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Mule deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Photo by TrishPeake
Published on Project Noah
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45.6872, -123.94

Field Notes

Description:

browny grey! and large ears?

Habitat:

woods and forests

Notes:

I thought this was one of local deer but his ears threw me?

Species ID Suggestions

Mule deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Whitetail Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Comments (8)

Our mule deer in Colorado have their thick winter coat right now so I may not be much help. What I do know is whitetails are usually a little browner in color and the mulies are more grayish this time of year. Whitetails are also supposed to have lighter eye markings and more distinct light patches on their muzzle than the mule deer. Mule deer also have their characteristic dark forehead patch and huge ears. I have no idea with this guy! He is a stockier build and has big ears which makes me think mule deer, but he doesn't have the forehead patch! I'd love to know what others think!
Our whitetails have large ears like this. The facial features remind me more of a whitetail than a mule deer - but then again, the deer in Oregon probably look a bit different than those here in Florida. would be much easier to tell if we could only see her tail :) wonderful photo and spotting!
thankyou shebebusynow I thought it was but thats the first one I have seen here!
Thankyou Atul, he just gazed at me and enjoyed having his picture taken.!
Mule deer have exceptionally large ears. There are subspecies; the ones I spotted in Victoria are a little different from our Oregon coastal ones, but you get the idea: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/5700415
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 23, 2012

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