Overview
Mule deer are iconic western North American deer, distinguished by their large ears and black-tipped tail. Popular big game species throughout the western United States.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Cervidae
- Genus
- Odocoileus
Habitat
Mountains, foothills, deserts, chaparral. Prefer edge habitats between forests and open areas.
Diet
Browse on shrubs, forbs, grasses. Seasonal diet varies with available vegetation.
Behavior
More solitary than white-tailed deer. Distinctive "stotting" gait when alarmed.
Hunting
Premier big game species in western US. Archery and rifle seasons managed by state agencies.
Conservation Status
Some subspecies declining due to habitat loss and climate change, particularly desert populations.
Subspecies (10)
- Rocky Mountain mule deerOdocoileus hemionus hemionus
- Desert mule DeerOdocoileus hemionus eremicus
- Columbian black-tailed deerOdocoileus hemionus columbianus
- California mule deerOdocoileus hemionus californicus
- Cedros Island mule deerOdocoileus hemionus cerrosensis
- Peninsular mule deerOdocoileus hemionus peninsulae
- Sitka black-tailed deerOdocoileus hemionus sitkensis
- Southern mule deerOdocoileus hemionus fuliginatus
- Inyo mule deerOdocoileus hemionus inyoensis
- Tiburon island mule deerOdocoileus hemionus sheldoni