Blacktail Locations

[Val]

Are Blacktails only found on the West Coast?

["BIGTYME"]

Here is some info on them



The geography ranges for mule deer and black-tailed deer are throughout the entire western United States, including the four deserts of the American Southwest. The black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are common in northern California. The black-tailed deer is a sub-species of mule deer found on the Pacific coast. Mule deer have black at the tip of the tail, whereas black-tail deer have black along the full length of the top of the tail. This is how this subspecies got its name. They are smaller, west -coast cousins to Rocky Mountain mule deer.

The mule deer are mid-size deer in which color varies from reddish in the summer to dark brown in the winter. Some subspecies are called "mule" deer because of their large ears. Bucks weigh from 250 to 500 pounds while females (does) are lighter at about 120 pounds. Bucks can be 4 feet tall at the shoulders. Does are one third smaller than bucks.

When the deer walks, the tracks of a buck are different from a doe. Bucks' hind tracks fall to the inside of the line of travel. Dew claws show in deer tracks when they are walking in soft mud, or when they are running. The toes spread and dew claws leave imprints in these cases. The dew claws on the hind feet are farther from the hooves than those on the front feet. The mule deer move in a series of stiff-legged jumps with all four feet hitting the ground together. They can leap over distances up to 8 yards. They can reach a speed of 45 m.p.h. for short periods.

HABITAT

The mule deer and the black-tailed deer are members of the Cervidae family that occupy a wide range of habitats, from arctic tundra to tropical forests, and can be found over most of the world.

Black-tailed deer make their homes in the forest near dense low-lying shrubs, where tasty herbs and berries are plentiful. The greatest numbers of black-tailed deer are in locations with recent burned or logged open areas.

Mule deer occupy almost all types of habitat within its range. It seems to prefer arid, open areas and rocky hillsides.

FOOD SUPPLY

Black-tailed deer feed along busy highways, in pastures with the cattle, and in orchards. They come out around dusk and dawn to feed in the edge areas, the transitions between forest and field. They feed on a great variety of vegetable matter, fresh green leaves, twigs, lower branches of trees, and various grasses. They are particularly fond of blackberry and raspberry vines, grapes, mistletoe, mushrooms and ferns. They can even consume the fruit of cactus.

BREEDING

Breeding season (rutting season) is in November. Males are polygamous (mates with more than one female). The mating season for mule deer reaches its peak in November and December, as antlered stags round up females and fight for possession. A buck will find a suitable doe and he will often play chase games at breakneck speeds before mating. The couple will remain together for several days. Males and females mix freely while traveling together during winter months.

Between January and February, antlers are shed. When antlers start growing again in the spring, the group breaks up. The males wander in bands during the summer months as antlers grow. The females go off by themselves and eventually give birth and nurse their young.

From April through June, after about a 200-day gestation period, the doe delivers 1 to 4 young (normally 2). Fawns are born in late May or early June. Twins are usually produced after the first year. Triplets are common, and even quintuplets are known during the mother's later years.

The Fawn usually stay with the doe for the first year. The Fawn sees its mother only at mealtimes for feeding. They have white camouflage spots and are further protected by having little or no scent. Spots begin to fade by the end of the first month. They have a life span of 25 years in captivity and average 16 years in the wild.

PREDATORS

Natural predators of black-tailed deer are mountain lions, and occasionally coyotes. Cougars, eagles, wolves, and bobcats are also predators.

Domestic dog packs often kill deer.

Winter starvation is a main cause of death in black-tailed deer.

Parasitic infestations are second...Brain worms--dark hair-like parasites are fatal to several deer species.

Heavy amounts of gastrointestinal nematodes may cause death in mule deer.

Their chief enemy is humans. The destruction of habitat through logging and development has played a large part in the decrease of deer.

Today, hunters and automobiles destroy an estimated 400,000 deer annually. However, the black-tailed deer population is fairly stable although some subspecies are threatened because they cannot adapt to human development.

[Michelle's_Taxidermy]

OK, got a question about a blacktail Deers weight. I was born and raised in Oregon and I have never seen a Blacktail Deer weigh 500lbs or ever herd of one. Mule Deer can get that big but a true blacktail deer doesn't. I think the biggest one I have ever herd of was around 200 lbs and that is a BIG Blacktail. Of all the blacktail bucks I have killed and freinds have killed I would bet the average weigt was around 150 lbs. Does are between 70 and 100 lbs....100 doe is a biggun.

["BIGTYME"]

if a black tail would average 500 lbs I would move from NC to the west coast shoot you could kill 3 deer a year and never go hungry all year

[Michelle's_Taxidermy]

Mule Deer can get as high as 500lbs. But it is pretty rare. Blacktail are to Mule deer as Couse deer are to Whitetail. Blacktail are much smaller because of the terain they have to live in and the food source they have. I have a picture of a Blacktail I killed in Oregon about 4 years ago:



The deer in the picture was about average for a blacktail. After he was skinned gutted with the head and feet cut off I think the meat and bones onlt weighed 70lbs. So My guess is he was probably only about 135 on the hoof. Thats a nice deer for Oregon.

["BIGTYME"]

Man that is a great pic.