We probably have the most diversity of deer in the United States here in California – six different species. We have California mule deer, Rocky Mountain mule deer, feral mule deer, southern mule deer, Columbian black-tailed deer and a cross between a black-tailed and a mule deer.
How big is a California mule deer?
The mule deer has a height of 31 – 42 in (80-106 cm) at the shoulders and a nose to tail length ranging from 3.9 to 6.9 ft (1.2 to 2.1 m).
What type of deer live in Northern California?
The Columbian black-tailed deer, the Rocky Mountain mule deer and the California mule deer reside in scattered habitats across the state’s northern counties.
Are mule deer native to California?
There are two subspecies of mule deer in California: Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), and California mule deer (O.h. californicus).
Are there any whitetail deer in California?
According to the California Department of Fish and Game, and contrary to what you might have read or heard elsewhere, there are no free-ranging white-tailed deer in the Golden State . ... Blacktails are the most abundant deer species in the state, followed by the California Mule Deer.
Why are there no whitetail deer in California?
Answer: No. White-tailed deer are not native and would be competing with native deer for already-limited habitat . According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Deer Program Manager Craig Stowers, if native deer are on the decline, introduced white-tailed would likely not do any better.
What do California deer eat?
Deer feed on grasses and forbs in the spring and summer, however they are primarily browsers. High quality forage items like young tender shoots, young shrubs, leaves of plants that are high in nutrients, succulent grasses, and forbs are selected. Deer also eat items such as bark, buds, and acorns.
Are black tail and mule deer the same?
So the blacktail and mule deer are the same species , but the mulie is a subspecies of the blacktail, and they are both close cousins to the whitetail.
How long do California mule deer live?
Mule deer usually live 9-11 years in the wild and can live to be much older when in captivity. How big are mule deer? Mule deer range from 3 to 3-1/2 feet tall at the shoulder, 4-1/2 to 7 feet long and have a tail that is 5 to 8 inches long. They can weigh between 130-280 pounds.
What eats a deer?
Many animals eat deer, so deer are prey. Since deer do not eat animals, they are not predators. Predators that eat deer include the coyote, bobcat, cougar, wild dogs and humans .
Are there elk in California?
There are three species of elk that exist in California; Roosevelt (Cervus elaphus roosevelti), Rocky Mountain (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), and Tule (Cervus elaphus nannodes) elk. The Tule Elk are the smallest of all the elk species in North America and they are endemic to California.
What is mule deer favorite food?
Mule deer eat a variety of vegetation. They are known to eat mesquite leaves and beans, fairy duster, jojoba, cat claw, buck bush and other shrubs and grasses. Humans, coyote, mountain lion, eagles, bear, wolves, and bobcats.
Is Shed hunting legal in California?
California. The collection of sheds on California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) lands is prohibited but shed hunting on other public lands such as the Bureau of Land Management and United States Forest Service land is accepted.
What kind of deer are hunted in California?
We have California mule deer, Rocky Mountain mule deer, feral mule deer, southern mule deer , Columbian black-tailed deer and a cross between a black-tailed and a mule deer. On the western side of Interstate 5, our hunters can hunt pure Columbian black-tailed deer.
What’s the difference between a Coues deer and a whitetail deer?
The first, most eye-catching difference between Coues whitetails and their other whitetail cousins is the size . ... The ears and tails of coues deer may seem proportionately larger than the whitetails you’re used to back home. Their large ears are used to help dissipate heat during the hot summer months.
Does San Diego have deer?
Southern mule deer are adapted to a variety of habitats in western San Diego County , including woodlands, shrublands, meadows, grasslands, and riparian areas. Shrub habitats and woodlands interspersed with meadows or grasslands are important for food resources, as well as cover for shade and protection from predators.
