Why Are Mule Deer Called Mule Deer?

With their bounding gait, large ears, and impressive forked antlers, mule deer are one of the most charismatic and sought-after game animals of western North America.

Why are they called "mule deer?" How are they different from whitetail? Here's what you need to know about this deer species before your fall hunt.

What is a Mule Deer?

Black-tailed deer and mule deer are the same species, together referred to as "mule deer." As far as we know, they have been around since the last ice age.

These deer have adapted to a wide range of conditions and can be found in mountains, open plains, desert canyons, high alpine zones, and western coastal areas of North America.

There are up to eleven scientifically recognized subspecies of mule deer, but if you are looking to enter a trophy into the record books, Pope & Young accepts three, while Boone and Crockett only acknowledge two.

So Why Are They Called “Mule Deer?”

First described by the Lewis and Clarke expedition in 1804, they didn’t get that name by chance.

Scientifically known as Odocoileus hemionus, hemionus meaning “half-mule,” their large, radar dish-like ears that help detect danger over open terrain resemble the large ears of a mule. These large ears can move independently of one another and give the deer excellent directional hearing — ideal for avoiding predators and hunters walking through brush or snow. 

Hunting Mule Deer: What to Know

Mule deer hunting is popular in western states like Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, and Arizona. Though they can overlap with portions of the whitetail’s range, mule deer typically prefer more open and rugged country with a lower brush density than their white tailed cousins, making spot-and-stalk hunting the preferred method.

Hunters should prepare for long hikes, glassing from high vantage points with binoculars or spotting scopes in often challenging terrain. Mule deer are migratory, moving up to the higher elevations where browse is plentiful in spring and summer, then moving down to lower winter ranges to avoid deep snow. 

Mule Deer vs. Whitetail: What's the Difference?

Typically larger than most whitetails, mule deer can vary greatly in size, ranging from the smaller island Sitka blacktail to the large Rocky Mountain mule deer.

Mule deer and whitetail choose different habitats in what they look for in a place to call home. Generally:

• White-tailed deer favor woods, farmland, and river bottoms
• Mule deer live in open hills, sagebrush flats, and more mountainous regions

As I mentioned, these habitat preferences are generally speaking, as mule deer can also be found coming down to lower elevations to feed in agricultural fields of alfalfa, milo, or wheat, where available. 

How They Move is a Giveaway

Mule deer use a distinct hopping or bounding gait known as “stotting.” They use this hop with all four feet leaving the ground when evading danger, unlike whitetails that run similar to other deer species.

Stotting is believed to be a signal to predators that the animal is healthy and may be difficult to catch, or just a good way to escape quickly and efficiently by jumping over obstacles in a muley's rough environment.

Check the Tail and Antlers

Whitetailed deer have a brownish backside and their namesake flashy white tail, while a mule deer’s hindquarters are flanked with a cream colored rump and a smaller black tipped tail.

There are a few differences when it comes to a deer’s headgear as well.

• Mule deer antlers are bifurcated, meaning they fork evenly into two branches as they grow.
• Whitetail antlers grow along a single central main beam with tines.

Mule deer also have much smaller or absent brow tines when compared to a whitetail buck’s antlers.

What Are Mule Deer Best Tips for Hunting?

Mule deer require a different hunting strategy than when hunting whitetail to be successful.

Whitetail hunts often involve tree stands or blinds placed near food plots, while mule deer hunts are a bit more active and require long-range glassing and hunting on foot. Ambushing over water can also be successful.

Scouting Gives You an Advantage

Just like with whitetail, scouting ahead of season using maps and HuntWise can give you a good sense of where mule deer can be found. Using trail cams can also help you pattern deer where legal, although there has been an increase in states that have placed restrictions or banned them for hunting purposes.

Patience and quality optics are the best tools to find a quality mule deer buck. A spotting scope or high-powered binoculars with a tripod are worth their weight in gold and always deserve a spot in your hunting pack. Glass early in the morning and at dusk when mule deer are most active while feeding, and make your stalk during midday after they have bedded down if you need to get in close.

Deer will often bed on high slopes or up against rimrock in positions with cover, however small, that give them a good vantage point with several exit routes if jumped. It's always a good idea to account for elevation and thermals when planning your stalk, and approaching from above, if possible, while bedded down will usually be your best bet.

Use HuntWise for Successful Mule Deer Hunts This Season

What is a mule deer? It's a trophy big game animal that's challenging and rewarding to hunt!

Mule deer live in places with ample public land, so I use HuntWise to look for blocks managed by BLM (Bureau of Land Management), USFS (U.S. Forest Service), or other state agencies with good access and areas other hunters may find difficult to hike into. The 3D Map tool is my go-to for finding the perfect glassing spot to spend the day looking for a trophy buck.

Download HuntWise today to help you tag out on your next mule deer buck! 
We'll give you your first week in the app free.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have answers to your questions about mule deer!

Q: What makes a deer a mule deer?

A: Mule deer are named for their large, mule-like ears. They're also known for their forked antlers and black-tipped tails.

Q: What is a mule deer mixed with?

A: Mule deer aren’t a mix! They are their own species (Odocoileus hemionus). However, they can sometimes hybridize with white-tailed deer.

Q: What is the difference between a mule deer and a white deer

A: Mule deer have large ears, a black-tipped tail, and antlers that fork. White-tailed deer have smaller ears, antlers that branch from a single main beam, and a brown tail with a white underside.

Q: What is another name for a mule deer?

A: Many hunters simply call them “muleys.”

Q: Where do mule deer live in the US?

A: Mule deer are primarily found in the western U.S. They're common in the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and desert regions.