For the most part, these species hold more similarities with their cousins than differences, but there are some key distinctions between deer … Roe Deer 13. Mule Deer Numbers WT Growth Rate Interspecific Competitive Effects on White Tails by Mule Deer zRegression of rt on Mt for mule deer: zrt = 1.29 - 0.945 Mt for Mt in thousands zn=12 zr = 0.71 zF1,10 = 10.30 P=0.009 Effect of White-tails on Mule Deer-1-0.5 0 0.5 1 0 500 1000 1500 2000 White-tailed Deer Population Size Mule Deer Growth Rate They are also much more nomadic than whitetails, and the mule deer rut often coincides with their winter migration. 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 range is more limited than whitetails, but they’re found from the deserts of Mexico in the south, all the way north into the remote mountains of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Dr. Valerius Geist, one of the world’s foremost experts on deer ecology, says this in his book, “This happened most likely during the ecological turmoil of megafaunal extictions 11,000 to 9,000 years ago. Pudú 9. Whitetails also have a higher birth rate, their does can often breed their first fall at … Generally speaking, the average midwestern whitetail buck is smaller-bodied than the average Rocky Mountain mule deer buck of the same age. Although it was warm for December, I couldn’t help but shiver as the whitetail’s rack grew... With whitetail seasons wrapping up across much of the country, one of the  questions I get most... Our picks for the week’s best hunting, fishing, wild foods, and conservation content. A hunter who has only hunted one species or the other might have trouble distinguishing whitetails from mule deer in areas where both are present. Wherever they’re found, they rarely travel more than a few miles from their birthplace. CWD is fatal to every deer that contracts it, and unlike diseases like Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), the effects aren’t temporary. It’s likely that several factors, many of which mule deer could withstand on an individual basis, are adding up to a much larger problem. Elk vs Deer The deer family is a large group of grazing or browsing ruminants that cover the globe. Tail is longer with brown on the top and white underneath. Mule deer antlers are also generally larger than a whitetail’s, which is more than likely related to the fact that antlers are primarily a sexual display ornament like a male salmon’s toothy kyped jaw or a male lion’s mane. Shika 17. Here, they mingled with blacktail deer whose ancestors migrated from southeast Alaska, south down the Pacific coast during the ice age. These days, mule deer are my true love when it comes to big game hunting. White-tailed deer gallop rather than hop. Whitetail densities are very high in productive areas so there’s lots of does to choose from. For the most part, however, there’s some major differences in their populations, distribution, and habitat preferences. Riparian corridors and young forests adjacent to crop fields such as corn, wheat, and soybeans are some of the most productive whitetail habitat. A buck whitetail mule deer hybrid. Both species will eat hundreds of different types of plants. The White-Tailed Deer is named for the thick white fur on the underside of the neck and the rear. In the Rockies, it’s a different story for mule deer. The Mule and Whitetail deer also have similar brown coats making it even that much more difficult for a new hunter. Thomson's Gazelle 24. CWD is fatal to every deer that contracts it, and unlike diseases like Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). White-tailed deer have brown tails with white fringe. Do Whitetail Deer Lose Their Antlers Every Year? Whitetails are much more aggressive than mule deer. Mule deer, on the other hand, are considered the world’s “youngest” deer species, having evolved into their current form as a post-glacial species only 10 thousand years ago. They do not raise in alarm. Mule deer breeding activity is highest in the second half of November. The largest concentration of mule deer populations tend to fall along either side of the Continental Divide, with smaller numbers extending into the central plains. Mule deer have a white rump patch around tail, which is thinner than the broad tail of the whitetail, and has a black tip. Reindeer/caribou 11. Mule deer were named for their mule-like ears, which are larger than those of whitetail. California and Nevada are the exceptions for the time being, but whitetails are constantly expanding their range into new areas. Others think it might be some kind of distraction to predators, and still others have suggested that does use it to make sure their fawns can follow them easily while fleeing danger. In others places, predation, disease, and forest health are factors linked to lower deer numbers. Conservation and Management Challenges White-tailed deer and mule deer are about the same size. Mule deer numbers have been on a steady decline throughout the West for a number of years. In some areas, mountain lions and black bears are having a significant impact on fawn survival. Fur Color. Pronghorn 10. Empower Her. Mule deer and whitetail both have highly advanced sensory capabilities when it comes to predator and hunter avoidance. From the relatively large size of their range into new areas deer with 400,000. And tips for the thick white fur on the top and white underneath well over one miles. Along either side of the two species combined steep uphill or downhill angles, and to. 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