Identify: Mule Deer vs. White-tailed Deer

Doe a deer...do you know the deer? 🦌
AZGFD's wildlife science coordinator, Jim Heffelfinger, explains what to look for to tell if you're looking at a Mule Deer or a White-tailed Deer - important if you're heading out for a hunt, but nice to know for your next wildlife watching hike, too! And you can't just look for a white backside - Mule Deer have white butts - so make sure to check out all of Jim's tips!

[@RyanB-gi2fj]

I have an easier way to tell which species I’m looking at. If I have a tag for a Mule deer… it’s a Whitetail.

[@sgeegieh]

😂😂😂😂 you and I

[@jcbusto122]

Here in New Mexico I see them both all the time. Seeing one is always such an experience. Glad to finally learn the difference between the two. Great video

[@hargieboo]

Great information. I knew some of the differences before, but this really helps to make the differences clear.

[@zeppellin48]

I keep catching myself trying to choose who has the more beautiful antlers but they are both just uniquely awesome

[@zeppellin48]

Besides the more obvious "elk look" to the mule deer's antlers

[@coltonmullins2274]

I moved from FL to CO. Great info to learn the different regional species.

[@indyreno2933]

A deer is any animal that comprises the family Cervidae, there are about 62 extant species placed into about 20 genera: Family: Cervidae (Deer) • Subfamily: Odocoileinae (New World Deer) •• Tribe: Odocoileini (Nearctic Deer) ••• Genus: Odocoileus (Modern Nearctic Deer) •••• Species: Odocoileus Hemonius (Mule Deer) •••• Species: Odocoileus Columbianus (Black-Tailed Deer) •••• Species: Odocoileus Virginianus (White-Tailed Deer) •• Tribe: Ozotocerotini (Neotropical Deer) ••• Subtribe: Mazamina (Lesser Neotropical Deer) •••• Genus: Mazama (Brockets) ••••• Species: Mazama Americana (Red Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Gouazoubira (Brown Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Nemorivaga (Small Brown Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Bororo (Small Red Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Nana (Pygmy Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Chunyi (Dwarf Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Bricenii (Merida Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Tienhoveni (Fair Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Rufina (Ecuador Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Zetta (Colombian Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Temama (Central American Brocket) ••••• Species: Mazama Pandora (Yucatan Brocket) •••• Genus: Pudu (Pudus) ••••• Species: Pudu Puda (Southern Pudu) ••••• Species: Pudu Mephistopheles (Northern Pudu) ••• Subtribe: Ozotocerotina (Greater Neotropical Deer) •••• Genus: Blastocerus (Marsh Deer) ••••• Species: Blastocerus Dichotomus (Marsh Deer) •••• Genus: Ozotoceros (Pampas Deer) ••••• Species: Ozotoceros Bezoarticus (Pampas Deer) •••• Genus: Hippocamelus (Andean Deer) ••••• Species: Hippocamelus Bisulcus (South Andean Deer) ••••• Species: Hippocamelus Antisensis (North Andean Deer) • Subfamily: Cervinae (Old World Deer) •• Tribe: Muntiacini (Muntjacs and Tufted Deer) ••• Genus: Elaphodus (Tufted Deer) •••• Species: Elaphodus Cephalophus (Tufted Deer) ••• Genus: Muntiacus (Muntjacs) •••• Species: Muntiacus Muntjak (Indian Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Srilankensis (Sri Lanka Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Malabaricus (Malabar Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Reevesi (Chinese Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Crinifrons (Hairy-Fronted Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Gongshanensis (Gongshan Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Putaoensis (Leaf Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Feae (Fea’s Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Puhoatensis (Pu Hoat Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Rooseveltorum (Roosevelt’s Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Truongsonensis (Truong Son Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Vuquangensis (Giant Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Nigripes (Black-Footed Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Grandicornis (Burmese Muntjac) •••• Species: Muntiacus Montanas (Sumatran Muntjac) •• Tribe: Rangiferini (Caribou and Fossil Relatives) ••• Genus: Rangifer (Caribou) •••• Species: Rangifer Tarandus (Caribou) •• Tribe: Capreolini (Roe Deer and Moose) ••• Subtribe: Capreolina (Roe Deer and Fossil Relatives) •••• Genus: Capreolus (Roe Deer) ••••• Species: Capreolus Capreolus (Western Roe Deer) ••••• Species: Capreolus Pygargus (Eastern Roe Deer) ••• Subtribe: Alcina (Moose and Fossil Relatives) •••• Genus: Alces (Moose) ••••• Species: Alces Alces (Moose) •• Tribe: Megalocerotini (Fallow Deer, Hog Deer, Chitals, and Sika Deer) ••• Subtribe: Damina (Fallow Deer and Fossil Relatives) •••• Genus: Dama (Fallow Deer) ••••• Species: Dama Dama (Eurasian Fallow Deer) ••••• Species: Dama Mesopotamia (Persian Fallow Deer) ••• Subtribe: Axidina (Chitals, Hog Deer, and Sika Deer) •••• Genus: Axis (Chitals) ••••• Species: Axis Axis (Indian Chital) ••••• Species: Axis Ceylonensis (Sri Lanka Chital) •••• Genus: Hyelaphus (Hog Deer) ••••• Species: Hyelaphus Porcinus (Indian Hog Deer) ••••• Species: Hyelaphus Kuhlii (Kuhl’s Hog Deer) ••••• Species: Hyelaphus Calamianensis (Calamian Hog Deer) •••• Genus: Ocellelaphus (Sika Deer) ••••• Species: Ocellelaphus Nippon (Sika Deer) •• Tribe: Cervini (Common Deer, Père David's Deer, Thorold's Deer, Rusas, Swamp Deer, and Eld's Deer) ••• Subtribe: Rusina (Rusas, Swamp Deer, and Eld's Deer) •••• Genus: Rucervus (Swamp Deer and Eld's Deer) ••••• Species: Rucervus Duvaucelii (Swamp Deer) ••••• Species: Rucervus Eldii (Eld’s Deer) •••• Genus: Rusa (Rusas) ••••• Species: Rusa Unicolor (Sambar) ••••• Species: Rusa Timorensis (Sunda Deer) ••••• Species: Rusa Marianna (Palawan Deer) ••••• Species: Rusa Alfredi (Visayan Spotted Deer) ••• Subtribe: Cervina (Common Deer, Père David's Deer, and Thorold's Deer) •••• Genus: Cervus (Common Deer) ••••• Species: Cervus Elaphus (Red Deer) ••••• Species: Cervus Corsicanus (Corsican Deer) ••••• Species: Cervus Barbarus (Barbary Deer) ••••• Species: Cervus Hanglu (Bactrian Deer) ••••• Species: Cervus Canadensis (Elk) •••• Genus: Przewalskium (Thorold's Deer) ••••• Species: Przewalskium Albirostris (Thorold's Deer) •••• Genus: Elaphurus (Père David's Deer) ••••• Species: Elaphurus Davidianus (Père David's Deer)

[@billycarter1911]

Great info !

[@gratefuldude7511]

Thank you, wry much appreciated

[@Mike1-]

Good information thank you 👍🏽

[@armandomada633]

I need you Jim to sign my book 📖 thanks

[@silverwildeproductions1085]

I mean no disrespect but I have hunted for decades and can tell you that whitetail will stop at a distance and turn to look at whatever jumped them. They also move in a circle and look at what (or who) jumped them, from a different angle.

[@lazsscorps6770]

Does this also apply to antlerless

[@yackson4804]

Are whitetail in Canada will easily reach 180 to 220 pounds on a large buck

[@deers_official]

i love all deer but white tailed are the best

[@gladegoodrich2297]

Carp deer? Arizona warden once told me to come down south and hunt smart deer. Instead of hunting those carp deer up north.