Looking at their faces, the whitetail deer has a brown face with white circles around its eyes and nose, whereas the mule deer has a mostly white face. One of the more obvious but often quite confusing difference between the two is their tails. Gestation for mule deer is seven months, for white-tailed deer 6 1/2 months. Adult mule deer usually measure around 105 cm (42 in) tall at the shoulder. Then there’s the black-tailed deer, which is closely related to the mule deer and inhabits the Pacific Northwest. In general, mule deer are stockier than white-tailed deer. Reverse mating — mule deer bucks to whitetail does — is rarer. All 48 contiguous states, Mexico and Canada have white-tailed deer, but some hold far more than others.This adaptable species can survive in the desert, extreme cold, and densely populated suburban areas. White-tailed deer does, or females, can breed at 6 months of age. While the white-tailed deer inhabits most of the contiguous United States, the mule deer inhabits less of it. So where the two species share a common range, the whitetail tends to dominate. You’ll notice that there are very obvious physical differences between a whitetail deer and a mule deer when you look close enough. Fur Color. You can tell who’s who by watching their hind quarters. Mule deer does take longer to mature. To be honest, telling the difference between whitetail and mule deer can require a lot of practice and visual quizzes before you’re confident in your deer species identification. Large Mule-Like Ears The mule deer gets its name from its large, mule-like ears, However, in the heat of the moment, telling the difference between “large ears” and “not as large ears” can be difficult. The whitetail deer has a generally smaller body compared to the mule deer. Whitetail bucks will breed with mule deer does, and the offspring usually retain the whitetail characteristics. North America is home to two species of deer, the white-tailed deer and the mule deer. And as habitat gradually changes to favor the whitetail, the mule deer becomes increasingly pressured. White tail deer have broad tails that are white when raised. Both species are bigger than Sitka Black Tail deer. Whitetail Deer vs Mule Deer. Mule deer have light or white faces, while whitetail deer do not. Whitetails also have a higher birth rate, their does can often breed their first fall at 6 months of age. I've never tried mule deer, but a doe whitetail tastes less gamey than a buck. One thing I do before the animal is taking to the processor is to soak the … Mule deer were named for their mule-like ears, which are larger than those of whitetail. The antlers of mule deer bucks generally fork, while whitetail antler tines grow from a main beam; this characteristic, though, isn't a foolproof measure of identification. Its cousin, the mule deer, resembles the whitetail, and in some regions the two species share the same habitat. Mule deer does must be older before they can breed. White-tailed deer gallop rather than hop. Mule deer have a coat that is more greyish-brown, while whitetails are more of a reddish-brown color. Smaller Sitka black tail deer are common in the area. They can also occupy the similar habitats and have similar food preferences, but — and this is a big but — whitetails are more adaptable and aggressive than mulies. Mule deer have a large white patch on the rump and the tip of the tail is black. Mule deer have a grayish brown coat, while the white-tailed deer have a reddish-brown coat. Mule deer mate from mid- to late November; white-tailed deer breed from late November to early December. Whitetail and mule deer traits vary from deer to deer, season to season, and many are dependent on time or year or specific individual.