How to tell a Coues Deer from a Mule Deer?
Since these are the most common deer found in Arizona and New Mexico, it is helpful to know how to tell them apart. • The tail is the easiest way to distinguish these two deer species. Coues deer have a much wider tail that is white underneath, but not on top. The tail of the mule deer is much skinnier, very rope-like, and is white with a black tip. When Coues deer are excited, they will raise their tail (“flagging”) which displays the white under the tail. The mule deer will not. • White-tailed deer generally live in small groups of 2-5, not large herds like mule deer. • White-tailed deer and mule deer have different behavior/strategies to avoid predators. Whitetails have a more natural run and will leap or trot away from danger. While, mule deer have a unique gait that is stiff-legged and bounds on all four legs at the same time (stotting). • If you can’t see their tails, Coues and Mule deer can look similar. Coues have the characteristic white “halos” around their eyes and muzzle. M
