The habitat varies largely due to the massive range of mule deer across western North America. They break into smaller groups again by the next summer. The mule deer and the white-tailed deer are very similar in appearance. The color of the mule deer’s coat changes with the seasons, from short, reddish-brown in the summer, to longer, grayish-tan in the winter months. Mule deer is covered with coat that is light brown or reddish-brown during the summer and grey during the winter. Their sense of smell is 1000 times more accurate than sense of smell in humans. It is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule. They have a distinctive black forehead, or mask, that contrasts with a light gray face. Mating season occurs in autumn when does come into estrus for a period lasting only several days. They eat various leaves and flowers of desert plants, twigs, shrubs and berries. Now the interesting part. Mule deer prefer open grasslands and perk-lands, or forest edge ecosystems. When you see that flash of white, you know that the deer … Colors vary from a light grey to a dark grey, from a light brown to a lush dark brown and some are even a brownish red lush color. It is found on the western Great Plains, in the Rocky Mountains, in the United States southwest, and on the West Coast of North America. Your email address will not be published. Mule deer have long ears that move independently and constantly, just like ears of mules. Males develop forked antlers that consist of 8 to 10 points. The largest herd of mule deer live in the Green River Valley, Wyoming, where approximately 30,000 of them roam free. The mule deer’s tail is black-tipped, whereas the whitetail’s is not. Some populations undertake long migrations between winter and summer ranges. White-tailed deer has a reddish coat which becomes greyish–brown in summer. Young animals stay with their mothers until the age of one year. Fun Facts About Mule Deer. Mule deer have excellent night vision and ability to detect movement of predators on a distance of 600 meters. The male deer grow antlers during the summer and fall and shed them each spring. Reindeer are one of the only mammals that can see UV light, allowing them to see lichen, polar … The mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a deer species native to western North America. Stotting – Mule deer have a very unique way of running. Mule deer are social animals that typically stay in groups. They live in western North America. Tag: Mule deer. Moreover, the former one has bigger black tipped tail. Mule deer antlers are bifurcated; they “fork” as they grow, rather than branching from a single main beam, as is the case with white-tails. With similar coats and sizes, you might not know what to look out for to tell the two apart. Take our test to see how much you know about whitetail deer, deer hunting and deer behavior with our 10 Interesting Deer Facts Trivia! One of the first drills I learned while I was still a newbie to giant mule deer … However, there are two major differences between the mule deer vs whitetail. Mule deer can reach 4 1/2 to 7 feet in length and 130 to 280 pounds of weight. Antlers are shed each year during February. During the winter months, males and females live in large groups. They are brownish-gray in color, have a white rump patch and a small white tail with a black tip. They can detect water two feet below the ground. Mule deer are active early in the morning and late in the evening to avoid high temperatures during the day. When you think of western mule deer hunting, SNS Outfitters is your #1 source. Pennsylvania is roughly bisected horizontally by route 80. Mule deer sport main beams that fork, and then fork again. We now offer a two deer hunt across both states as well as multi-species hunts which include excellent opportunities for mule deer … Mule deer are able to jump 2 feet in height and travel distance of 15 feet in a single leap. … The most noticeable differences between white-tailed and mule deer are the size of their ears, the color of their tails, and the configuration of their antlers. They are sometimes called black-tailed deer. Overall however, they can be identified not only by their ears, but also by the ever-changing color of their coat. Required fields are marked *. Can water deer run? Mule deer females often give birth to two fawns, three fawns is also possible. Identifying Features Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are easy to identify due to their large mule-like ears. When mule deer are faced with potential danger, they will try to escape by moving in a "stotting" manner (bounce from the ground with all four feet in the air at the same time). In the summer, mule deer are tannish-brown and in the winter are brownish-gray in color. Mule deer is a type of hoofed mammal that belongs to the deer family. Here are 16 Interesting Reindeer facts. The average male deer weighs 200 pounds and the female deer weighs 150 pounds. They flee with high jumps, leaping and landing on all four legs at once. They are generally considered browsers, eating twigs and other vegetative parts of woody plants, but they also eat different grasses. Mule deer are generally easy to identify due to their large mule-like ears (generally 3/4 the length of the head). Cinnamon is a very common color for them. Their sense of smell is 1,000 times sharper than the human’s sense of smell. mule deer The smaller coast, or black-tailed, deer ( O. hemionus columbianus ) is found along the Pacific coast from Alaska to northern California. It weighs only abbout 20 lbs. If it is their first time having a baby they often only have one fawn. Mule deer can survive in various habitats, but it usually inhabits open, arid, rocky areas. Deer inhabit all of the earth's continents except for two - Australia and Antarctica - with native species varying from region to region. South of route 80 the landscape is mostly broken up with a patchwork of agriculture. The coloring for this species of deer will change as the year progresses. It can grow up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) from hoof to shoulder and weigh around 1,800 lbs. February 18, 2020 Animals The rump patch may be white or yellow, while the throat patch is white. Mule deer can survive 9 to 11 years in the wild and up to 25 years in the captivity. The smallest deer is the Southern pudu, according to the ARKive project. The gestation period is approximately 200 days, with fawns arriving in the spring; the young will remain with mothers throughout the summer and become weaned in the autumn. The male ruminant grow antlers throughout the summer and fall and shed them every … Throat, ramp and inner part of ears and legs are white. Main predators of mule deer are coyotes, wolves and mountain lions. They usually have a distinctive black forehead, or mask, that contrasts sharply with a light grey face. They can achieve speed of 45 miles per hour using this technique. They are found from the Arctic Circle in the Yukon to northern Mexico. For one, the mule deer’s tail has a black-tip, while the whitetail does not. Despite these factors, population of mule deer is large and stable, and these animals are not on the list of endangered species. In late summer and autumn, mixed family groups form larger groups that stay together for protection throughout the winter. Mule deer have excellent hearing and eyesight that warns them of approaching dangers. (820 kg).All deer spe… Mule Deer Facts for fun The annual cycle of antler growth is regulated by changes in the length of the day. At first glance, it may be easy to mix up a mule deer with a whitetail. Mule deer usually have a distinct black tipped tail. North of route 80 the landscape is largely wooded with a hardwood forest. Mating season of mule deer takes place from October to November. The Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806 re… In the summer months they are brown with hints of red. Each spring, a buck’s antlers start to regrow almost immediately after the old antlers are shed. In the United States, white-tailed deer mostly inhabit regions east of the Rocky Mountains, while mule deer are more prevalent in the west. Occasionally, whitetail bucks grow “non-typical” antlers, in other words antlers that contain unusual or odd tines. Interesting facts about mule deer. Mule deer forage for a wide variety of plants that differ with geographical ranges and seasonally depending on what resources are available. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Almost immediately, new pair of antlers starts to grow. Bucks weigh from 55 to 150 kg (121 to 331 lb), averaging around 92 kg (203 lb), while does weigh from 43 to 90 kg (95 to 198 lb), averaging  around 68 kg (150 lb). Mule deer’s defining characteristic are their large ears, which are about three-fourths the length of the head. Mule deer have acute senses in that they can detect the predator’s movement at a distance of 600 meters. Mule deer are very fast animals, both on land and in the water. Facts about Deer Hunting (9 kilograms) and gets to be only about 14 inches (36 centimeters) tall when fully grown. The mule deer has a height from 80 to 106 cm (31 to 42 in) at the shoulders and a nose-to-tail length ranging from 1.2 to 2.1 m (3.9 to 6.9 ft). or less commonly in a thin tuft of white hairs (see photo of a young Mule deer). The coat of mule deer ranges from dark brown gray, dark and light gray to brown and even reddish. The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a medium-sized animal that lives in South America to Central America.It is also called simply ‘whitetail’. Mule deer are herbivores (plant-eaters). They spread up to 4 feet. The rump patch may be white or yellow, while the throat patch is white. Mule deer have very good night vision and can detect the movement of predators as far away as 600 meters. Yes and no. The white tails of most mule deer terminate in a tuft of black hairs. Mule Deer – Odocoileus hemionus. Here you’ll find many white tailed deer interesting facts. Usually largest male with biggest antlers gets opportunity to mate with large number of females. Unlike the white-tailed deer, mule deer lives on land west of the Missouri River. Facts about Deer Hunting 6: the differences between the white tailed deer and mule deer The ears of a white tailed deer are shorter than those of mule deer. Call our office with your questions and we will be glad to direct you to the right hunt. Pregnancy lasts around 200 days and ends with one or two fawns. Bobcats, Canadian lynxes, wolverines, American black bears, and brown bears may prey upon adult deer, but most often only attack fawns or infirm specimens or eat the deer after it has died naturally. Take A Vantage Point. Mule Deer Facts Mule deer are simple to identify due to their large mule-like ears. Mule deer (Odocileus hemionus) is a species of deers. Though given an interesting name, the black-tailed deer is considered as the least studied deer species of North America. Water deer can move very fast across land, but it isn't true running. [Related: Oh, You Deer: Newborn Mini Fawn Is Seriously Cute]The largest deer is the moose. Although they rarely use it, they can reach speeds of 10 to 12 mph when swimming. White Tailed Deer Facts. Mule deer females usually give birth to two fawns, although if it is their first time having a fawn, they often only have one. Fun Facts for Kids Mule deer lack front teeth; they just have a hard palate. Mule deer do not have front teeth, only hard palate. Known scientifically as the Odocoileus Hemionus, the mule deer is a large one, and its appearance really varies. They live in a multi-generation family of related females and their offspring. Besides humans, the three leading predators of mule deer are coyotes, wolves, and cougars. The average lifespan for mule deer is from 8 to 10 years in the wild, while in captivity individuals may live up to 20 years. Males grow forked antlers that have 8 to 10 points and spread as much as 4 feet (1.2 m). While they can run the “traditional way,” … Large bucks rarely exceed 95 kg (210 pounds); does weigh about a third less. Deer species range from very large to very small. Hence the name - mule deer. Mule deer populations have been restored since severe depletion by market hunting took place at the end of the 19th century. There are many subspecies, including the black-tailed deer. They separate at the beginning of the spring, when females become ready to give birth. Under the jaw you will al… Their name was given to them because of their mule-like ears. In a recent Pennsylvania study, these yearling buck deer were tracked with GPS collars. The mule deer in the wild has several predators: humans, coyotes, mountain lion, eagles, bears, wolves, and bobcats. Mule deer reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 years. There are two subspecies of mule deer that can be found in western parts of North America. Your email address will not be published. Poaching, habitat loss, traffic accidents and diseases negatively affect number of mule deer in the wild. Mule deer have no upper teeth, only a hard palate. Interesting Mule deer Facts: Mule deer can reach 4 1/2 to 7 feet in length and 130 to 280 pounds of weight. Shedding typically takes place in mid-February, with variations occurring by locale. Mule deer also have striking pelage markings, large antlers, and scent glands. The lighter facial coloration makes the eye rings and muzzle markings seem less obvious. Although this slows them down, it allows them to leave predators behind by quickly ascending steep slopes or jumping unpredictably over large obstacles. 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.. 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. Although mule deer and black-tailed deer are the same species, the mule deer’s mitochondrial DNA, which is passed down … Mule deer have been introduced to Argentina and Hawaii. Their color depends on their surroundings and the also season. According to Dr. Valerius Geist, the first black-tailed deer came into existence around 2 million years ago. Mule deer belong to Capreolinae, the New World subfamily of the deer family, Cervidae (order Artiodactyla). They also have ears that are larger than most compared to their body size. The Mule Deer is considered to be a larger species of deer. 1-5 Reindeer Facts 1. Mule deer antlers “fork” as they grow. Bucks older than yearlings often group together or remain solitary. White-tailed Deer Use Their Tails as Flags. 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