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-gifj]

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.

[jcbusto]

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.

[zeppellin]

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

[coltonmullins]

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

[indyreno]

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)

[silverwildeproductions]

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.

[armandomada]

I need you Jim to sign my book 📖 thanks

[yackson]

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

[gladegoodrich]

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

[shishkebaba]

>"white-tailed deer"
>tail isn't white