Description

Ranging across the North American west, the mule deer is typically larger in body mass and antler size than its cousin the whitetail. Boone & Crockett divides mule deer records into typical and non-typical, based on the uniformity of the rack—whether it is symmetrical or not. The mule deer group is then further divided by B&C into typical and non-typical Columbia Blacktails, found on the west coast, and Sitka Blacktails, found in Alaska. Odocoileus hemionus hemionus—the true mule deer—is highly adaptable and found all across the Western landscape, from well above treeline in the mountains to low lying prairies and the Mexican desert. Unlike the whitetail that beds in thick cover, mule deer prefer semi-open landscapes where they can see, hear, and smell a good distance. Powerful optics are a must for mule deer hunting, as they're almost always spotted a long way off. The hunter then stalks within shooting range.