Arizona’s diverse landscapes host a variety of wildlife, including several deer species. These animals adapt to environments ranging from arid deserts to high-elevation mountains. The state’s deer population was estimated at around 179,000 in 2023, encompassing both mule deer and Coues white-tailed deer.
Mule Deer in Arizona
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are the most widespread and numerous deer species in Arizona. Their name originates from their noticeably large, mule-like ears, which can be up to three-quarters the length of their heads. These deer typically display a brownish-gray coat that shifts to a blue-gray in winter, with a white rump patch and a small, rope-like white tail tipped with black.
Male mule deer, known as bucks, grow antlers that bifurcate, meaning they fork into two main beams, each potentially splitting further into two tines. These antlers are shed annually in late winter or early spring, with new growth beginning immediately afterward under a layer of velvet. Mule deer are adaptable, inhabiting a wide range of Arizona terrains from sparse, low deserts to forested mountains, often moving to higher elevations in summer and lower ones in winter.
Mule deer are primarily browsers, consuming a varied diet of vegetation. Their diet typically includes leaves and twigs from woody plants, forbs, and mast like berries. They are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk, resting in cool areas during the day. An adult male can weigh between 200-225 pounds, while females typically weigh 110-125 pounds.
White-tailed Deer in Arizona
Arizona is home to the Coues white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) subspecies. This subspecies is notably smaller, with bucks weighing around 100 pounds and does averaging 65 pounds. Their coat is generally a grayish-brown, often described as “salt and pepper,” and they feature white “halos” around their eyes and a white band across the muzzle.
The most distinguishing characteristic of the Coues white-tailed deer is its broad, flag-like white tail. Coues deer prefer habitats with dense brush, often found in Arizona’s southeastern mountains, montane oak-pine woodlands, and chaparral at elevations typically between 3,000 and 7,000 feet.
These deer are highly wary and adept at using cover. They are primarily crepuscular, and their diet consists of grasses, seeds, acorns, weeds, shrubs, and cacti fruit. Coues deer have adapted to arid conditions, possessing efficient blood circulation in their ears to dissipate heat and retain water.
Key Distinctions
Identifying mule deer from Coues white-tailed deer involves several key physical differences. Their tails are the most apparent distinction: mule deer possess a short, narrow, rope-like tail with a black tip. In contrast, Coues white-tailed deer have a broad, flag-like tail that is mostly white underneath, which they typically raise as a “flag” when fleeing.
Antler configuration also differs significantly. Mule deer antlers are bifurcated, meaning they fork and re-fork, while white-tailed deer antlers typically have a main beam from which individual tines project forward. Mule deer are generally larger in body size with noticeably larger, mule-like ears, while Coues deer are smaller and often appear more compact. Their faces also differ: mule deer have a largely white face and a black patch on the forehead, while Coues deer faces are mostly gray with white rings around their eyes and muzzle.