A Muletail Buck?
OL’s Hunting, Editor Andrew McKean, shot this northeastern Montana buck on the last day of the season. Is it actually a cross between a mule deer and a whitetail?
It’s fitting, somehow. After logging 32 days in blind, tree stand, irrigation ditch or hunkered down on the edge of an alfalfa field since early September. After passing on hundreds of bucks. After second-guessing on my decision to let some of these deer walk. After being consumed with whitetails, I finally punched my Montana deer tag last evening, in the final hours of the 2010 hunting season. AdvertisementRelated PhotosSUBMIT YOUR PHOTOSADVERTISEMENTAdvertisement |
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Comments (15)
That's pretty sweet! I've chased a few of these hybrid bucks over here in WA state, I've yet to connect on one yet though. Keep up the good work!
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Great story and photos.. disagree that this is a hybrid .. lots of muleys have Wt. looking racks where 4x4 typical muleys have been shot out .{ case of natural selection ?} 160 score is way high.. check the metatarsal glands for sure to see if it is hybrid 2-3 inches long there is a good chance ..if this is a hybrid then so is Wt. in article Public land Bruisers .. sorry
At first I was ready to say, "hybrid" as the two species do hybridize from time to time. However when the testicular cancer was mentioned I had second thoughts.
My guess would be a mule deer with the key being the testicular problem. Antlers can grow many different "deformities" for a wide range of reasons. You would definitely need a little more information on the animal (like the aforementioned gland size) to give an accurate diagnosis.
I like Birdhunter's theory. I think he may be onto something. I hope none of those stinky whitetails are bringing down a strong Mulies genes!!
whatever it is, its a nice deer! congrats!
The face, ears, tail and coat are ALL mule deer. While I can see the antlers "look" like a whitetail, they're also all mule deer. I shot a huge 3x5 mulie and the 3 point side looked exactly like this one. Any 3 point blacktail here on the island has an identical antler configuration.
Just your everyday mule deer. They really dont hybridize very often. Most often I believe a hybrid will look more like a whitetail (tail and face) but a mulie looking rack and greyer coat. your surefire answer was eluded to in a previous post: the metatarsal gland (outside bottom half of hind leg). It wil be a good 4-5" on a mulie, but maybe and inch on a whitey...on a hybrid?? usually 2-3".
awesome topic, and I think real good info. for people to know.
I have shot a few of these hybrid Muletails in Montana. The ones' I've shot where in central Montana. Big Timber area 15- 20 years ago. I don't have pictures but I do have the antlers and they look like whitetail, but the the bodies where definitely Mulie. Big swopping main beams, no forks, tall g1,g2, and g3. Big Mulie bodies, 200+ lbs.Love to hunt them MULIES!!
This is no Hybred, your discription of the testicles tells the story. A mule deer with no or limited testosterone will grow non-typical horns.
This is no Hybred, your discription of the testicles tells the story. A mule deer with no or limited testosterone will grow non-typical horns.
it's a Hybrid Holiday Mule-Tide deer.
I've read the best way to tell is by the size and shape of the glands on their hind legs, dont remember all the details. Have also heard that a hybrids flight response can get mixed up, instead of running flatout like a whitetail or bounding (stotting) like mule deer, they kind of run around in a confused kind of way seeming not to be sure what to do.
It is not that uncommon for whitetails and mule deer to cross breed, especially in areas where their home ranges intersect each other. In my opinion this deer is clearly a hybrid of both a mule deer and whitetail deer. The body size and rack depict a whitetail, but the rest of him looks like a mule deer. Regardless, that is a nice looking deer with an even better story to go along with it. Congrats.
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This is no Hybred, your discription of the testicles tells the story. A mule deer with no or limited testosterone will grow non-typical horns.
It is not that uncommon for whitetails and mule deer to cross breed, especially in areas where their home ranges intersect each other. In my opinion this deer is clearly a hybrid of both a mule deer and whitetail deer. The body size and rack depict a whitetail, but the rest of him looks like a mule deer. Regardless, that is a nice looking deer with an even better story to go along with it. Congrats.
I've read the best way to tell is by the size and shape of the glands on their hind legs, dont remember all the details. Have also heard that a hybrids flight response can get mixed up, instead of running flatout like a whitetail or bounding (stotting) like mule deer, they kind of run around in a confused kind of way seeming not to be sure what to do.
Just your everyday mule deer. They really dont hybridize very often. Most often I believe a hybrid will look more like a whitetail (tail and face) but a mulie looking rack and greyer coat. your surefire answer was eluded to in a previous post: the metatarsal gland (outside bottom half of hind leg). It wil be a good 4-5" on a mulie, but maybe and inch on a whitey...on a hybrid?? usually 2-3".
awesome topic, and I think real good info. for people to know.
The face, ears, tail and coat are ALL mule deer. While I can see the antlers "look" like a whitetail, they're also all mule deer. I shot a huge 3x5 mulie and the 3 point side looked exactly like this one. Any 3 point blacktail here on the island has an identical antler configuration.
My guess would be a mule deer with the key being the testicular problem. Antlers can grow many different "deformities" for a wide range of reasons. You would definitely need a little more information on the animal (like the aforementioned gland size) to give an accurate diagnosis.
This is no Hybred, your discription of the testicles tells the story. A mule deer with no or limited testosterone will grow non-typical horns.
whatever it is, its a nice deer! congrats!
I like Birdhunter's theory. I think he may be onto something. I hope none of those stinky whitetails are bringing down a strong Mulies genes!!
it's a Hybrid Holiday Mule-Tide deer.
I have shot a few of these hybrid Muletails in Montana. The ones' I've shot where in central Montana. Big Timber area 15- 20 years ago. I don't have pictures but I do have the antlers and they look like whitetail, but the the bodies where definitely Mulie. Big swopping main beams, no forks, tall g1,g2, and g3. Big Mulie bodies, 200+ lbs.Love to hunt them MULIES!!
At first I was ready to say, "hybrid" as the two species do hybridize from time to time. However when the testicular cancer was mentioned I had second thoughts.
Great story and photos.. disagree that this is a hybrid .. lots of muleys have Wt. looking racks where 4x4 typical muleys have been shot out .{ case of natural selection ?} 160 score is way high.. check the metatarsal glands for sure to see if it is hybrid 2-3 inches long there is a good chance ..if this is a hybrid then so is Wt. in article Public land Bruisers .. sorry
welcome come to:===== http://tinyurl.com/297sxrk ====
you can find many cheap and fashion stuff
welcome come to:==== http://tinyurl.com/297sxrk ====
you can find many cheap and fashion stuff
dxfgfdgdf
That's pretty sweet! I've chased a few of these hybrid bucks over here in WA state, I've yet to connect on one yet though. Keep up the good work!
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)