![]() ![]() As the antlers harden and the velvet dries up, bucks will begin to rub their antlers. Antler growth will continue until around mid-to-late August. The antlers are very soft and damage can easily occur during this time period. This brown soft material covers the deer's entire antlers and provides a constant blood supply to the antlers during growth. ![]() In the spring and summer a mule deer's antlers are covered in velvet. Yearling bucks will usually sport a spike or two-point frame, but a three-point frame is not that uncommon. ![]() Antler growth typically begins in February or March. Mule deer return to their summer ranges as soon as the snow starts melting and temperatures begin to warm. By spring these deer are very lively and ready to move to higher ground. Combined with winter ranges that may have diminished food sources, these fawns are at great risk.įor many mule deer, the first winter is often the most difficult. As the temperature drops and the snow begins to pile high, these small deer have a very difficult time surviving. Harsh winters and predators such as black bears, cougars, bobcats and coyotes will take a major toll on the population of young fawns. Fawns will usually stay with their mother for the first year of their life. A mature doe will often give birth to twins, while a yearling doe will generally only have one fawn. If given the chance, mule deer can live up to approximately 12 years of age.Ī mule deer's life typically begins in May or June. An extremely large buck can stand 42 inches at the shoulder, measure 7 feet long and weigh up to 330 pounds, with the average mature buck usually weighing between 200-250 pounds. Mule deer are the largest of the five types of deer (mule, whitetail, Columbia blacktail, Sitka blacktail, and Couses') in North America. The following lists the nine different types of areas mule deer inhabit: Canadian Boreal Forest, Northern Mountain, Colorado Plateau, Sagebrush Steppe, Great Basin, Great Plains, Semi-desert Shrub, California Chaparral, and Mojave/Sonora Desert. Mule deer habitat inside this large area is also very diverse as mule deer are very adaptable to a wide variety of different vegetation types. Their current range is very large, encompassing the Western United States from the Great Plains to the westernmost states and from northern Mexico to southern Canada. They have incredible hearing, great noses and excellent eyesight. Mule deer originally received their name because of their large ears, which resemble that of a mule. Mule Deer are one the most exciting and beautiful big game animals in the world. ![]()
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