O.K. Whats the difference between a Muley and a Blacktail?

O.K. Whats the difference between a Muley and a Blacktail? I understood these to be the same animal, that like Whitetail, there were several subspecies of the same deer, ie. N.E. Mountain Muleys, Desert Muleys, etc. In the 'Deer Call. Do they work?' post, someone replied they had hunted Muleys, but not Blacktail. No insult intended, I just wanted to know if there was any real difference.

Black Tails are much smaller than a mule deer. Black tails are predominately on the coastal states in the west (although they can be found inland too). Mule deer have bigger ears (the better to hear you with, my dear). Mule deer are less habitual than black tails.

Yes, there is a difference. Genetically speaking, the mule deer is a subspecies of blacktail. (In other words, the blacktail is closer to the parent stock of both.) Being subspecies instead of truly separate species, they do breed and the offspring is viable ... can also mate with either.

Blacktails generally live west of the cascade range, mulies east, and you find various mixes of the two in the mountains and foothills. There are substantial differences in average body size, etc. Their habits are pretty different; I've not hunted mulies, but I just finished my 26th season hunting blacktails. Huntin' 'em is nothing at all like the mule deer hunts I read about.

To add more confusion, there are different sub-species of blacktail too. The Columbia blacktail is the type found in most of the Western US, while the Sitka blacktail is normall found further north. I've hunted both, and at least in the areas I've hunted them, the Sitka is a more robust animal and much more handsome. But, that may be due as much to local conditions as to any real genetic diffrerence.

Jay T

Black Tails are much smaller than a mule deer. Black tails are predominately on the coastal states in the west (although they can be found inland too). Mule deer have bigger ears (the better to hear you with, my dear). Mule deer are less habitual than black tails.

Doesn't west Texas have White tails, Black tails and Mule Deer? CHRIS?

All I know about Texas, I learned on the Outdoor Channel on DISH Network...LOL

I thought I was hunting Desert Muleys. My tag says 'Mule Deer'. Terrell county has Whitetails & Muley/Blacktails. One buck county for Muleys. Two years-two bucks. No Whitetails, yet.

These are more along the lines of the desert mule deer. From what I've read, their body size & habits are virtually identical to the Rocky Mountain mule deer - they just live in a different type of habitat.

Blacktails are only native to the coastal areas (west of the mountains) of the Pacific NW, from northern Calif. to Alaska. So far as I know, the only states where you can hunt all three sub-species (whitetail, mulies & blacktail) is Wash, Ore. and maybe Calif. (not sure about whitetails there?)

Skip

Skip & Christy Hensler THE ROCK GARDEN Newport, WA

I actually bothered with a brief search which revealed:

Desert Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki)

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus rafinesque)

Blacktail deer (Odocoileus columbianus)

Whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

And then there was: Desert mule deer, also known as 'black-tail deer', are found in rugged, desert regions of western North America, including the Texas Panhandle and western portions of the state. They are closely related to the Rocky Mountain subspecies, which inhabits mountainous wooded areas. Distinctive features of mule deer are a black-tipped tail, white rump patch, and erect, nine-inch-long ears. Their hide is rusty brown in the summer, and gray in winter, with white undersides year-round.

jeez, whooda knew...

Thanks guys!

The Texas Parks and WIldlife site lists hunting seasons for whitetail and mule deer only....no mention of blacktails. A search of the site gave up zero references to 'blacktail deer'.

Jay T