Mule Deer vs. Whitetail Deer

Another common misidentification Colorado hunters make is confusing a mule deer with a whitetail deer. Notice the distinct differences between these two species.

The antlers on mule deer and whitetail deer are very different. This is a key difference between the bucks of these two species. The antlers of a whitetail deer typically grow a main beam, with single points coming off of that main beam. The antlers of a mule deer fork, meaning the points that come off of their main beam split into two points.

The ears of a mule deer are also larger than a whitetail deer’s. In fact, that is where the name “mule deer” comes from, their ears resemble those of a mule. Whitetail deer’s ears are still large but not as large as a mule deer’s.

The most obvious difference between these two species is their tails. The differences in the tails of these deer is the best and easiest way to differentiate between the two species. Mule deer have a white rump and a tail with a black tip at the end of it. Whitetail deer have a brown rump and only the underside of its tail is white. This white portion of the tail can only be seen when the deer “flags” or holds its tail aloft as a signal to other deer. It’s actually the underside of the tail that earned the whitetail deer its name.