Doesn't he have a pretty brown coat with a white patch under it like a WT???

I'mnot that familiar with mulies, but this bad boy looks like a whitetail to me. I think the light colored face is just a reflection from the flash.

I can't tell anything from the first pic.



Whoever said a split G-2 don't mean nothing, I agree.

JMO

I would say he's a cross.

I did not mean that since he is at a feeder he is whitetail. I have seen both at our feeder and both in our fields. But, never alot of interaction in places I have experience in hunting between the species. My Game Warden neighbor in KS told me, that as the whitetails started re-establishing their range in western Kansas there was some interbreeeding, but it got rarier as time went on. The first pic is not of high quality and gives the appearance of a muley muzzle. The photos around the feeder show a short stocky whitetail. I posted a photo of a whitetail from KS killed in my favorite draw,the other day, in this draw both species live. I have spent countless hours sitting and glassing and even dragging both out. A mule deer is longer and taller than the shorter stockier whitetail. That buck looks whitetail to me.

Hoss agreed cross, not!

I still have to go with it being a whitetail. How about given up what it is now?

Like I said, my experience with mulies is real limited, but another difference for me is that the mulies I have seen the tips of the antlers are usually straight up or point out. Whitetails usually have the tendency for tine tips to curve in. Not anything definitive, but just something small that still makes me think whitetail.

From Texas Parks and Wildlife White-tailed and Mule Deer Interactions
A question often asked by west Texas landowners and hunters is “Are white-tailed deer driving out the mule deer?” White-tailed deer do not physically “drive out” mule deer from an area; however, in some areas mule deer numbers are declining while white-tailed deer numbers are increasing. This change in species composition gives the appearance that the mule deer are being physically displaced. What actually is occurring is a gradual change in the vegetation that favors white-tailed deer.

In areas where the height and density of brush is increasing, the habitat is becoming more suitable for white-tailed deer and less desirable for mule deer. Research indicates that mule deer in Texas prefer a brush canopy cover of 40 percent or less, while white-tailed deer numbers increase dramatically in areas with a brush canopy exceeding 50 percent (Wiggers and Beasom 1986). The greatest white-tailed deer numbers were found in areas that consisted of about two-thirds brush cover. When the two species occupy the same area, they often are segregated-- mule deer preferring the high, rougher canyons and open hillsides and white-tailed deer occupying the brushy draws and lowlands. An exception to this generality occurs in Jeff Davis County where white-tailed deer occur on the densely wooded mountain tops and mule deer occur in the relatively open lower slopes and flats.

Where mule deer and white-tailed deer coexist, interbreeding does occur. The long-term effects are unknown, and for most areas, the extent of hybridization is not known. The highest incidence of hybridization in the Trans-Pecos occurs in the eastern part of the region where high populations of mule deer and white-tailed deer coexist. Using a technique called “polyacrylamidel electrophoresis,” Stubblefield et al. (1986) estimated that up to 14 percent of deer may be hybrids where both species occupy the same range, although the average occurrence of hybrids was only about 5%. Many ranches where the 2 species overlapped showed no evidence of hybridization. Using a more accurate technique (DNA sequencing), Cathey et al. (1998) found that 7.7% of 26 deer sampled were hybrids in the West Texas zone of contact (Terrell, Pecos, and Brewster counties). DNA sequencing was also used to determine the extent of hybridization in the Panhandle (Donley County) where the ranges of both species overlap. The results of a small sample of deer (n= 40) indicated a hybridization frequency of 8% (F. Bryant, pers. comm.). Observations by Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists during the hunting season indicate that true hybrids are extremely rare. Out of several hundred deer that are checked each year, it is rare to find a single hybrid.

Antler characteristics, tail coloration, and ear length are not reliable in recognizing hybrids. First generation hybrids often can be identified by the length of the metatarsal gland that is located on the outside of the rear leg between the hock and the hoof. It typically will measure about ¾-inch long in whitetails and about 4 inches long in mule deer. The metatarsal gland of hybrids is intermediate in length, measuring about 2 inches long. Second generation hybrids can not be identified by their appearance. The predominant successful breeding among hybrids is between white-tailed bucks and mule deer does (Carr and Hughes 1993, Cathey et al. 1998), but interbreeding also can occur between mule deer bucks and white-tailed does. Hybrids appear to have at least a limited degree of fertility (Whitehead 1972, Derr et al. 1991, Cathey et al. 1998).


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This thread got me to thinking so i went out and looked at what TPWD had to say on the subject. Doesn't help with this scenario, but interesting nonetheless, I guess.

Roll down about 1/2 way.

White-tailed and Mule Deer Interactions

Nevermind - DZM beat me to it!

Pretty much what Randall and I aggreed on, they do cross. Very good article and thank you

No matter which way this goes it is a good post.

FWIW, on the different ranches I feed it is not uncommon to see wt with forked G-2's. Not that is is common either. And there are almost no mule deer around out here. Maybe 40 miles north close to the county line, but gong west you have to be almost in Dryden to find them.

I voted mulie.His body looks to square and compact for a whitail to me.Sure would like to see his tail! Id shoot it and hang both tags on him just to be safe.

either a mutt or mulie