Sweat glands and panting also provide evaporative cooling during hot periods. Learn more for short periods. An extremely large buck can stand 42 inches at the shoulder, measure 7 feet long and weigh up to 330 pounds, with the average … Behaviors important to mule Bobcats, Canada lynx, wolverines, American black bears, and grizzly bears may prey upon adult deer, but most often only attack fawns or infirm specimens, or eat a deer after it has died naturally. The tail is usually tipped in black with a white basal portion, and its under parts are white. In Spring and Summer it feeds on green leaves, herbs, weeds and grasses more than on browse species. Mule Deer Care. Their large ears are distinctive. [1][5][6][7][9][34] Mule deer apparently evolved from the black-tailed deer. [17][29], Mule deer are ruminants, meaning they employ a nutrient acquisition strategy of fermenting plant material before digesting it. Deer are not especially vocal, although young fawns bleat on occasion. This is why we use deer feeder and other sophisticated gear when hunting big bucks. Mule deer prefer open grasslands and perk-lands, or forest edge ecosystems. Throughout the entire western United States, including the four deserts of the American Southwest Feed to deer, elk and exotic deer as a supplement to native habitat or pasture. The studies gave these data for Rocky Mountain mule deer diets: [31] Forages consumed in the summer are higher in digestible components (i.e. However, these trees are browsed heavily by O. hemionus. Planting food plots is an effective, safe, and legal way to support local deer populations. Another physical adaptation, its larger feet, allows the Mule Deer to claw out water as much as two feet deep, which it detects with its keen sense of smell. Its leaves contain higher protein levels than other available shrubs and grasses. In all but one genus of cervids, at least the males have antlers. The fawn, colored reddish with white spots, weighs about 6 pounds at birth. starving mule deer are fed alfalfa hay, corn, or other traditional livestock feeds. A doe will usually produce a single fawn the first year she gives birth and then produce twins in following years. Deer feed mixes are usually a mix of alfalfa, oats, soybeans, molasses and several vitamins and minerals. Of this, the tail may comprise 11.6 to 23 cm (4.6 to 9.1 in). [9] This may be the result of introgression, although hybrids between the mule deer and white-tailed deer are rare in the wild (apparently more common locally in West Texas), and the hybrid survival rate is low even in captivity. Typical mule deer ambush locations are food patches, travel routes leading to food patches, and, in dry climates, water sources. Feet Shedding typically takes place in mid-February, with variations occurring by locale. They browse shrubs, trees and occasional grasses and forbs and retreat to tree cover to bed down during the day. There are 2 major subspecies: the Mule Deer, with tail white above, tipped with black; and the Black-tailed Deer, with tail black or brown above. Most are brown or gray in color, with white spots characterizing the young, and in a few species, the adults. Use only as indicated. Mule deer, on the other hand, spend their summers in the mountain tops and winters in the valleys, chasing the best food available, and warmth at lower elevations during the winter. Related Species [30] Because some of the subspecies of mule deer are migratory, they encounter variable habitats and forage quality throughout the year. This is why hunters are nowadays turning to some of the best deer baits to lure big bucks. Mule Deer antlers are normally smaller and branch to form 2 equal forks, while the male White-tailed Deer has forward curving antlers with a number of points (tines) branching from the main beam. ), The Desert Environment Two subspecies of mule deer are grouped into the black-tailed deer. This stocky deer with sturdy legs is 4 to 6-1/2 feet in length and 3 to 3-1/2 feet high at the shoulder. This type of food is easiest for deer to digest, which is what makes it ideal for supplemental feeding. Studies from Specimen Mountain in the park indicated shrubs comprised 73 percent of the animal's diet, with broad-leafed herbs an additional 26 percent. The Mule Deer, while closely related to the eastern species-the white-tailed deer, are remarkably distinct in their biological, ecological, and behavioral attributes. [18] The studies[19] gave these data for Rocky Mountain mule deer diets:[20], The diets of mule deer are very similar to those of white-tailed deer in areas where they coexist. This gait offers two advantages: it allows the deer to out-distance predators in rough terrain, and to see above the thick brush. Deep snows ultimately limit useable range to a fraction of the total. Feed AntlerMax® Mule Deer 16 deer feed free-choice with adequate forage or quality hay. All have slender legs. The down side to this is the deer are harder to find this time of year due to the palatable food being so abundant. I usually start scouting at the end of June when all the hills are green. Mule Deer moves between various zones from the forest edges at higher elevations to the desert floor, depending on the season. Ensuring the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. 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. Males grow forked antlers that have 8 to 10 points and spread as much as 4 feet (1.2 m). There is some competition between the Mute Deer and the livestock on the range, especially in Spring and early Summer. They seem to like the arid climate and to live where a variety of different plants are offered as a source of food. In many cases, body size is also a key difference. Food stored here can be digested later when the deer chews its cud. The average gross energy content of the consumed forage material is 4.5 kcal/g. The mule deer's tail is black-tipped, whereas the white-tailed deer's is not. If you find a patch of mule deer food that’s attracting deer, you can set up within rifle range of the location and then wait for the animals to appear. Browsing of other trees is seldom considered an economic problem. Despite a serious overpopulation of deer on the North Kaibab in the 1920s, Mule deer numbers appeared to decline in the rest of the state. All federal, state, and provincial land and wildlife management agencies recognize the fundamental need to maintain Mule Deer ranges and keep them habitable. From late spring to early fall, they gain weight and build fat reserves by feeding heavily on broad-leafed plants and grasses. The habitat varies largely due to the massive range of mule deer across western North … Desert Geological Terms, Home  | About | Contact Us | Feedback | Privacy | Site Outline | Advertising on DesertUSA | Aquis Towels | Hotels. Mule Deer in the arid southwest may migrate in response to rainfall patterns. The idea is to locate a patch of food that attracts mule deer and set up an ambush spot within rifle range. peninsulae. California mule deer usually … Sagebrush is a critical food source for mule deer, especially during winter. Food & Hunting They have a distinctly different gait from the leisurely, graceful leaps of the white-tail. Unfortunately, range management professionals have seen a common problem across many of Utah's sagebrush rangelands — they are suffering from the ecological equivalents of old age and malnutrition. Consult the feed tag on this package for specific feeding directions. As the food sources dry up, mule deer are easier to find due to the lack of green vegetation holding them in specific areas. Cautions Tail The North American Deserts The annual cycle of antler growth is regulated by changes in the length of the day. The mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a deer species native to western North America. Mule deer are even known to forage in the summer on California Buckeye leaves, although there is evidence of that plant's toxicity. They are also active overnight. Mule Deer are browsers and eat a great variety of vegetable matter, including fresh green leaves, twigs, lower branches of trees, and various grasses. It must nurse within the first hour and stand within the first 12 hours. If you find the food, you will find the mule deer. In 1929, the mule deer season was closed south of the Gila River, and even as recently as 1946, fewer than 5,000 mule deer (more than 80 percent of all deer killed) were harvested in Arizona. The mature buck seems to prefer rocky ridges for bedding grounds, while the doe and fawn is more likely to bed down in the open. Deer consuming high-fiber, low-starch diets require less food than those consuming high-starch, low-fiber diets. Mule Deer have a very wide distribution out there. Mule deer differ from white-tailed deer in many respects, including their general behavior, food habits, population dynamics and habitat preferences. The Cervidae Family includes deer and their allies, including moose, elk, and caribou. These studies confirm that mule deer feed primarily on woody plants including browse (leaves and twigs) and mast (fruit, beans and berries). [1][5][6][7][8][9], Unlike the related white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which is found through most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains and in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains from Idaho and Wyoming northward, mule deer are only found on the western Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the southwest United States, and on the west coast of North America. But, due to political opposition to government acquisition of privately owned lands, plus a scarcity of funds for this purpose, only a small fraction of Mule Deer ranges has been acquired by the government. They eat so carefully they can even consume the fruit of cactus. When antlers start growing again in the spring, the group breaks up. The male deer grow antlers during the summer and fall and shed them each spring. In a zoological setting, caring for these deer is quite similar to other deer species. Mule deer and black-tailed deer (collectively called mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus) are icons of the American West. They have a sense of smell that is 1000 times the accuracy of the human sense of smell. Class: Mammalia Each spring, a buck's antlers start to regrow almost immediately after the old antlers are shed. The deer’s scientific name reflects one of the animal’s most recognizable features – its large ears. Many good mule deer food studies have been done in Texas and the southwest over the past 60 years. During the summer, the coat on its upper body is yellow- or reddish-brown, while in winter more gray. The bucks' antlers, which start growth in spring and are shed around December each year, are high and branch forward, forking equally into 2 tines with a spread up to 4 feet. Mule deer antlers are bifurcated; they "fork" as they grow, rather than branching from a single main beam, as is the case with white-taileds. [15] The survival rate of the fawns during labor is about 50%. [33], Mule deer can be divided into two main groups: the mule deer (sensu stricto) and the black-tailed deer. Mule deer have very good night vision and can detect the movement of predators as far away as 600 meters. BEHAVIOR - Mule deer behavior may also be negatively affected by winter-feeding efforts. During the middle of the day, the Mule Deer beds down in a cool, secluded place. The distance between those mountain tops and valleys can easily be over a hundred miles. Mule deer lack front teeth; they just have a hard palate. Behavior They are particularly fond of blackberry and raspberry vines, grapes, mistletoe, mushrooms and ferns. They may also consume partially rotted plants, as well as dry leaves, buds, fruit, flowers, sprouting grasses and herbs, the tips of some coniferous boughs, small twigs, and lichens that fall from trees. In 99 studies of mule deer diets, some 788 species of plants were eaten by mule deer, and their diets vary greatly depending on the season, geographic region, year, and elevation. Ambush locations for mule deer are near water sources, travel routes leading to food patches, and the food patches. For best results feed free choice in a covered trough or self-feeder. Geography – Range Quiz time, what food source consists more than 60% of a whitetail’s diet right now? The Mule Deer is slower and less colorful than the White-tailed Deer, but its pastel, gray-buff color provides a physical adaptation to the desert environment which disguises it from predators like the Cougar, the Coyote and the eagle who will swoop down on a fawn. They are particularly fond of blackberry and raspberry vines, grapes, mistletoe, mushrooms and ferns. The throat patch, rump patch, inside ears and inside legs are white with lower portions running cream to tan. [26], Mule deer are variably gregarious, with a large proportion of solitary individuals (35 to 64%) and small groups (groups with ≤5 deer, 50 to 78%). Mule deer are commonly seen browsing in open, shrubby areas between dusk and dawn. Seasonal movements involving migrations from higher elevations (summer ranges) to lower winter ranges are associated, in part, with decreasing temperatures, severe snowstorms, and snow depths that reduce mobility and food supply. Fawns are born in late May or early June. Mule Deer have no canine teeth and, like the cow, have a multi-part stomach, the first two chambers of which act as temporary storage bins. The mule deer, otherwise known as black-tailed deer, can be found throughout western North America down to southern Baja Mexico as well as in certain Canadian provinces. Bucks average about 250 pounds and develop antlers that grow in a branching pattern. If necessary, they can turn or completely reverse direction in the course of a single bound. The mule deer is the larger of the two Odocoileus species on average, with a height of 80–106 cm (31–42 in) at the shoulders and a nose-to-tail length ranging from 1.2 to 2.1 m (3.9 to 6.9 ft). They do not run as other deer, but have a peculiar and distinctive bounding leap (stotting) over distances up to 8 yards, with all 4 feet coming down together. Cold weather hunting is all about finding those food sources that are high energy foods. The 243 acres of cropland on the property provides a steady annual income source and excellent food sources for the deer. While the Mule Deer occupies almost all types of habitat within its range, it seems to prefer arid, open areas and rocky hillsides. Dominance is largely a function of size, with the largest males, which possess the largest antlers, performing most of the copulations Mule Deer is a target for various viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. The Mule Deer carries its thin, black-tipped tail drooped, unlike the uplifted, bushy white tail of its cousin. The most common plant species consumed by mule deer are: Mule deer have also been known to eat ricegrass, gramagrass, and needlegrass, as well as bearberry, bitter cherry, black oak, California buckeye, ceanothus, cedar, cliffrose, cottonwood, creek dogwood, creeping barberry, dogwood, Douglas fir, elderberry, Fendlera species, goldeneye, holly-leaf buckthorn, jack pine, knotweed, Kohleria species, manzanita, mesquite, pine, rabbitbrush, ragweed, redberry, scrub oak, serviceberry (including Pacific serviceberry), Sierra juniper, silktassel, snowberry, stonecrop, sunflower, tesota, thimbleberry, turbinella oak, velvet elder, western chokecherry, wild cherry, and wild oats. 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. Sub Family: Capreolinae The first group includes all subspecies, except O. h. columbianus and O. h. sitkensis, which are in the black-tailed deer group. A buck will find a suitable doe and they will often play chase games at breakneck speeds before mating. Groups are smallest during fawning season (June and July in Saskatchewan and Alberta) and largest in early gestation (winter; February and March in Saskatchewan and Alberta). Good trees include pears, apples, crab apples, persimmons, aspen, chestnuts, white oaks and red oaks, ash, aspen, maple, popular, willow, white … Life span in the wild is 10 years, but Mule Deer have lived up to 25 years in captivity . From April through June, after about a 200-day gestation period, the doe delivers 1 to 4 young (normally 2). Ambush hunting for bowhunting mule deer is a little challenging as it requires you to be in close range. [22][23] In the Sierra Nevada range, mule deer depend on the lichen Bryoria fremontii as a winter food source.[24]. Spots begin to fade by the end of the first month.. We also have some hunters in the West planting green fields for mule deer. Comparisons Does may mate with more than one buck and go back into estrus within a month if they did not become pregnant. Deer hunting can be a challenging endeavor. [8], Some authorities have recognized O. h. crooki as a senior synonym of O. h. eremicus, but the type specimen of the former is a hybrid between the mule deer and white-tailed deer, so the name O. h. crooki is invalid. Mule deer eat a wide variety of plant foods, utilizing the food that grows where they live. The Best Deer Feed for Winter. [21][18] Mule deer are intermediate feeders rather than pure browsers or grazers; they predominantly browse, but also eat forb vegetation, small amounts of grass, and where available, tree or shrub fruits such as beans, pods, nuts (including acorns), and berries. More big bucks are killed here every year than in any other state. Adult bucks normally weigh 55–150 kg (121–331 lb), averaging around 92 kg (203 lb), although trophy specimens may weigh up to 210 kg (460 lb). Due to extremely good mule deer habitat with plenty of food and sound management practices by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the state has the largest mule deer population in the country. White-tail deer are tan in color, with a larger tail. But even with all these gear, taking down a deer is easier said than done. Mule Deer breed in late November and early December. A dark V-shaped mark, extending from a point between the eyes upward and laterally is characteristic of all Mule Deer but is more conspicuous in males. No matter where you are hunting, high country or western plains…it is all the same. [18][25], Humans sometimes engage in supplemental feeding efforts in severe winters in an attempt to avoid mule deer starvation. This race is markedly smaller than other mule deer, with an average weight of 54.5 kg (120 lb) and 36 kg (79 lb) in males and females, respectively. Now we’re seeing hunters in Washington State and Oregon planting green fields for blacktailed deer. Males are larger than females. That’s right, it is the correct feed for this time of year. [16] Fawns stay with their mothers during the summer and are weaned in the fall after about 60–75 days. [15][17], The size of mule deer groups follows a marked seasonal pattern. During the winter and early spring, when there is little forage available, their diet is mostly leaves, stems and buds. Ears How about woody browse like saplings, briars, and honeysuckle! This water well provides a very dependable water source year-round and is used by the mule deer on a daily basis. They are social animals, so zookeepers keep them in herds. To counter the trend of agricultural development, rangeland conversion, mining, road and highway construction, and the development of housing tracts, many states and provinces have purchased critical areas, especially winter ranges, to maintain the various habitats of Mule Deer. Purchase formulated deer food mixes. Colorado is widely regarded as the nation’s top mule deer destination. Mule deer females usually give birth to two fawns, although if it is their first time having a fawn, they often have just one. (It's Free. proteins, starches, sugars, and hemicellulose) than those consumed in the winter. Mule Deer Distribution. Supplemental feeding efforts might be appropriate when carefully conducted under limited circumstances, but to be successful, the feeding must begin early in the severe winter (before poor range conditions and severe weather cause malnourishment or starvation) and must be continued until range conditions can support the herd. Diet and behavior. The most noticeable differences between white-tailed and mule deer are ear size, tail color, and antler configuration. Its scientific name is Odocoileus hemionus. The "rut" or mating season usually begins in the fall as does go into estrus for a period of a few days and males become more aggressive, competing for mates. Tips For Spotting & Hunting Mule Deer. Family: Cervidae They will remain together for several days. There are deer tracks all over the fields! Mule Deer are active primarily in mornings, evenings and moonlit nights. [14], In addition to movements related to available shelter and food, the breeding cycle is important in understanding deer behavior. These mixes can typically be found at feed mills or pet supply stores. You will find an abundance of wildlife with over 40,000 acres of private land exclusively managed for these magnificent animals. Total body fat is a measure of the individual's energy reserves, while thyroid hormone concentrations are a metric to determine the deer's ability to use the fat reserves. [9] Despite this, the mtDNA of the white-tailed deer and mule deer is similar, but differs from that of the black-tailed deer. Mule Deer are usually a dark gray-brown, with a small white rump patch and a small, black-tipped tail. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are easy to identify due to their large mule-like ears. The Mule Deer large ear is gray on the outside and white on the inside. [5][35] Additionally, the validity of O. h. inyoensis has been questioned, and the two insular O. h. cerrosensis and O. h. sheldoni may be synonyms of O. h. eremicus or O. h. [10][11][12][13], Unlike the white-tailed, the mule deer does not generally show marked size variation across its range, although environmental conditions can cause considerable weight fluctuations in any given population. Does (female deer) are smaller and typically weigh from 43 to 90 kg (95 to 198 lb), with an average of around 68 kg (150 lb). Mule deer are known as browsers. Mule deer are concentrate feeders; that is, they carefully select highly nutritious bits of forage. Habitat The average male deer weighs 200 pounds and the female deer weighs 150 pounds. Feeding deer is illegal in some jurisdictions. Wildlife agencies discourage such efforts, which cause harm to mule deer populations by spreading disease (such as tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease) when deer congregate for feed, disrupting migratory patterns, causing overpopulation of local mule deer populations, and cause habitat destruction overbrowsing of shrubs and forbs. [34], The 10 valid subspecies, based on the third edition of Mammal Species of the World, are:[5], Game animals and shooting in North America, "Tails with a Dark Side: The truth about whitetail–mule deer hybrids", "North American Deer: Mule, Whitetail and Coastal Blacktail Deer", "Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque)", "Sitka Black-tailed Deer Hunting Information", "DWR Biologists Use Helicopter Rides, Ultrasound, To Check on Deer Pregnancies", "Infectious Disease and Grouping Patterns in Mule Deer", "Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) Fact Sheet", "Lichens in relation to management issues in the Sierra Nevada national parks", Mule Deer: Changing Landscapes, Changing Perspectives: Supplemental Feeding—Just Say No, "Causes and consequences of sociality in mule deer", "Comparing radio-tracking and visual detection methods to quantify group size measures", "Herbivore Body Condition Response in Altered Environments: Mule Deer and Habitat Management", "Status of the name Odocoileus hemionus crooki (Mammalia: Cervidae)", Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, Encyclopedia of Life page on the mule deer, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mule_deer&oldid=998764462, Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands, Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 January 2021, at 22:56. 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In following years high protein content aids top performance to support antler development in bucks and success! Conservation life span in the spring statements of what desert mule deer is quite varied on a daily.... Early morning and late evening snows ultimately limit useable range to a strong, healthy mule deer 16 deer free-choice., often down to the changes in the West planting green fields for mule deer are commonly seen in! Blackberry and raspberry vines, grapes, mistletoe, mushrooms and ferns the deer’s scientific reflects... By changes in the early morning and late evening although there is little forage available, diet. Deer consuming high-fiber, low-starch diets require less food than those consumed in the,.