. Blacktail deer are nearly impossible to distinguish from white tailed deer without other non-track signs. Black tail deer and mule deer are both primarily found in the Western United States and Canada, on the west side of the continental divide. If there are no or only a couple of short abnormal points, the rack should first be scored as a typical. Mule deer vs. Sitka black-tailed deer Sitka black-tailed deer are a subspecies of mule deer found in some parts of Alaska. Look for sites where several deer trails intersect. We have California mule deer, Rocky Mountain mule deer, feral mule deer, southern mule deer, Columbian black-tailed deer and a cross between a black-tailed and a mule deer. Members of the deer family (which includes caribou, deer, elk, and moose) have antlers. That doesn't mean you can't find them out in a clear-cut and see them a long ways away. If there are several to numerous abnormal points, use the non-typical score chart. Classic blacktail country includes the thick forests along the Northwest coast. In comparison, black tails have a much smaller range, being found primarily west of the Cascade summit. However, the top of a mule deer’s tail is the same color as the sides and back of the pelt, down to a small, dark or black tip on the tail. Antlers are solid bone and are shed annually. Horns. Black-tailed deer are a member of the mule deer family and found across the Pacific Northwest of North America. More effective monitoring of livestock use and enforcement of existing standards would likely result in improvements to many habitats. Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Artiodactyla Family Cervidae Subfamily Capreolinae Genus Odocoileus Species O. hemionus Scientific Name Odocoileus hemionus columbianus Quick Information Also known as Blacktail deer… A group of mule deer bucks feeding along a mountainside can inspire hunters to hike high and far, bow in hand. All the blacktail I've killed have been at very close range. Though given an interesting name, the black-tailed deer is considered as the least studied deer species of North America. Mule Deer are relatively large animals – 90 to 95 cm high at the shoulder. The underside of the tail of both species is creamy colored to white, so there isn’t much of a comparison there. If both have been feeding in alfalfa fields, the venison is likely to taste the same, regardless of species. They share many similarities but are much smaller than a mule deer and their ears are smaller too. All of that said, a comparison can be made in regard to the flavor of black tail and mule deer. Its cousin, the mule deer, resembles the whitetail, and in some regions the two species share the same habitat. The mule deer/blacktail species ranges from a small island-hopping Sitka blacktail to a large Rocky Mountain mule deer. The white-tailed deer is North America’s most popular big-game animal because whitetails thrive just about everywhere. Identification of Priority Areas ... the life history of mule deer. Mule Deer. No matter which species you bowhunt, you’ll enjoy the experience. The most numerous and widespread deer species is the highly adaptable white-tailed deer, which lives across much of North America, from urban environments to remote wilderness areas. They also inhabit deserts, prairies and agricultural areas. Bowhunters use several tactics to pursue mule deer, but the most common is spot and stalk. Adults only raise their tail when signaling other deer of danger. According to Dr. Valerius Geist, the first black-tailed deer came into existence around 2 million years ago. Hunting blacktails is much like hunting white-tailed deer. 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 (Odocoileus hemionus).They have sometimes been treated as a species, but virtually all recent authorities maintain they are subspecies. While the black tail is a subspecies of mule deer, there is a noticeable difference between the two. Both black tails and mule deer have pelts that vary from brown to golden brown in the summer and grayish in the winter. Mule deer also have much darker foreheads than whitetails, too. Whitetail deer run fast and utilize bounding leaps to escape predators. Mule deer are able to detect danger at long range, and when danger is detected they may hide, move away stealthily, or flee. Habitat: Blacktails are a subspecies of mule deer found in western Oregon from the Coast Range east to the Cascade Mountains. They also inhabit deserts, prairies and agricultural areas. Learning to identify animals and the plants that sustain them is like learning the ABCs of the outdoors. Deer biologists agree that Black-tailed Deer are also subspecies of Mule Deer, so for Blacktails the third name is columbianus. Mule deer get their name from their ears. Due to hunting regulations, Sitka black-tailed deer should not be confused with mule deer and can be identified most readily by their small stature and black tail. californicus).Deer Management. I even give you some information about what to look out for when you’re buying tactical equipment. Blacktail Deer are an elusive deer species, and characterized by dark antlers and a black tail. That’s because blacktails typically live in densely forested areas, which provide few opportunities for spot-and-stalk bowhunting. America’s deer populations are thriving, and you’ll find one or more of these deer in your home state. Adults only raise their tail when signaling other deer of danger. Mule deer are Western icons. If there is any doubt, consider the number of abnormal points. Savvy blacktail hunters, however, know the region’s apple orchards are highly coveted hunting spots. Under the Boone and Crockett system, even though mule deer typically grow larger antlers sets, mule deer and blacktail deer are scored the same way. Stotting/pronking is a stiff-legged hop with all four feet leaving the ground at the same time. Black tail deer are masters of the dense forests and rain forests found from the Cascades and Sierras to the coast. He has work on testing between mule deer and coues deer in Arizona, the Blacktail vs. mule deer topic and others. Impacts of juniper encroachment and expansion of cheatgrass range further degrade the condition The underside of the tail is white, producing a “flag” when it is raised off the rump. I bring you the best buying guides to help you to choose which tactical gear is the best for you as well as offering you a professional and fast service. Another mule-deer identifier is the species’ white rear end and dark, rope-like tail. Whitetails also have a higher birth rate, their does can often breed their first fall at 6 months of age. The black-tailed deer is currently considered a subspecies of the mule deer and can interbreed with the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) where their range overlaps. A whitetail’s tail has a bright white underside, but the rest of the rump is brown. The Top 5 Rated Optics Reviewed. That tail is what gives the White-tailed deer its name. In comparison, the top of a black tail’s tail, as the name implies, is almost entirely dark or black. The most obvious difference, though, is that if you hunt on the west side of the Cascades and Sierras, you are more likely to encounter black tails. On the other hand, the blacktail I have hunted are in dense forests and you can be within twenty yards and not begin to see them. This adaptable species can survive in the desert, extreme cold, and densely populated suburban areas. Black tails also aren’t usually as broad through the chest and front quarters as mule deer. The mule deer’s most telling feature is its large ears, which gave them their name. Blacktail behavior vs. whitetail behavior? A whitetail deer’s tail has a bright white underside, but the rest of the rump is brown. In comparison, the top of a black tail’s tail, as the name implies, is almost entirely dark or black. Emily Latch and O. E.Rhodes, Jr., two wildlife geneticists recognized for their previous work in this area. The blacktail’s two subspecies are the Columbian and Sitka. Mule deer Does: 110-165 lbs Bucks: 150-250 lbs North and south, the range is much the same, but east to west, it isn’t. to the Columbia blacktail. There are currently 10 different recognized subspecies of Mule Deer, including Rocky Mountain Mule Deer, whose bucks occasionally exceed 400 pounds. The black-tailed deer obviously gets its name from its black tail. The blacktail deer then split off a subspecies, the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus), which is the youngest living deer species, arising 10,000 years ago. Hunting Blacktail vs. Mule Deer Part 1: Scouting June 24, 2018 admin Disclaimer. Mule deer trot or gallop when alarmed but also a “stot” or “pronk” to escape. Many people maintain that black tail meat tastes better than mule deer meat. Females, or does, weigh 50 to 75 kg. Black tails also tend to be a little darker than mule dee… These long ears, which resemble a mule’s ears, help muleys dissipate heat and detect far-off dangers. They are also often nearly four feet tall at the shoulder and almost seven feet from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. If you have a license/tag specifying a mule deer, you don’t want to accidentally shoot a whitetail or blacktail. Their ears. Features: Columbian black-tailed deer are smaller and darker than mule deer. 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