Brownish-gray in color and stocky in build, mule deer range across western Canada and the western US, as well as the eastern states of Wisconsin and Texas. They got their name from their long, mule-like ears that can reach a length of 10 inches. Although hunting white-tailed deer is also a popular sport, people prefer to hunt mule deer as their population is much larger. Plus, mule deer meat is delicious! In fact, mule deer hunting is extremely popular in North America!
Keeping track of the animal’s habitat and habits will lead to a more successful hunt.
Mule deer choose various habitats. Generally, they prefer to be high up in the mountains. Only in the case of the Chisos Mountains (Texas), they exchange positions with the white-tailed deer and settle in different points of the valley. Mule deer can also be found on the edges of forests; they mostly do not venture into deep forests. Therefore, wooded areas are best for mule deer hunting.
The rust-red color of its fur, which remains throughout the summer, changes color in late fall. The mule deer and the background seem one as the color of their skin is greyish. Hunting mule deer therefore presents a challenge during this open season!
They are larger than white-tailed deer. The average height is about 3 1/2 feet. The female specimen weighs the same as a male white-tailed deer. She weighs around 100 to 150 pounds. Males or males range from 125 to 400 pounds. Despite his bulk, a male mule deer can run at a speed of 40 miles per hour. The hunter has to be aware that the buck does not jump on him when he is hunting mule deer!
As they are not very fussy eaters, these animals can feed on any type of vegetation. If they could choose their diet, they would choose yew, willow, berries, Douglas fir, grapes, mushrooms, and aspen. In contrast, white-tailed deer have choice preferences regarding food. So they are easier to hunt than their larger cousins.
Design takes place around November; so the young are born between April and June (spring). When mule deer hunting season arrives, the fawns are about six months old. The population is growing by leaps and bounds because four fawns can be born at a time, as opposed to two fawns being born to a white-tailed doe. Since they are abundant, few regulations are placed on the hunting of mule deer. Mule deer kills do not need to be recorded even on land without a special permit in the state of Texas. The same does not happen with the white-tailed deer, which has a smaller population.
