Montana is home to a diverse array of wildlife, but when people talk about “deer,” they are typically referring to two distinct species: the White-tailed Deer and the Mule Deer. These two members of the Cervidae family are widespread across Montana, each occupying specific ecological niches. Understanding the differences between these two species, from their physical traits to their preferred environments, offers a clearer picture of the state’s natural landscape.
The White-tailed Deer
The White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is characterized by its reddish-brown summer coat that transitions to a grayish-brown in winter. Its most recognizable feature is the long, broad tail with a pure white underside, which it raises to expose the white underside in a distinctive “flagging” motion when alarmed. This species is generally less migratory and more secretive, often exhibiting a solitary or small-group behavior. White-tailed deer are primarily browsers, consuming leaves, twigs, fruits, and berries. They prefer habitats that offer dense cover, such as riparian areas, river bottoms, and forested lowlands. Male bucks grow antlers with tines that project upward from a single main beam, creating a basket-like structure.
The Mule Deer
The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is easily distinguished by its large, mule-like ears and a coat that tends toward gray in winter and brownish in summer. Unlike the White-tailed Deer, its tail is short, round, and cream-colored with a prominent black tip. Mule Deer are known for a unique, stiff-legged bounding gait, called “stotting,” where all four feet push off the ground simultaneously. They are more gregarious and often undertake elevational migrations, moving between high-elevation summer ranges and lower winter ranges. This species favors open terrain, including high-elevation forests, sagebrush steppe, foothills, and badlands; its antlers fork repeatedly, meaning each branch typically splits into two points.
Distinguishing Features and Geographic Range
The two species are most easily distinguished by their tails and ears. The Mule Deer has large ears and a narrow, black-tipped tail, while the White-tailed Deer has smaller ears and “flags” its broad, white-underside tail when fleeing. In Montana, their distributions show a separation reflecting their preferred habitats. White-tailed Deer are commonly found throughout western Montana and along dense riparian corridors and river drainages, where heavy cover is plentiful. Mule Deer, conversely, are more prevalent in the central and eastern parts of the state, occupying mountainous regions, foothills, and open sagebrush flats. This difference in habitat selection helps reduce competition between the two closely related species.