Wildlife Identification: White-Tailed Deer and Mule Deer
Montana is home to many species of wildlife. When hunting, you need to be able to correctly identify both male and female white-tailed deer and mule deer.
White-Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer are reddish-brown to blue-gray or tan. The underside of the tail is white, producing a “flag” when it is raised off the rump. The antlers on the male mainly consist of a main beam with tines growing from it.
Mule Deer
Mule deer have reddish coloring in the summer and are blue-gray in the winter. The tail is cream-colored with a black tip. Mule deer have larger ears than white-tailed deer.
![Wildlife Identification White Tailed Deer Buck](https://ke-courses-production.s3.amazonaws.com/asset_files/production/3413/attachments/original/wildlife-white-tail-deer-buck.jpg?1574719098)
Male White-Tailed Deer (Buck)
![Wildlife Identification White Tailed Deer Does](https://ke-courses-production.s3.amazonaws.com/asset_files/production/3412/attachments/original/wildlife-white-tailed-deer-does.jpg?1574719098)
Female White-Tailed Deer (Does)
![Wildlife Identification Mule Deer](https://ke-courses-production.s3.amazonaws.com/asset_files/production/3411/attachments/original/wildlife-mule-deer.jpg?1574719094)
Male Mule Deer (Buck)
![Wildlife Identification Mule Deer Group](https://ke-courses-production.s3.amazonaws.com/asset_files/production/3408/attachments/original/wildlife-mule-deer-group.jpg?1574719094)
Female Mule Deer (Does)