The Most Common Deer Species
There are over 60 different deer subspecies in the world, but some are more common than others. Deer species will also have certain habitats and be found on certain continents only. If you are going to be looking for deer, you need to know what the most common deer species are and how you can identify them.
The White-Tailed Deer
In North America, the most common deer species is the white-tailed deer. This type of deer can be found across the continent with the exception of Hawaii, parts of the southwest and Alaska. While they are the most common deer on the continent, you still need to know how to identify them.
As the name suggests, this deer species will have a white tail that stands up when they sense danger. The rest of their coat will be dark brown in color. You cannot use their antlers alone to identify them because they vary in shape and size depending on the subspecies you are looking at. Their antlers can have between 8 to 10 point frames on average.
When these deer are fully matured, the male can weigh up to 300 pounds. However, it is important to note that most males will weigh between 150 and 175 pounds. The females will be smaller and generally have a weight of 100 pounds.
The Black-Tailed Deer
Another common deep species is the black-tailed deer. This type of deer is generally found on the Pacific coast from Alaska to Oregon. You will generally be able to find these deer in the coastal forests and not on the open plains. The black-tailed deer will have a smaller body and antler rack when compare to the white-tailed deer and the common mule deer.
Again, as the name suggests, these deer will have a black tail which will stand up when there is danger. The smaller body size of these deer place the average adult at a weight of 100 to 150 pounds. In terms of the coat of the deer, they will have a darker coat, particularly around the face and tail.
Mule Deer
Another common deer species in North America is the mule deer. You will be able to find these deer in all of the states that are west of the line from Texas to North Dakota. These deer are the largest of the common deer species on the continent and will have large ears which look like a mule.
The large size of these deer will increase their weight and a mature male will be able to weigh around 350 pounds. However, the average weight is less than this and will generally be between 180 and 280 pounds. The antlers of the deer will have deep forks which distinguish them from other common deer and they will have either short or no brow tines.
The coat of the mule deer will be lighter than the white and black-tail deer. Additionally, their tail will resemble a short black rope which does not stand up as much as the other common dear. However, the most distinctive trait of these deer will be the way they escape danger. They have a bounding escape gate which is called stotting and this will make them appear as if they are fleeing on a pogo-stick.
The mule deer will generally be found on more rugged and remote terrain. The common places to find them will be the Rocky Mountains, Nebraska’s Sandhills region, and the southwest desert. Mule deer have a diet that consists of brush, sage, and conifers.
There are some common types of deer species that you need to know about if you are looking for them in North America. The most common will be the white-tail deer followed by the black-tail and mule deer.
There are over 60 different deer subspecies in the world, but some are more common than others. Deer species will also have certain habitats and be found on certain continents only. If you are going to be looking for deer, you need to know what the most common deer species are and how you can identify them.
The White-Tailed Deer
In North America, the most common deer species is the white-tailed deer. This type of deer can be found across the continent with the exception of Hawaii, parts of the southwest and Alaska. While they are the most common deer on the continent, you still need to know how to identify them.
As the name suggests, this deer species will have a white tail that stands up when they sense danger. The rest of their coat will be dark brown in color. You cannot use their antlers alone to identify them because they vary in shape and size depending on the subspecies you are looking at. Their antlers can have between 8 to 10 point frames on average.
When these deer are fully matured, the male can weigh up to 300 pounds. However, it is important to note that most males will weigh between 150 and 175 pounds. The females will be smaller and generally have a weight of 100 pounds.
The Black-Tailed Deer
Another common deep species is the black-tailed deer. This type of deer is generally found on the Pacific coast from Alaska to Oregon. You will generally be able to find these deer in the coastal forests and not on the open plains. The black-tailed deer will have a smaller body and antler rack when compare to the white-tailed deer and the common mule deer.
Again, as the name suggests, these deer will have a black tail which will stand up when there is danger. The smaller body size of these deer place the average adult at a weight of 100 to 150 pounds. In terms of the coat of the deer, they will have a darker coat, particularly around the face and tail.
Mule Deer
Another common deer species in North America is the mule deer. You will be able to find these deer in all of the states that are west of the line from Texas to North Dakota. These deer are the largest of the common deer species on the continent and will have large ears which look like a mule.
The large size of these deer will increase their weight and a mature male will be able to weigh around 350 pounds. However, the average weight is less than this and will generally be between 180 and 280 pounds. The antlers of the deer will have deep forks which distinguish them from other common deer and they will have either short or no brow tines.
The coat of the mule deer will be lighter than the white and black-tail deer. Additionally, their tail will resemble a short black rope which does not stand up as much as the other common dear. However, the most distinctive trait of these deer will be the way they escape danger. They have a bounding escape gate which is called stotting and this will make them appear as if they are fleeing on a pogo-stick.
The mule deer will generally be found on more rugged and remote terrain. The common places to find them will be the Rocky Mountains, Nebraska’s Sandhills region, and the southwest desert. Mule deer have a diet that consists of brush, sage, and conifers.
There are some common types of deer species that you need to know about if you are looking for them in North America. The most common will be the white-tail deer followed by the black-tail and mule deer.