But those that do often find themselves witnessing sights like this one. Espeacially if it is proven that the whitetail population will take over our muledeer habitat. Whitetail and mule deer move in strikingly different ways: a whitetail deer wags its tall tail as it gallops away, while mule deer stot up and over shrubs. In comparison, the top of a black tail’s tail, as the name implies, is almost entirely dark or black. I took an 10 year old rutting mule deer that weighed 322 pounds two years ago and it tasted as good as elk. Whitetail vs. Mule Deer. While we do have a population of mule deer, the ratio to whitetail is about 2/3 to 1/3, so hunters shouldn't expect to only see mule deer. When a hybrid breeds with a muley or whitetail, the offspring even more closely resembles a full species. Mule deer were named for their mule-like ears, which are larger than those of whitetail. * I plan to breed them to 280 inch mule deer semen this fall. Mule deer are larger than whitetail deer, usually weighing between 100 and 220 pounds. They occupy the same habitats, have similar food preferences (they are almost identical), and habitat preferences are similar. I think that there is enough source and data to say that the division needs to come up with a plan. Cervid: mule deer,whitetail,elk,goats,bighorn & stone sheep & Alaskan dahl sheep. Again, I think there needs to be some discussion/working group formed where we can discuss the issues, educate the public, and make management decisions which best represent the native wildlife of this state and the interest of the public. Sitkas, coues and axis to name a few. It is called "stotting". About Us | The mule deer are iconic in the west and a prized animal by many hunters. Some can even produce fertile offspring of their own. Joined Dec 19, 2017 Messages 483 Location Colorado. In most cases, the mule deer will have significantly longer ears than a whitetail. MULE DEER HUNTS . White-tailed deer populations are rapidly expanding across their range while mule deer populations have declined west wide and are no longer found on the edge of their former historical range. Here is what a mule deer looks like: And here is what a whitetail deer looks like: First, notice the faces. The metatarsal glands on mule deer sit high on the lower leg and are 4 to 6 inches long and always surrounded by brown fur. Mule Deer vs. Whitetail Deer. However, after taking a pic of it through bino's it looks more like a mule deer now. The Ears. Myths, lies and old wives’ tales loom large in the outdoor pursuits. The mule deer also has a white tail yet with a speck of black at the tail-end, which is hardly noticeable. Mule deer does not. Whitetails also have a higher birth rate, their does can often breed their first fall at 6 months of age. Whitetail deer could be … Article by Javert (Mitch Winter) 295. While whitetail and mule deer hunting with our experienced guides. Because of this we really limit the number of mule deer hunters that we take in per year. Offspring are viable (reproductivly) and usually retain the white-tail characteristics. Although hybrids do occur, we don’t need to be worried that these ungainly ungulates will take over. At the same time, mule deer that eat sage brush taste terrible! This is unlikely, primarily because the habitat and behavioral differences between the species prevent hybrids from becoming more prevalent. Mule deer does weigh in between 100 and 220 pounds, whereas white-tailed does come in anywhere from 90-200 lbs. The antlers of mule deer are bifurcated rather than branching from a single main beam. Terms of Use | Not a high fence hunt, free ranging conditions. Whitetail deer refers to a North American deer with a rather long tail white on the under surface and the males of which have forward-arching antlers while mule deer refers to a long-eared deer of western North America that is larger and more heavily built than the white-tailed deer. #5346044 06/18/11: Joined: Jun 2001. Mule deer also have much darker foreheads than whitetails, too. From an economic stand point mule deer, as a dwindling species are a much more sought after trophy and are more valuable from a hunting and ecological viewpoints. I would have to admit that I don’t think we will ever keep white-tailed deer out of Utah but I don’t think we should let them just run wild and let ‘nature’ take its course. The first white-tailed buck (a mature buck) was harvested on the cache unit in 2000 and two additional bucks were harvested in the Twin Creeks area in 2001. We have seen what other non-native invasive species (raccoon, red fox, and noxious weeds) have done in this state to alter the habitat and have a significant impact on other native species of vegetation and wildlife. Hence, this is the main difference between whitetail and mule deer. Whitetails and muleys rut at slightly different times and in different areas. Most hunters don’t live in places where they can see both whitetails and mule deer run in the same circles. Joined: Jun 2001. These different movement tactics reflect the environments that these animals adapted to and help them better escape predators. From being born in the first place to successfully escaping predation, any hybrid you see has overcome a suite of strange, unusual chances to exist. “Usually we just see a whitetail wearing a mule deer tag with the hunter trying to convince the warden he’s at least half right.”. A whitetail-mule deer hybrid has metatarsal glands that split the difference, usually measuring between 2-4 inches and encircled with white hair. Fur color Mule deer are grayish-brown in the summer and more gray in the winter. And with an estimated population of 200 animals here in Utah (expected to double yearly) the whitetails are looking to displace our beloved muley here in Utah as well. If they can breed, aren’t they just one animal? With the recent and increased sightings and harvest of White-tailed Deer in Utah, I thought it would be interesting to share a few facts regarding these two species and the challenges which will be faced by the mule deer. Posts: 6,435. In general, mule deer are stockier than white-tailed deer. Many Alabamians consider hunting big mule deer vs whitetail deer, in the Rocky Mountains, as the hunts of their lifetimes. The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, Ecuador, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. If hunting it is absolutely essential that one can distinguish between the Whitetail and Mule deer to ensure a mistake is not made and the wrong species is taken without the proper tag. Large ears, white rump, black-tipped tail and forked antlers identify a mule deer. White-tailed deer have a higher reproductive rate. The ears of the whitetail deer are smaller in proportion to its head, compared to the large ears of the mule deer. OP. 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. Whitetail deer are reddish-brown in the summer and more gray in the winter. Adult mule deer usually measure around 105 cm (42 in) tall at the shoulder. White-tailed deer are a much more adaptable deer species and continued to expand their current range every year. Mule deer are identifiable in the way they move, too. Metatarsal glands on hybrids are intermediate in length and position when compared to the 1-inch-long glands that sit towards the bottom of whitetail deer’s legs, and hand-length glands higher up on mule deer legs. Posts: 6,435. I've been talking to several Nebraska outfitters about booking a mule deer hunt. Much in the same way that hybrids’ appearance is a combination of features from each parent species, hybrids move in a way that is not quite whitetail but not quite mule deer either. Similar to the mule deer, the whitetail deer also derives its name from the color of its tail. Here are a few facts we (my ghost writer) would like to share. A single, springing jump can cover more than twenty-five feet! White-tailed deer populations are rapidly expanding across their range while mule deer populations have declined west wide and are no longer found on the edge of their former historical range. (Photo by Russell Graves) By Gordon Whittington. Request Info. Fur Color. Looking at the length and position of the metatarsal glands on the outside of a deer’s hind legs, however, is a best way to identify a first-generation hybrid. Bighorn. The mule deer will tend to pogo itself uphill when it escapes. Recently I’ve been shirking my normal work responsibilities of studying mule deer behavior to wade through nearly impenetrable genetics research, trying to figure out how often whitetail deer and mule deer hybridize. Although whitetail and mule deer often share landscapes, each species has their own preferences when it comes to choosing habitat patches. In fact the whitetail are starting to displace mule deer in Idaho, Montana, and Canada and the Mule deer ranges are significantly smaller than their historic ranges. After all, that is where mule deer get their name. Black tails also tend to be a little darker than mule dee… Contact Us | As a scientist, it’s my job to be curious. Whitetail Vs Mule Deer. White-tailed deer present a bigger management challenge to wildlife managers. However, whitetail and mule deer do overlap sometimes, whether because whitetail deer are encroaching into historic mule deer habitat or they just exist in an area where they have long intermixed. But I’ve been researching deer for many years and have yet to see a truly verifiable hybrid. We offer Texas trophy whitetail deer hunts and mule deer hunts, bobwhite quail, and Rio Grande turkey hunting in the panhandle. Those aren’t empty words. Whitetail and mule deer move in strikingly different ways: a whitetail deer wags its tall tail as it gallops away, while mule deer stot up and over shrubs. “These hybrids have been documented everywhere mule deer and whitetails are together, but it is nearly impossible to identify one with certainty through a rifle scope,” Heffelfinger said. White-tailed deer vary more; on average they are smaller than mule deer, but some subspecies are quite bigger. Call 1-800-755-8247. Draw Required. In other words, depending on the location in question, whitetail and mule deer can hybridize readily. Southern Kolorado. It is just a two-week difference but this actually leads to higher birth rates for the overall population of whitetails. Looking at their faces, the whitetail deer has a brown face with white circles around its eyes and nose, whereas the mule deer has a mostly white face. Learn how our TAGS Service can help. I asked Jim Heffelfinger, wildlife science coordinator at the Arizona Game and Fish Department and hybrid ungulate expert, for his thoughts on the matter. I fear the encroachment of the white-tailed deer in Utah will become a real threat to mule deer if we don’t act quickly and develop a aggressive management plan for the white-tailed deer. Whitetail can have a "gamey" taste. They tend not to spook as easy as whitetails. The whitetail’s metatarsals are below the mid-point of the lower leg, less than 1 inch long, and surrounded by white hairs. Hybrids can also reproduce, which further complicates identification. But when two Alabama deer breeders created such hybrids via artificial insemination, it raised a legal issue for the state’s court system. Every now and then, I stumble across an idea that is pretty far outside what I am used to working on (or should be working on) but that captivates me nonetheless. Archery Mule Deer. Reversing a lower court’s decision, the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that the fact a fawn is born of a whitetail doe doesn’t necessarily … * It will be a dream come true for me. This hybridization usually takes place with a white-tailed buck mating with a mule deer doe. For example, if you see a whitetail deer with an unexpected fork in their antlers, it’s mighty hard to tell based on antler characteristics alone whether you’re just looking at a whitetail with a nontypical rack or a hybrid. Gestation for mule deer is seven months, versus … Privacy Notice | or. Finally, I would like to point out that white-tailed deer are not native to Utah, they are an invasive, aggressive species, which has the potential to displace mule deer throughout the west. Whitetail deer have a white belly underneath. Iconic in the summer and more gray in the river bottoms at the shoulder does. 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