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In West Texas the white-tailed deer is a species that attracts a wide range of opinions. Many deer managers, protective of their prized mule deer herds, resent the “invasion” of the white . Range: Texas mule deer are located primarily in the High Plains and Trans-Pecos regions of west Texas. Some overlapping with white-tailed deer range occurs. Habitat/Habits: Lives in . Nov 28, · Different types of deer In Texas; Types of Deer In Texas 1. Whitetail Deer; 2. Mule Deer; Mule Deer Vs Whitetail Deer (Comparison) Exotic Types of Deer In Texas. 3. Axis Deer .
Types of Texas Deer – Texas Capital Forum & Coalition.What We Know About Mule Deer Subspecies | Pitchstone Waters
Range: Texas mule deer are located primarily in the High Plains and Trans-Pecos regions of west Texas. Some overlapping with white-tailed deer range occurs. Habitat/Habits: Lives in . In West Texas the white-tailed deer is a species that attracts a wide range of opinions. Many deer managers, protective of their prized mule deer herds, resent the “invasion” of the white . Nov 28, · Different types of deer In Texas; Types of Deer In Texas 1. Whitetail Deer; 2. Mule Deer; Mule Deer Vs Whitetail Deer (Comparison) Exotic Types of Deer In Texas. 3. Axis Deer .
– White-tailed deer – Wikipedia
There are a lot of different ways to analyze DNA to answer many different questions. Some people think of genetic analysis as if it were a black box that you put samples in one side and out pops a tree diagram from the other end showing who is more closely related to whom. It is not quite that simple; you have to select the right test to answer the question you want answered.
To complete this research, I brought together Drs. Emily Latch and O. Rhodes, Jr. Samples were analyzed by sequencing portions of the mtDNA and by using microsatellites to look at variation in the nDNA.
The number of samples we collected and analyzed exceeded nearly every other study of this type. Certainly no one has analyzed a large mammal throughout a continent at this scale and this presented some challenges in data management and interpretation, using scientifically-based groups as units of conservation. The mule deer subspecies currently recognized have not helped us in delineating units of conservation and management. For instance, even the most recent textbooks contain the same stagnant, outdated information about mule deer subspecies because no one has reevaluated the same old list of subspecies names and designated ranges.
If mule deer subspecies designations are to be of value in management, they must be based on genetic, ecological, and physical differences between populations of deer. Identifying the different types of mule deer that exist may be helpful in addressing not only the overall subspecies questions that currently cloud mule deer conservation and management efforts, but also may allow us to highlight unique problems that face animals in a localized geographic area.
Once a type of mule deer becomes specifically sought after by hunters, it will be seen as an asset and protected, rather than poached, by locals. Thus, this work could lead to positive changes in the conservation of mule deer in Mexico and elsewhere by offering real incentives for conservation.
Record keeping categories must be based on real and consistently diagnosed differences. It is particularly important that we know the geographic distribution of black-tailed deer compared to mule deer in the Pacific Northwest because they represent different record-keeping categories and a clear delineation of the boundary is an important issue if we are to maintain the integrity of the record books. For example, deer harvested near the boundary of those two different types may be hybrid intergrades.
Fortunately, in the case of blacktail vs. This means we can immediately apply genetic tools to map the current distribution of blacktails and mule deer. Our research also was designed to resolve other issues. Peninsula mule deer in southern Baja California Mexico is mostly isolated from other mule deer and some of its physical characteristics, such as tail coloration, differ from mule deer in the northern part of the Baja Peninsula.
Are these southern baja deer sufficiently different to represent a good subspecies? Most interestingly, 3 island populations of mule deer around the Mexican Baja Peninsula are at least partially isolated from the mainland. Some of these populations apparently have been separated from mule deer on the mainland since the late Pleistocene. These deer are undoubtedly different as physical descriptions have indicated from other mule deer, but how different?
Two of these island populations of mule deer have been given unique subspecies names Tiburon Is. Genetic data can help us protect lawful hunting of mule deer throughout their range by giving us the knowledge needed to guard against ridiculous lawsuits to protect invalid subspecies designations. The evaluation of subspecies is more than just looking at some genetic results. Subspecies can differ genetically, physically, or in some important ecological ways.
We are accumulating some idea of genetic relatedness among these subspecies, but also have to consider the entire package that may make them different from others of the same species. We are not at the point of making definitive thumbs up or thumbs-down calls on all mule deer subspecies, but there are several clarifications emerging:.
We will continue to refine our knowledge with what we have learned from not only their genetic differences, but also physical and ecological uniqueness that might warrant recognition for conservation reasons. This process of continuing improvement with a science-based approach has always been, and will remain, a critical part of our successful system of conservation. Jim Heffelfinger is a Certified Wildlife Biologist who has worked as a biologist for the federal government, state wildlife agencies, universities, and in the private sector in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Jim has authored or coauthored more than magazine articles, dozens of scientific papers, and 20 book chapters in regional, national, and international publications. All that speciation is opportunists trying to say they discovered a species, when really most of the differences are due to adaptation to climate and habitat… not really genetics.
Florida panther is nothing but a mountain lion isolated by human development of the South. Same critter. Thanks, and you are right about academic competition, and also sloppy scholarship. In when Edward W. Elk were natives to Texas and all native Texas elk are Rocky Mountain Elk, as we proved in our peer-reviewed paper found here:. So yes the Southwestern elk are all the same subspecies and the size differences are adaptation, climate and habitat food.
Hi Jeff I saw blacktail deer at the foot level, just down from Cloudcroft in town of Mayhill in the Sacramento mountains of New Mexico. Were they indeed mule deer? Inquiring minds want to know!
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Search for:. Meet the Subspecies From this sparse collection of deer, the geographic ranges of mule deer subspecies were drawn on a map.
A New Look at Old Subspecies Recent advances in genetic analysis techniques now allow researchers to evaluate genetic differences in ways that provide managers with meaningful ecological management units throughout the range of a species. Genetic analyses like microsatellites are allowing us to learn much more about how subspecies are related to one other. Building a solid, defensible basis for record-keeping categories.
A practical look at subspecies. The variety of ecological conditions black-tailed and mule deer live in have created variation in appearance throughout their range. Desert mule deer are smaller and lighter in color than their northern relatives, but it is not possible to draw a definitive line between desert and Rocky Mountain mule deer. They are confined to the western portion of the state, mostly in the Trans- Pecos but with some in the Panhandle and western Edwards Plateau. In roughly 22, mule deer hunters had a Photo credit: Mark Tyson.
Mule deer in West Texas. White-tailed deer and mule deer look very similar, but a few key characteristics will help you distinguish between the two.
The average body size of mule deer is usually larger than white-tailed deer; however this is not a great identification tool because you rarely have both species standing next to each other for comparison. White-tailed deer can be recognized by their white bottomed tail used as a warning flag; mule deer tails are a more cream colored with a distinct black tip. The easiest way to identify mule deer, especially antlerless deer, is by the characteristically large ears in proportion to head size, which is where they get their name.
White-tailed deer have smaller, seemingly more proportional ears. Mule deer also have characteristic black markings on their forehead and around their ears, as can be seen in the pictures above. On bucks during the breeding season the antlers are also an additional indicator.
On mule deer the antlers are usually bifurcated the tines come in forked pairs. White-tailed deer usually have all their tines coming off one main beam, and antlers are described based on total points, such as 8pt or 9pt. Antlers alone are not a great indicator of species due to variation in individuals. There are also white-tailed deer racks with forked tines that can look very similar to a mule deer rack.
There are areas were people have reported mule deer with non-bifurcated racks similar to white-tailed deer or white-tailed deer herds with many bifurcated racks. If in doubt contact a TPWD biologist for identification help. Photo credit: TPWD. White-tailed deer in East Texas. Both mule deer and white-tailed deer have diets composed of 4 main food categories: forbs, grasses, browse, and mast. Forbs: broad-leafed herbaceous plants, a. Examples include sunflowers, lambs-quarters, and Illinois bundleflower.
Some domesticated grasses such as wheat are an exception and can be consumed when mature. Browse: Woody plants, usually the leaves, twigs, and sometimes bark is eaten.
This also includes the succulents such as prickly pear cactus that make up a large part of desert mule deer diets. Mast: The nuts, fruits, and berries of woody species. A good example is acorns. Usually only seasonally available. The proportion of the different food categories in the diet varies between species and regions. Forbs are generally preferred but some populations, especially mule deer populations, may have to rely heavily on browse due to habitat conditions.
Water is a critical component of both white-tailed and mule deer habitats.