DEER

Family Cervidae

 

Deer (or cervids) belong to the order Artiodactyla, the hoofed mammals with an even number of toes on each foot, and the suborder Ruminantia, the cud-chewing plant-eaters. Deer have four toes on each foot. The two middle toes are well-developed and support all or most of the weight of the body, while the two small lateral toes (the so-called false hoofs or dewclaws) do not usually touch the ground. The last bone of each toe is encased by a thickened, hard-edged hoof of keratinous material. Deer have a four-chambered stomach, one of which (the rumen) stores undigested food that is later passed back into the mouth, where it is chewed and swallowed a second time. (Ruminants have the ability to take in a large quantity of rough forage in a short time, then retire to a safe hiding place to chew it thoroughly.) As in other ruminants, deer lack upper incisor teeth (most lack upper canines as well), biting off their food between the lower incisors and a hard pad on the upper gum, then grinding the cud with the premolars and molars. Most deer have 32 teeth (formula i0/3, c0/1, pm3/3, m3/3); however, upper canines are present (c1/1) in red deer, wapiti, sika, sambar, rusa, Père David, muntjac, tufted deer and water deer for a total of 34. Upper canines are also usually present in caribou and reindeer, and may (or may not) be present in brocket deer. The following external glands may be present, depending on the species: preorbital (in front of the eye), tarsal (inner surface of hind legs at the hock), metatarsal (outer surface of hind legs between hock and hoof), and interdigital (between the hoofs). All cervids lack a gallbladder.

 

Cervids differ from other ruminants in that males (except in water deer) grow antlers of solid, dead bone. They are shed and regrown annually, increasing in size and complexity each year until the animal reaches its prime, after which they decline. Females do not grow antlers, except in caribou/reindeer, or the occasional freak in other species. While growing, antlers are covered by a furry skin (“velvet”) and nourished by blood vessels. Blood supply stops once full growth is reached, and the velvet dries out and comes off. Antlers are usually branched and sometimes palmate. They serve as sexual ornaments and weapons, and are used to determine dominance among males—through combat, intimidation or both—and to guard females from other males during the mating season.

 

There are about 40 species of deer worldwide, most of which are found in Asia; however, seven species are native to North America, where they are by far the most common larger animals:

 

            American Elk or Wapiti                                         Cervus elaphus ssp.

            Moose                                                                       Alces alces

            Caribou                                                                     Rangifer tarandus

            Mule and Black-tailed Deer                                  Odocoileus hemionus

            White-tailed Deer                                                    Odocoileus virginianus

            Red Brocket Deer                                                  Mazama americana

            Yucatan Gray-brown Brocket Deer                   Mazama pandora

 

 

 

American Elk or Wapiti

Cervus elaphus ssp.

 

Wapití (Sp), Wapiti (G), Wapiti (F). Called elk by most North Americans, an incorrect name bestowed on it by early settlers from Europe who confused it with the European elch or moose, which they had heard about but never seen. Called wapiti or maral elsewhere in the world. The former is a Shawnee word meaning white deer, in reference to its bleached winter coat. The latter is the Farsi (Iran) name for red deer, but has been appropriated by Russians, Mongolians and others and applied to wapiti. Wapiti originated in Asia, migrating to North America across the Bering land bridge during the Pleistocene Epoch.

 

DESCRIPTION The American elk is the second-largest deer in North America, surpassed only by the moose. It is a handsome animal with magnificent antlers. The typical antler of a mature bull will consist of a long, round main beam that sweeps up, out and back, with five tines growing up from it in a regular pattern, for a total of six points (five tines plus the beam tip). A few bulls will have seven or eight typical points to a side, with the additional tines occurring above the dagger tine. Most typical tines have names. The first typical tine above the burr (or coronet) is the brow tine, the second is the bez tine (pronounced bay), the third is the trez tine (pronounced tray), and the fourth is the royal or dagger tine. The beam tip and the last typical tine before it make up what is called the terminal fork. To be typical, a tine must grow from the top or front of the main beam in the normal or typical manner. A tine that grows from the side or bottom of the main beam, or from another tine, or from the burr, is non-typical.

 

Body coloration varies somewhat with the subspecies, but is generally reddish-brown in summer, with the back and sides becoming light grayish-brown in winter, and the head, neck, legs and underparts turning a darker brown. There is a large, yellowish rump patch that is bordered with darker stripes. Wapiti have preorbital and metatarsal glands (the latter occurring just below the hock), but lack tarsal and interdigital glands. Females are about 25 percent smaller than males, but otherwise similar.

 

Unlike most deer, wapiti develop upper canine teeth. known locally in North America as tusks, bugler teeth, whistler teeth or ivory teeth. These were highly prized by plains Indians and later by Caucasians, especially members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, for whom they became an unofficial badge of membership. Great numbers of animals were killed for no other reason than their “tusks” until elk were given protection in the early part of the 20th century. Ultimately, the B.P.O.E. organization became a significant factor in the protection of the American elk and its return from near extinction.

 

BEHAVIOR Strongly social, although the sexes keep to themselves except during the rut or when sharing limited winter range. Herds of females and young may number into the hundreds. Mature bulls are usually solitary or in small groups. Bulls fight fiercely for dominance during the rut (September-early October), with the winners collecting as many females as they can guard. (Bull elk have been called the “sultans of the animal kingdom.”) Calves (normally one) are dropped in May and June. Bulls usually develop six antler points per side in the fourth year, and achieve maximum body size at 7-10 years. Life expectancy is 15 years or more. Some females have been known to live 25 years.

 

Both a grazer and a browser. Eyesight, hearing and sense of smell are all good. Alert and wary. Not an especially fast runner, although able to maintain 28 mph (46 km/h) for a long distance. An excellent swimmer. Silent except during the rut when bulls challenge one another with shrill bugles and grunts.

 

HABITAT The evergreen forest belt of Canada and the United States in upland or mountain regions.

 

DISTRIBUTION Prior to the arrival of European settlers, American elk were found from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from northern Mexico almost to the arctic. Today, they occur mainly in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains.

 

Wapiti are also native to Asia, and have been introduced in New Zealand and elsewhere.

 

REMARKS A fully mature bull elk is a magnificent animal, challenging to hunt, and one of the world’s top game trophies. Elk hunters can be as fanatic as sheep hunters; many regard the elk as North America’s foremost game animal and would rather hunt elk than do anything else.

 

STATUS By the early part of the 20th century, commercial hunting had exterminated elk in many parts of North America and reduced them to low levels in others. Subsequently, they were given protection and allowed to rebuild their numbers, and today’s herds are carefully managed for quantity of animals and/or quality of trophies. Elk are now secure wherever they occur in North America and are being introduced or reintroduced in many places.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Biologists long debated whether wapiti belonged to the same species as red deer (Cervus elaphus) or whether wapiti were a separate species (C. canadensis). Today most agree they form a single species, with the specific name elaphus Linnaeus, 1758 having priority over canadensis. Wapiti and red deer interbreed readily in captivity and in areas where they have been introduced together, and produce offspring that are fully fertile. Wapiti are found in Asia as well as North America, while red deer occur in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Between them, in central Asia, are a number of closely related deer that are neither wapiti nor red deer, but have intermediate characteristics. Some authorities now believe that red deer and wapiti originated from such an intermediate form, spreading westward to Europe as red deer, and eastward to North America as wapiti.

 

Most authorities recognize four living and two recently extinct subspecies of American elk. The eastern elk (canadensis) was once found in southeastern Canada and the eastern United States (east of about longitude 95°W), but disappeared during the 19th century. The Merriam elk (merriami), which became extinct between 1902-1906, lived in eastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, extreme western Texas and parts of northern Mexico. The living subspecies are Rocky Mountain elk (C. e. nelsoni), Roosevelt elk (C. e. roosevelti), tule elk (C. e. nannodes), and Manitoba elk (C. e. manitobensis).

 

 

Rocky Mountain Elk

Cervus elaphus nelsoni

 

DESCRIPTION Smaller than the Roosevelt elk, and somewhat lighter in weight than the Manitoba elk although similar in size. Bulls stand about five feet (1.5 m) at the shoulder and average 700 pounds (320 kg). Females average 500-525 pounds (225-240 kg). The antlers are generally longer and slimmer than those of Roosevelt elk, but have greater spread. The coloration is lighter, with less contrast than in Roosevelt elk.

 

HABITAT Summer range is in high mountain meadows and forests. In fall and winter, elk migrate downward in advance of deep winter snows to sheltered lowlands where forage is available.

 

DISTRIBUTION Canada: Rocky Mountain region of southeastern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta. Introduced on the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of British Columbia (1929) and in southeastern Ontario (early 1930s). United States: Washington and Oregon east of Interstate 5; and in Idaho, western Montana, Wyoming, southwestern South Dakota, northwestern Nebraska, northeastern Nevada, Utah, western Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. Limited introductions have been made in the wild in southeastern Oregon, northeastern California, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and Florida. In addition, private herds have been established on fenced ranches in many places, and this is an increasing trend.

 

REMARKS The Rocky Mountain elk is the most numerous variety with the widest distribution, and is the one sought after by most elk hunters. Most hunting is probably done on foot or from four-wheel-drive pickups; however, the classic way to hunt elk is on horseback from a packed-in tent camp and, if one can arrange it, this is the way to go. A high mountain hunt with a good outfitter in a good area during the bugling season can be the experience of a lifetime. During the rut, bulls can be bugled in by a good caller. They can also be stillhunted, or glassed and stalked, or shot at long range. Elk are often hunted in up-and-down country, where shots are either pointblank or 300-500 yards (275-450 m) across a canyon. Elk are large, vital animals; therefore, adequate calibers and strongly constructed bullets should be used and shots should be placed well.

 

 

For record-keeping purposes, the Afognak and Raspberry island populations are treated as indigenous; those from Santa Rosa Island are listed separately.

 

 

Tule Elk

Cervus elaphus nannodes

 

Also called valley elk or dwarf elk. “Tule” is a local name for either of two large bullrushes that grow in the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, and especially in central California where the tule elk is native.

 

DESCRIPTION The smallest American wapiti, lighter in color, and with small antlers that have arched beams and tines and tend to be palmate in larger specimens. Adult bulls average 550 pounds (250 kg), cows 410 pounds (185 kg).

 

HABITAT Open country and semi-desert.

 

DISTRIBUTION Only in California, where they originally occurred in great numbers in the broad, open valleys of the coastal and central parts of the state, where tules were the characteristic native plants. Now in several small herds (especially Cache Creek and Tupman) within the original range, and a larger transplanted population in the Owens Valley, which is outside its original range but considered indigenous for record-keeping purposes.

 

STATUS Tule elk did well until the 1849 gold rush in California, when their numbers crashed because of heavy market hunting and land development. Almost extinct by the late 1860s, when landowner Henry Miller provided the survivors with a refuge. These increased and served as the nucleus of the present healthy population. The tule elk has been out of danger since the late 1930s.

 

Surplus Owens Valley elk were culled through legal hunts held at various times from 1943 to 1964, after which the hunts were discontinued because of opposition from organized anti-hunters. Under the terms of the 1972 Behr bill in the California legislature, 490 elk are to be maintained in the Owens Valley, and no elk may be hunted until at least 2,000 exist in California. This level has been achieved and, beginning in 1988, permits have been available to California residents through drawings. In recent years, tule elk have also been available for hunting from private herds.

 

 

Manitoba Elk

Cervus elaphus manitobensis

 

DESCRIPTION Smaller than the Roosevelt elk and similar in body size to the Rocky Mountain elk, although heavier. Mature bulls average 61-62 inches in shoulder height (154-157 cm) and 775 pounds (350 kg) in weight. Females average about 600 pounds (270 kg). Darker in color and with smaller antlers than the Rocky Mountain elk.

 

DISTRIBUTION Manitoba elk once ranged widely over Canada’s prairie provinces from at least Cypress Hills, Alberta, to Red River, Manitoba. Today, isolated populations occur in eastern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, mainly in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan, and in Riding Mountain National Park and Duck Mountain Provincial Park, Manitoba. A small number were introduced (1951-1952) in the Yukon Territory northwest of Whitehorse, where they are just holding their own.

 

STATUS Originally an inhabitant of the Great Plains and open parklands, the Manitoba elk was nearly exterminated in the early 1900s from habitat loss caused by human settlement and by uncontrolled market hunting. Now stable in its present range, with numbers estimated at 9,500.

 

Alce (Sp), Elch (G), Elan (F). “Moose” is an Ojibway word meaning “to cut smooth,” which is a good description of how moose browse. Moose are also found in Europe and Asia; in fact, they arrived in North America from Siberia, crossing the Bering land bridge during the Pleistocene Epoch. North American and Asian moose closely resemble one another, and both differ from European moose.

 

DESCRIPTION The North American moose is the largest deer in the world and grows the largest antlers. Bulls stand 5 to 7-1/2 feet (1.5 to 2.3 m) at the shoulder hump, and weigh 900-1,400 pounds (410-635 kg), possibly more. Females are smaller and do not grow antlers. Chromosome number is 70, the same as in Asian moose, whereas European moose have 68.

 

A huge, awkward-looking animal with a large hump on its shoulders, very long legs and massive, palmate antlers. The antlers grow out from the sides of the head, with the main beam dividing into two principal branches: the smaller branch grows forward and outward and is usually palmate (the brow palm), with points growing from the palm’s forward edge; the larger branch extends backward and upward and becomes a large, flattened palm (the main palm), with points growing from the top and outer edges. Some exceptional bulls have palmation that is continuous from front to back, and there are countless other antler shapes as well. The coat is blackish-brown in color, with the legs and underparts grayish. The hair is coarse and brittle. There is a mane on the shoulders, and a growth of skin and hair (the bell) hanging from the throat. The bell can be as much as 36 inches (91 mm) long, although 12 inches (30 mm) is average, and it almost disappears in older animals. The tail is very short, the ears large. The head is large and ends in a broad, pendulous muzzle. The neck is so short and the legs so long that a moose cannot easily reach the ground to feed, nor can it drink without wading into the water. Moose have preorbital and small tarsal glands, but lack metatarsal and interdigital glands.

 

BEHAVIOR Solitary except when mating, or a cow with her recent offspring, living by itself in a small home range. Not territorial. Mates in September and October, with bulls displaying and fighting for dominance and taking one female at a time. Bulls can be dangerous during the rut, and unarmed humans may be at risk. Calves are born in May and June, frequently twins, though often a single and occasionally triplets. Females can breed until about 18 years of age. Maximum known longevity is 27 years.

 

A browser, depending on woody vegetation—notably willow, poplar, balsam, aspen and birch—eating the leaves, twigs and bark. Feeds on aquatic vegetation by wading into lakes and streams, often submerging completely to feed on the bottom. Vision is poor, with stationary objects seemingly not recognized at all. Senses of smell and hearing are excellent. Active throughout the day, but with peaks at dawn and dark. Despite its ungainly appearance, the moose is nimble and surefooted. Able to cross swamps and quicksand where other animals would mire. Its normal gait is a quiet, careful walk, but can maintain a speed of 35 mph (56 km/h) for a considerable distance. Has great endurance, able to run up mountainsides or through deep snow or downed timber for miles. An excellent swimmer. Silent except during the rut, when the sexes call to each other with grunts and moans. Principal predator is the wolf, with the grizzly in a lesser role. As a number of wolves are required to bring down a moose, healthy adults are seldom attacked; calves and sick or aged adults are the preferred prey.

 

HABITAT Evergreen wooded areas with hills, swamps, and openings bordering lakes and rivers, generally with a seasonal snow cover. In summer, often found high in the mountains, even above tree line, to escape biting insects. Migrates in the fall to lower elevations.

 

DISTRIBUTION Alaska, most of Canada, and extending into parts of the lower 48 United States.

 

Moose are also native to Europe and Asia. Introduced in New Zealand (1900, 1910), but may now be extinct there.

 

REMARKS A big set of moose antlers is one of the world’s most impressive hunting trophies. (Moose are the favored North American quarry of many European hunters.) While not as difficult to approach as some other deer species, moose nonetheless require hard, careful hunting. They are wilderness animals not found near civilization, consequently a moose hunt is likely to be more of an expedition than most other deer hunts. In Canada and Alaska, moose can often be hunted in combination with other species such as caribou, bear, mountain goat or sheep. Perhaps the most enjoyable hunts are made on horseback, for much ground can be covered and the horses can be used to carry out the meat and antlers. Hunting from canoe or boat (mainly in eastern Canada) is also a good system, and is often combined with calling during the rut. A hunt on foot can become an ordeal once a moose is down. They are very large animals, and all the meat (plus the antlers and perhaps the cape) must be packed out—a project that can entail several days of the hardest kind of labor. (A moose hunter’s ultimate misfortune is to have his quarry expire in the water, for a moose is too heavy to move and must be butchered where it lies.) Moose meat is perhaps the best of all venison—especially when killed prior to the rut—and is well worth whatever effort it takes to care for it.

 

Because all mature North American bull moose have palmate antlers—rather than cervine, as in parts of Europe and Asia—they all should be measured by Method 25 P.

 

STATUS Moose numbers in North America are estimated between 800,000-1,200,000, with a yearly harvest of about 90,000. Populations are stable or increasing in available habitat (Franzmann 1978).

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Most authorities recognize one species of moose worldwide, with about eight subspecies—four in Eurasia and four in North America. The latter are: Alaska-Yukon moose (A. a. gigas), western Canada moose (A. a. andersoni), eastern Canada moose (A. a. americana), and Shiras moose (A. a. shirasi)

 

Alaska-Yukon Moose

Alces alces gigas

 

Alce de Alaska-Yukon (Sp), Alaska Elch (G), Elan du Alaska (F).

 

DESCRIPTION The largest of all moose. The largest bulls stand 6-1/2 to 7-1/2 feet (2.0 to 2.3 m) at the top of the hump and have been estimated to weigh as much as 1,800 pounds (815 kg), although it is doubtful if many exceed 1,400 pounds (635 kg). (Understandably, few wild moose are ever weighed whole.) The heaviest weights actually recorded for Alaska moose in one piece are 1,310 pounds (595 kg) for a male and 1,080 pounds (490 kg) for a female. The overall coloration is blackish, with a rusty brown saddle area.

 

DISTRIBUTION Alaska, Yukon, and the Mackenzie Mountains in the far west of the Northwest Territories.

 

 

Western Canada Moose

Alces alces andersoni

 

Alce Canadense occidental (Sp), Kanada Elch (G), Elan du Canada (F).

 

DESCRIPTION The second-largest of the world’s moose, exceeded only by the Alaska-Yukon subspecies. Large bulls will measure 6-7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m) at the top of the hump, and have been said to weigh as much as 1,500 pounds (680 kg), although this is probably excessive. The antlers are smaller and less massive than those of the Alaska-Yukon race. The general color is a rusty brown.

 

DISTRIBUTION Canada: The Northwest Territories east of the Mackenzie Mountains; and in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and western Ontario. For record-keeping purposes, we have drawn the boundary between western and eastern Canada moose as a straight line across Ontario from Fort Albany, on the southwest shore of James Bay, to Nipigon, at the northwest corner of Nipigon Bay on the north shore of Lake Superior. United States: A few in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

 

 

 

 

Shiras Moose

Alces alces shirasi

 

Alce de Shiras (Sp), Yellowstone Elch (G), Elan du Shiras (F). Named in honor of Congressman George Shiras III of Pennsylvania, who was a noted conservationist. Also called Wyoming moose or Yellowstone moose.

 

DESCRIPTION The Shiras moose has the smallest antlers of any North American moose. The body color is a rusty yellowish-brown, with a pale brownish saddle.

 

HABITAT Mountains and foothills with suitable browse.

 

DISTRIBUTION Canada: Southwestern British Columbia, commencing at the International Boundary at Sumas Highway 11 to Trans-Canada Highway#1 following southeastern along the Trans-Canada Highway #1; and Southwestern Alberta south of the Trans-Canada Highway #1 and west of Highway #2 to the International Boundary. United States: Northeastern Washington, northern and eastern Idaho, western Montana, western and southern Wyoming, northeastern Utah, and northwestern Colorado.

 

REMARKS At this writing, non-residents are allowed to hunt Shiras moose in British Columbia and Alberta, and may hunt by drawn permit in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. Best odds for drawing are in Utah, with Wyoming next.

 

 

HABITAT Most caribou live in arctic tundra and neighboring boreal coniferous forest. Some races inhabit mountainous areas farther south.

 

DISTRIBUTION Most of Alaska and Canada, including the arctic islands, and along the west coast of Greenland. Extends marginally into northeastern Washington and northern Idaho, and possibly in northern Michigan.

 

Also occurs in Svalbard and across northern Europe and Asia, where it is called reindeer. In addition, the domestic reindeer (which has served man in Eurasia for perhaps 3,000 years) has been introduced in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Britain, Chile, Argentina, and the islands of South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean and Kerguelen in the Indian Ocean.

 

REMARKS Caribou are everyone’s trophy animal, attainable by most kinds of hunters at moderate cost. They are hunted in wild and beautiful country that is remote from civilization. They are usually plentiful, and even a representative head from one of the gorgeous white-necked bulls makes a spectacular trophy. Caribou are not as difficult to hunt as other North American deer. They are normally out in the open where they can be seen and, once located, can usually be stalked successfully. But judging antlers in a group of bulls can be frustrating, as every set will differ and no individual rack will have it all: the one with a great shovel may have poor tops and no back points, another may have wonderful tops but poor bez palms, and so on.

 

STATUS Caribou are estimated to have numbered 3,500,000 in North America prior to European settlement. They declined to about 1,100,000 in 1977, but have since increased to between 2,300,000 and 2,800,000 (1986). They are highly adapted to their environment and are able to accommodate changing conditions.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Banfield (1961) concluded that the caribou of North America and the reindeer of Eurasia were one species, Rangifer tarandus. He listed five living subspecies in North America, plus the recently extinct (about 1910) dwarf caribou (dawsoni) of the Queen Charlotte Islands. His living North American subspecies were: granti of Alaska and the northern Yukon; groenlandicus of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut mainland, most of Victoria Island, all of King William, Southampton, Coats and Baffin islands, and western Greenland; pearyi of the high arctic islands and northern Greenland; eogroenlandicus of eastern Greenland; and caribou of the southern Yukon, southwestern Northwest Territories, and provincial Canada.

 

We follow Banfield with respect to granti (Alaska-Yukon barren ground caribou) and groenlandicus (central Canada barren ground caribou), although we have altered his boundaries somewhat for record-keeping. But we elect to follow Gunn, et al (1987) by designating the caribou of the arctic islands and the Boothia Peninsula as pearyi x groenlandicus hybrids, which we call Arctic Islands caribou. We disregard the east Greenland race (eogroenlandicus), because it is probably extinct and we have no entries in any case. And, in record-keeping, we follow the Boone & Crockett Club in splitting  the subspecies caribou into three regional categories, based on size and shape of antlers, which are called mountain caribou, Quebec-Labrador caribou, and woodland caribou (all three are considered woodland caribou by scientists).

 

 

Alaska-Yukon Barren Ground Caribou

Rangifer tarandus granti

 

DESCRIPTION Caribou from the main part of Alaska and the northern Yukon (Stone type) are large and dark-colored. Those from the Alaska Peninsula (Grant type) are somewhat smaller and lighter in color, with the antler beams widely spread and curving sharply forward. Late season bulls have startlingly white necks and manes. Bulls weigh 400-500 pounds (181-227 kg).

 

BEHAVIOR Alaska-Yukon barren ground caribou are migratory, with historical migration routes that often cover hundreds of miles. Biologists have separated various populations into so-called herds based on these migration routes. A herd may contain more than 100,000 animals that will cover hundreds—even thousands—of square miles at any given time. Named herds include the Adak, Alaska Peninsula, Beaver, Chisana, Delta, Fortymile, Kenai, Mentasta, Mt. McKinley, Mulchatna, Nelchina, Porcupine, and Western Arctic. During the summer months, caribou will be scattered and fairly resident in a given region. As autumn approaches, they band together into increasingly larger groups and begin their migration to winter pastures. They are on the move constantly during migration, feeding as they go and generally heading into the prevailing wind. Wolf packs are a part of the migration, following the herds and living off them.

 

HABITAT Tundra and adjacent forest.

 

DISTRIBUTION Alaska: Most of the state. Yukon: North of the southern boundary of Game Management Zone 2 (1978 regulations), and further identified as north of the Stewart River and—from the junction of the Stewart and Yukon rivers—north of the Yukon River. Northwest Territories: North of latitude 66°N and west of the Mackenzie River.

 

REMARKS This is the most widely hunted subspecies. Its migrations are awesome spectacles, but it can be frustrating at times to hunt because of the difficulty in sorting out the trophy bulls from the great mass of animals. It also is no easy matter to match up antlers with the right body as the herd goes by. One should wait for the animals at the back of a group, for this is where the larger bulls tend to be. It is possible to approach a moving herd quite closely; at times a man on horseback can almost ride into a herd.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES At one time, caribou from the Alaska Peninsula and Unimak Island were considered a separate subspecies, granti (Grant caribou), and those from the rest of Alaska and the northern Yukon were called stonei (Stone caribou). They were lumped by Banfield (1961) as granti (J. A. Allen, 1902).

 

 

Central Canada Barren Ground Caribou

Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus

 

DESCRIPTION Smaller and paler than the Alaska-Yukon subspecies, with long, simple antlers.

 

BEHAVIOR Highly migratory. Named herds include the Baffin Island, Bathurst, Beverly, Bluenose, Coats Island, Kaminuriak, and Melville-Wager.

 

HABITAT Tundra.

 

DISTRIBUTION Northwest Territories and Nunavut: The mainland east of the Mackenzie River (north of Great Slave Lake) and east of the Slave River (south of Great Slave Lake), and also on King William, Southampton (introduced), Coats and Baffin islands. Alberta: Northeastern corner east of the Slave River. Saskatchewan and Manitoba: Far northern parts, where it intergrades with the woodland caribou over a large area. Greenland: Along the west coast.

 

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Gunn, et al (1987) feel that pure Peary caribou (pearyi) are probably found only north of the Parry Channel in the Parry Islands group of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, where non-resident caribou hunting is not permitted. They believe that caribou from Ellesmere Island and the eastern part of Devon Island, as well as those from Banks, Victoria, Prince of Wales and Somerset islands, and from the Boothia Peninsula, contain genes of groenlandicus (central Canada barren ground caribou) as well as pearyi genes, in varying degrees of hybridization. Most Record Book entries are from Banks Island, where it is believed that pearyi genes predominate, and Victoria Island, where the pearyi-groenlandicus ratio appears to vary from one part of the island to another. For now, we designate all caribou from these areas as pearyi x groenlandicus hybrids.

 

 

Mountain Caribou

Rangifer tarandus caribou

 

The mountain caribou is one of three regional caribou categories established for record-keeping by dividing the subspecies caribou into geographic groups based on antler size and shape. These categories were established by the Boone & Crockett Club and have come to be accepted by hunters everywhere. (The other two regional categories are Quebec-Labrador caribou and woodland caribou. All three are classified as woodland caribou [R. t. caribou] by scientists.)

 

DESCRIPTION The largest-bodied caribou. Bulls stand 50-55 inches (127-140 cm) at the shoulder, and weigh as much as 600 pounds (272 kg). The color is a fairly dark chocolate-brown, with a lighter-colored throat mane that turns almost white in late season. Mountain caribou grow the heaviest antlers of the species, but tend not to have very wide spreads.

 

BEHAVIOR Mountain caribou herds are not nearly as large as those of barren ground caribou, nor are their seasonal migrations as long, often being mainly changes in elevation. Mountain caribou go high in the mountains during the summer to avoid biting insects, then—as the season progresses—bunch up and move into lower valleys where there is less snow and more feed. Named herds include the Selkirk, Spatsizi, and Wells Gray.

 

HABITAT Mid-elevation mountains and valleys.

 

DISTRIBUTION Yukon Territory: South of Game Management Zone 2 (1978 regulations), and further identified as south of the Stewart River and—from the junction of the Stewart and Yukon rivers—south of the Yukon River. Northwest Territories: South of latitude 66°N and west of the Mackenzie River to Great Slave Lake, then south of Great Slave Lake to the Slave River. British Columbia and Alberta: All parts where caribou are found, except for the northeastern corner of Alberta east of the Slave River. United States: The endangered Selkirk Herd extends marginally into northeastern Washington and northern Idaho.

 

REMARKS Many sportsmen feel that mountain caribou have the most impressive antlers because of their mass, even though they lack the beam length of the barren ground types and the spread and shovels of the Quebec-Labrador. They may also be the most difficult to hunt because of the mountainous, timbered terrain they inhabit. Usually hunted from horseback, often in combination with other species such as moose, mountain goat or sheep.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES At one time the following populations were considered to be separate subspecies: osborni (Osborn caribou), from the Cassiar Mountains of northern British Columbia; montanus (mountain caribou), from southern British Columbia; fortidens (Rocky Mountain caribou), from southwestern Alberta; and sylvestris (Richardson caribou), from southwestern Northwest Territories and northern Alberta. These are no longer considered valid subspecies.

 

STATUS The caribou of the Selkirk Herd of southeastern British Columbia (bounded by the Canada-U.S. border, Columbia River, Kootenay River, Kootenay Lake and Kooentai River), northeastern Washington and northern Idaho are listed as endangered by the USF&WS (1983).

 

Rangifer tarandus caribou

 

The Quebec-Labrador caribou is one of three regional caribou categories established for record-keeping  by dividing the subspecies caribou into geographic groups based on antler size and shape. These categories were established by the Boone & Crockett Club and have come to be accepted by hunters everywhere. (The two other regional categories are mountain caribou and woodland caribou. All three are classified as woodland caribou [R. t. caribou] by scientists.)

 

DESCRIPTION A medium-sized caribou, with mature bulls averaging 350-450 pounds (158-204 kg). Antlers are frequently spectacular: although not particularly heavy, they usually have very wide spreads and long, forward-curving beams. Brow and bez tines are usually well palmated, and there is a high proportion of double shovels. Overall color is pale brown, with contrasting white neck and mane. A very handsome animal.

 

BEHAVIOR Highly migratory, with regional herds following historical migration routes. The huge Ungava (George River) Herd is the principal one. Other named herds include the Waco and Mealy Mountain.

 

HABITAT  Tundra.

 

DISTRIBUTION  Most of Quebec and Labrador.

 

REMARKS During the fall migration (which coincides with the hunting season), Quebec-Labrador caribou are constantly on the move. The usual hunting technique is to travel the waterways by canoe and, when bulls are seen, to intercept them on foot. They should be intercepted rather than pursued, because they travel so rapidly that, once past, they are almost impossible to overtake on foot. Most hunts are capably outfitted and guided by local Inuits, with success nearly universal. There are a few black bears in the area, but they are seldom seen or taken. The landscape is wildly beautiful, and fishing can be excellent.

 

 

Woodland Caribou

Rangifer tarandus caribou

 

The woodland caribou, as described here, is one of three regional caribou categories established for record-keeping by dividing the subspecies caribou into geographic groups based on antler size and shape. These categories were established by the Boone & Crockett Club and have come to be accepted by hunters everywhere. (The two other regional categories are the mountain caribou and the Quebec-Labrador caribou. All three are classified as woodland caribou [R. t. caribou] by scientists.)

 

DESCRIPTION A medium-sized caribou, with mature bulls weighing 350-450 pounds (158-204 kg). Has the smallest antlers of any caribou other than those from the arctic islands, but they can be very handsome. Antlers tend to be divergent, with many tines but without much length. Coloration is generally darker than the Quebec-Labradors, although the neck and mane are white.

 

BEHAVIOR Fairly resident within a given area, but may migrate from summer to winter pastures. Herds tend to be small.

 

HABITAT Tundra and some forested regions.

 

DISTRIBUTION Only in Canada. Occurs sparingly in central Saskatchewan and Manitoba. There is a major herd in northern and central Ontario (Ontario Herd), plus a few on islands in Lake Nipigon and on the Slate Islands in northern Lake Superior. Found on the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, and in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. There is a major herd (Interior Herd) on Newfoundland Island, plus the much smaller Avalon Peninsula Herd.

 

REMARKS Best hunting is on Newfoundland Island. Hunting is on foot and can be strenuous. Caribou and moose can be combined in the same hunt with a high degree of success.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES At one time, the caribou of Newfoundland Island were treated as a separate subspecies, terraenovae (Newfoundland caribou), but this is no longer considered valid.

 

 

Mule and Black-tailed Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

 

DESCRIPTION OF ANTLERS The antlers of a mature mule or black-tailed buck are dichotomous or bifurcated, which is to say the beams and tines are arranged in even forks instead of as a main beam with simple tines sprouting from it. In typical antlers, each antler divides evenly at the first fork and each branch divides again, making four points (main beam plus three tines)—more or less evenly spaced—on each antler. In addition, a single brow tine (“eye guard”) commonly, but not always, occurs on each antler. Mule or black-tailed deer antlers can have no more than five typical points to a side, including the brow tine and the tip of the main beam. If the brow tine is absent, there can be only four typical points on an antler; any additional tines are considered non-typical. Non-typical tines are those that do not grow in the normal or typical manner. In some parts of North America, abnormal antlers that have many non-typical tines are common, with some exceptional racks carrying as many as 40-50 points. Females, except for an occasional freak, do not grow antlers.

 

DISTRIBUTION Western parts of North America.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Walmo (1981) lists nine subspecies of mule and black-tailed deer (seven of the former and two of the latter), which are combined here in four record-keeping categories: Rocky Mountain mule deer (O. h. hemionus, including californicus), desert mule deer (O. h. crooki, including cerrosensis, fuliginatus, peninsulae and sheldoni), Columbia black-tailed deer (O. h. columbianus), and Sitka black-tailed deer (O. h. sitkensis).

 

Rocky Mountain Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus hemionus

 

Venado mula de las Rocosas (Sp), Maultierhirsch (G), Cerf mulet (F). Called mule deer because of its large ears.

 

DESCRIPTION The usual buck will stand 40-42 inches (102-107 cm) at the shoulder and weigh 175-200 pounds (80-90 kg), but weights of 300 pounds (135 kg) are not uncommon in some areas. The female is smaller.

 

A medium-sized deer, rather heavily built for a deer, with a thickset body and legs and rather large feet. The ears are long and wide, resembling those of a mule. The antlers of a mature buck are large and widespread. The summer coat is thin and varies in color from tan to rusty-red. The rump, belly and inside of legs are white. Face and throat are whitish, with a black patch on the forehead and a black bar around the chin. Tail is white with a black tip, and sometimes the base of the tail is brown. The underside tail hairs are not erectile and the tail is not used for signaling. The thick winter coat is brownish-gray. Preorbital, tarsal, metatarsal and interdigital glands are present. The metatarsal glands are about five inches (12.7 cm) in length and located closer to the hock than the hoof. (On a blacktail, these glands are 2-1/2 to 3 inches (6.4 to 7.6 cm) in length and are located about halfway between hock and hoof.)

 

BEHAVIOR Lives in small family groups of does, yearlings and fawns. Bucks are usually solitary, or sometimes in very small bachelor groups. A group is likely to be spread out rather than in close association. The rut begins in October and lasts two months. Dominance fights between males are less competitive than in other deer species, being largely bluff. Fawns (usually two, sometimes three) are born May-June. Life expectancy 8-12 years in the wild, as much as 20 years in captivity.

 

Feeds mainly in early morning and evening, usually resting at midday and night. Primarily a browser, but will graze on occasion. Mule deer are migratory in mountainous areas, summering as high as 8,000 feet (2,400 m), and retreating to lower elevations in winter to avoid deep snows. Migration distances may be 50 miles (80 km) or more. Senses of smell and hearing are acute, vision less so. Able to run 35 mph (56 km/h) for short distances, but unable to maintain speed for long. Bounds away in a series of high leaps when disturbed. Can cover 25 feet (7.6 m) horizontally in a single leap. A very strong swimmer. Main predators are coyotes, but also cougars.

 

HABITAT Adaptable to a wide range of western habitat from prairie to alpine to semi-desert, with a preference for open or semi-open country.

 

DISTRIBUTION Southwestern Canada, and the western United States north of the line established for desert mule deer.REMARKS A large mule deer buck is a superb trophy and a fine game animal, although perhaps less difficult to take than the sneaky, brush-loving whitetail. Hunted mostly by glassing and stalking, sometimes by waiting on stands. Popular lore holds that a jumped mule deer will always stop after 100 yards (90 m) to look back, but hunters should not count on this, as unwary bucks seldom grow old enough to develop trophy antlers.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Two subspecies listed by Wallmo comprise the SCI Rocky Mountain mule deer category: hemionus (Rocky Mountain mule deer) and californicus (California mule deer), with hemionus Rafinesque, 1817 having priority. The formerly recognized Inyo mule deer (inyoensis) is no longer considered valid and is included within californicus.

 

STATUS There were millions of mule deer in North America prior to European settlement, but their numbers declined to 500,000 by 1900 after years of market hunting and habitat destruction. Since then, regulation and management efforts have increased numbers to about 5-1/2 million, with an annual sport harvest of 500,000. Populations are secure, and mule deer are expanding their range.

REMARKS A large mule deer buck is a superb trophy and a fine game animal, although perhaps less difficult to take than the sneaky, brush-loving whitetail. Hunted mostly by glassing and stalking, sometimes by waiting on stands. Popular lore holds that a jumped mule deer will always stop after 100 yards (90 m) to look back, but hunters should not count on this, as unwary bucks seldom grow old enough to develop trophy antlers.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Two subspecies listed by Wallmo comprise the SCI Rocky Mountain mule deer category: hemionus (Rocky Mountain mule deer) and californicus (California mule deer), with hemionus Rafinesque, 1817 having priority. The formerly recognized Inyo mule deer (inyoensis) is no longer considered valid and is included within californicus.

 

STATUS There were millions of mule deer in North America prior to European settlement, but their numbers declined to 500,000 by 1900 after years of market hunting and habitat destruction. Since then, regulation and management efforts have increased numbers to about 5-1/2 million, with an annual sport harvest of 500,000. Populations are secure, and mule deer are expanding their range.

 

 

Desert Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus crooki

 

Buro, Venado mula del desierto (Sp), Maultierhirsch (G), Cerf mulet du desert (F).

 

DESCRIPTION The desert mule deer is similar to the Rocky Mountain mule deer, although slightly smaller, paler in color and with a smaller rump patch. The typical desert mule deer (crooki race) has a comparatively small forehead patch and a dark line running partway down its tail. The southern mule deer (fuliginatus race) is dark-colored with a dark line down its back and almost no white on the tail. The peninsula mule deer (peninsulae race) is pale with a dark line down its back and more white on its tail than the southern mule deer. In all desert mule deer, the antlers are not as heavy or as high as in Rocky Mountain mule deer. Desert mule deer racks tend to have wide spreads, and many lack brow tines.

 

BEHAVIOR Has adapted successfully to extremely harsh conditions—great heat and also intense cold, meager forage, scarce water, and lack of vegetative cover.

 

HABITAT Desert and semi-arid regions.

 

DISTRIBUTION California: The extreme south, in Riverside, Imperial, Orange and San Diego counties.

 

Arizona: South of Highway 68 from Davis Dam on Lake Mohave eastward to Kingman on Interstate 40, then south of Interstate 40 between Kingman and the intersection with Hwy 93, then southwest of Hwy 93 southward between Kingman and Wickenburg, then south of latitude 34°N eastward between Wickenburg and Carrizo on Hwy 60, then west of Hwy 60 southward between between Carrizo and Globe on Hwy 70, then south of Hwy 70 between Globe and Safford, then south of Hwys 191 and 78 from Safford to the New Mexico border.

 

New Mexico: South of Highway 78 from the Arizona border eastward to Hwy 180, then southwest of Hwy 180 through Silver City to the intersection with Hwy 152, then south of Hwy 152 to Caballo on Interstate 25, then east of Interstate 25 northward to Bernardo on Hwy 60, then south of Hwy 60 eastward to Fort Sumner on Hwy 84, then south of Hwy 60/84 to the Texas border.

 

Texas: Most desert mule deer are found in the trans-Pecos region west of the Pecos River, but they also occur in a number of places in the Panhandle region. The game department considers all mule deer in Texas to be desert mule deer, either native populations or from 1949-1968 transplants from the trans-Pecos desert mule deer herd. We accept this in the absence of conflicting opinion. Mexico: Baja California, northern Sonora, northern Chihuahua, and northwestern Coahuila.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Five subspecies listed by Wallmo comprise the SCI desert mule deer category: crooki (typical desert mule deer), from southeastern California, southern Arizona and New Mexico, western Texas, northern Sonora and Chihuahua, and northwestern Coahuila; fuliginatus (southern mule deer), from southwestern California through northern Baja California; peninsulae (peninsula mule deer), from the southern half of Baja California; sheldoni (Tiburon Island mule deer); and cerrosensis (Cedros Island mule deer). The name crooki Mearns, 1897 has priority. The formerly recognized buro deer (eremicus) (buro is colloquial Mexican for mule deer) is now included within crooki.

 

STATUS The Cedros Island mule deer (O. h. cerrosensis) is listed as endangered by the USF&WS (1975) and the IUCN, and may not be imported in the United States. It and the Tiburon Island mule deer (O. h. sheldoni) were once feared extinct, but both survive and are legally protected. The other races are secure.

 

HABITAT Dense coastal forest and westward-facing mountain forest, but also found in grassland, oak and chaparral.

 

DISTRIBUTION The Pacific Coast region of North America from Bella Bella and Bella Coola, British Columbia, in the north, including Vancouver Island and other offshore islands, to Ragged Point, Monterey County, California, in the south. Has been introduced on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.

 

For record-keeping purposes, the following boundaries are used to separate Columbia black-tailed deer to the west from mule deer to the east.

 

British Columbia: From Bella Bella near the mouth of Dean Channel eastward to Bella Coola on North Bentinck Arm, then along the crest of the Coast Range (including Mts. Monarch, Waddington and Dalgleish) to Alta Lake, then across Garibaldi Provincial Park to Harrison Lake, then down Harrison Lake to Harrison Hot Springs, then eastward along the crest between the Chilliwack and Skagit rivers to the Washington border.

 

Washington: From the British Columbia border, south along the western boundary of North Cascades National Park to the township line between R10E and R11E near Marblemount, then south along the township line to the northern boundary of Mt. Rainier National Park, then west, south and east along the park boundary to its intersection with the township line between R9E and R10E, then south along the township line to the Columbia River near Cook.

 

Oregon: From Multnomah Falls on the Columbia River, south along the western boundaries of Mt. Hood, Willamette and Umpqua national forests to Tiller (Douglas County), then along Highway 227 to Trail, Hwy 62 to Medford, and Interstate 5 to the California border.

 

California: From the Oregon border, south along Highway 97 to Weed, then along Interstate 5 to Mt. Shasta, then east along Hwy 89 to its intersection with the north boundary of Shasta County, then east, south and west along the Shasta County boundary to the northeast corner of Tehama County, then south and west along the east boundary of Tehama County to its intersection with Hwy 99, then south along Hwy 99 to Delano, then west along the southern boundaries of Kings, San Benito, and Monterey counties to the Pacific Ocean near Ragged Point.

 

Hybrid areas: Black-tailed deer entries from areas where they intergrade with mule deer must be accompanied by photographs of the face, upper side of tail, under side of tail, and metatarsal gland. A tape measure, dollar bill or other object of known size scale must show in photograph of metatarsal gland to illustrate size.

 

REMARKS The Columbia blacktail in its wet forest habitat in British Columbia, Washington and northern Oregon is a demanding game animal, and success is low on trophy bucks. It is wary, the terrain is difficult, the weather is likely to be unpleasant, and in many places seasons are short and hunting pressure high. Stalking in the thick cover is beyond the ability of many hunters, although in some years early snows are a help. Good methods are to wait on stands and to glass logging slashes. Shots are often long, so accurate, flat-shooting rifles with top quality, fog-proof scopes are needed. Blacktails are easiest to hunt in the more open country of California and southern Oregon, especially on private land.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Columbia black-tailed deer will interbreed with mule deer where they come in contact, and fertile offspring that have intermediate characteristics are produced. Hybrids can be identified by the tail, as there will be a black stripe running full length on top. Interestingly, some biologists believe the black-tailed deer is in the process of evolving into a separate species.

 

STATUS Seton estimated there were 3,000,000 Columbia blacktails when Europeans arrived in North America, but this is probably high. There are 1,500,000 now, and they are expanding their range.

 

Sitka Black-tailed Deer

Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis

 

Venado cola negra de Sitka (Sp), Sitka Schwartzwedelhirsch (G), Cerf à queue noire de Sitka (F).

 

DESCRIPTION Slightly smaller than the Columbia black-tailed deer and with shorter legs. Fully mature bucks weigh about 150 pounds (68 kg). The coat is darker than in the Columbia race, and has less red in it. There are two white spots on the throat and neck. The dark forehead patch is smaller, and some populations have a prominent dark line down the nose. The antlers are quite a bit smaller and are usually a dull red color, perhaps from the local vegetation. The brow tine is often lacking, and it is not unusual to have the T-3 tine missing—that is, to have a single point instead of the rear fork.

 

HABITAT Densely vegetated coastal regions.

 

DISTRIBUTION Native to the coastal region of southeastern Alaska and northwestern British Columbia, from the Haines-Skagway area south to Bella Bella and Bella Coola; also on the offshore islands, including the Queen Charlotte Islands where it was introduced. In Alaska, has been introduced in the Yakutat area, on islands in Prince William Sound, and on Afognak and Kodiak islands in the Gulf of Alaska, all of which are similar to its native habitat. The introduced populations of the Queen Charlotte Islands and Alaska are considered indigenous for record-keeping purposes.

 

REMARKS Generally easier to hunt than the Columbia blacktail, because in many areas they are numerous and hunters are few. In some units, a hunter may purchase several permits each year.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Sitka black-tailed deer do not interbreed with mule deer in the wild because their ranges do not overlap.

 

Normally active during early morning and evening, and again at midday if not harassed. Becomes nocturnal under high hunting pressure. Mainly a browser. Home range is rather small. Uses the same trails and bedding and feeding areas for years if unmolested. Adaptable and tolerant of man, the whitetail is able to thrive in close proximity to human settlement. Hearing and eyesight are good, sense of smell is excellent. Wary and alert. Can run 35 mph (56 km/h) for a short distance, or 25 mph (40 km/h) for several miles. Horizontal leaps of 30 feet (9 m) and vertical leaps of 8-1/2 feet (2.6 m) have been recorded. An excellent swimmer.

 

HABITAT Deciduous woodland, favoring glades and forest edges. Shuns tall timber where sufficient browse is lacking.

 

DISTRIBUTION Southern Canada; nearly everywhere in the lower 48 United States except the far Southwest; all of Mexico except for Baja California; and all of Central America.

 

Whitetails are also native to the northern part of South America. They have been introduced in the West Indies, Europe and New Zealand.

 

REMARKS The white-tailed deer is the most numerous and widely distributed big game animal in North America (and probably the world) and is the most popular as well. It is wary and elusive, readily available, inexpensive to hunt and good to eat. Many hunters consider it the continent’s finest game animal, and it probably is true that a really good whitetail rack is more difficult to take than an equivalent trophy from any other North American species.

 

STATUS The whitetail was vitally important to early settlers, providing venison and skins for themselves and for export. But by 1900, after years of market hunting and habitat destruction, fewer than 500,000 remained. Since then, regulation and conservation efforts have increased the whitetail population to at least 14 million, with an annual sport harvest of two million. The whitetail is presently increasing its range.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES Whitehead (1993) lists 38 subspecies of white-tailed deer, 30 from North America and eight from South America. Early editions of the Record Book grouped the North American subspecies in three categories: tropical white-tailed deer (13 subspecies), Coues white-tailed deer (one subspecies), and everything else (16 subspecies). In Edition VI, the “everything else” category was divided into four regional groups—northwestern, northeastern, southeastern and Texas—because of the disparity in antler growth from different parts of North America. Later, in Edition VII, the tropical whitetail category was split into two regional groups, Mexican and Central American (these are now being reviewed for possible reorganization). For convenience, we have often used political boundaries to separate categories. They do not always agree with the boundaries established by biologists for the various subspecies, but they have the advantage of being easy to administer, as they are readily understood by both hunters and record-keepers.

 

At this time, the seven SCI categories for white-tailed deer in North America are: northwestern white-tailed deer, northeastern white-tailed deer, southeastern white-tailed deer, Texas white-tailed deer, mid-western white-tailed deer, Anticosti white-tailed deer, Coues white-tailed deer, Mexican white-tailed deer and Central American white-tailed deer.

 

 

Northwestern White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus ssp.

 

DESCRIPTION A very large whitetail with a relatively pale coat and heavy, widespread antlers.

 

DISTRIBUTION Canada: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and southwestern Northwest Territories. United States: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, the extreme northeastern corner of California and the northwestern corner of Nevada.

 

REMARKS Many hunters think the northwestern whitetail grows the largest antlers; however, northeastern whitetail fans are likely to disagree.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES The SCI northwestern white-tailed deer category includes all or part of the following subspecies: all of the northwest whitetail (ochrourus), most of the Dakota whitetail (dacotensis) and the South Dakota population of the Kansas whitetail (macrourus).

 

STATUS Deer within the boundaries of the SCI northwestern whitetail category are plentiful and lawfully huntable except for the Columbia whitetail (leucurus), which was listed as endangered by the USF&WS in 1967. There are two populations: The larger occurs in southwestern Oregon northeast of Roseburg near the North Umpqua River. From fewer than 2,500 in 1981, these deer increased to 5,500 in 1994 and are now causing problems with agricultural damage. A smaller population is found on several islands in the lower Columbia River near Westport, Oregon, and on adjacent mainland areas in Washington and Oregon—largely within the Columbian White-tailed Deer National Wildlife Refuge—where it has been given total protection for many years. This population has grown from fewer than 360 in 1968 to between 800-1,000 in 1994, and is now considered secure. In November 1995, Oregon removed the Columbia whitetail from the state endangered species list and asked the federal government to do the same. This subspecies was also considered endangered by the IUCN at one time, but has since been delisted by that body.

 

Northeastern White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus ssp.

 

DESCRIPTION The largest whitetail in body size. The antlers are usually heavy.

 

DISTRIBUTION Canada: Ontario, southern Quebec and the maritime provinces. United States: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and the New England states.

 

REMARKS The northeastern whitetail is the most popular big game animal in North America—most numerous, most heavily hunted, and most deer taken. In many states, it is the only big game animal available on the license. Many hunters believe the northeastern whitetail can produce the best antlers of all.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES The SCI northeastern white-tailed deer category includes all or part of the following subspecies: all of the northern woodland whitetail (borealis); the Minnesota, and the Minnesota population of the Dakota whitetail (dacotensis).

 

Southeastern White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus ssp.

 

DESCRIPTION A moderately large whitetail in body size, with fairly heavy, though often short, antlers.

 

DISTRIBUTION Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida.

 

REMARKS Few antlers from this region will score as well as those from the Northeast or Northwest.

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES The SCI southeastern white-tailed deer category includes the following subspecies: Virginia whitetail (virginianus), Florida whitetail (seminolus), Florida coastal whitetail (osceola), Blackbeard Island whitetail (nigribarbis), Hilton Head whitetail (hiltonensis), Hunting Island whitetail (venatorius) and Bull’s Island whitetail (taurinsulae). It also includes the Louisiana population of the Avery Island whitetail (mcilhennyi) and the Louisiana and Arkansas populations of the Kansas whitetail (macrourus).

 

STATUS The key, or toy, white-tailed deer (clavium) of the western Florida Keys was once near extinction but is now secure on its refuge and protected by law. It is considered out of danger by the IUCN, but is still (since 1967) listed as endangered by the USF&WS.

 

 

DISTRIBUTION United States: South eastern corner of eastern New Mexico, and Texas except for the range of the Carmen Mountains race in the Big Bend area. Mexico: Northeastern Chihuahua, northeastern Coahuila, northern Nueva León and northwestern Tamaulipas. Texas whitetails are allowed to be hunted in Coahuila (Unit 1), Nueva León (Units 1 and 3), and Tamaulipas (Unit 1).

 

TAXONOMIC NOTES The SCI Texas white-tailed deer category includes the U.S. and Mexican populations of the Texas whitetail (texanus).

 

Mid-Western White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus ssp.

 

Description A very large whitetail with a relatively pale coat and heavy, widespread antlers.

 

Distribution includes Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas (all deer taken North of I-40 through the Panhandle of Texas), North East Corner of New Mexico (all deer taken north of I–40 and east of I-25), and Colorado (all deer taken east of I-25).

 

Taxonomic Notes The SCI Midwestern white-tailed deer category includes all or part of the following subspecies: northeastern white-tailed, southeastern white-tailed and northwestern white-tailed species.

 

Status Deer within the boundaries of the SCI Midwestern white-tailed category are plentiful and lawfully huntable.  Some states are experiencing substantial agricultural and property damage from growing herds.  Hunting laws in some Midwestern states now require that white-tailed does are shot prior to taking a whitetail buck.  Additional incentives are being offered to hunters in an attempt to better manage herd sizes.

 

Anticosti White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus ssp.

 

Description  a very large whitetail with bucks weighing up to 200 pounds. The deer have a relatively pale coat with hollow hair and heavy wide spread antlers.

 

Distribution consists of the (equivalent 3,000-square-mile) Anticosti Island.  The Island is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

 

Status The island of Anticosti is owned by Quebec and has no game species that are native to the island.  In the early 1890s, a French candy baron, Henri Menier, purchased the island and established a great private hunting preserve.  Between the years of 1895 and 1920, Henri introduced wildlife including elk, moose, caribou, snowshoe hare, mink, grouse, red fox, frogs, beaver, buffalo and whitetail.  The whitetail has prospered on the harsh but fertile island.  The only predator of the Anticosti whitetail is the harsh winter.  The herds have grown to more than 66,000 deer with a density of twenty deer per square mile. 

 

 

United States: Central and southern Arizona and the southwestern corner of New Mexico, where it is found in Catron, Socorro, Grant, Sierra, Hidalgo, Luna and Dona Ana counties.

 

Mexico: All of Sonora; west of Highway 45 in Chihuahua from the U.S. border south to Jiménez, then west of Hwy 49; Durango west of Hwy 49; Zacatecas west of Hwy 49 to intersection with Hwy 45, then west of Hwy 45; Aguascalientes west of Hwy 45; Jalisco west of Hwy 45 to Lagos de Moreno, then north of Hwy 80 to Guadalajara, then north of Hwy 15; Nayarit east of Hwy 15; and Sinaloa east of Hwy 15. This boundary approximates that of Hall (1981) and other authorities.

 

 

The lowland Mexican whitetail (thomasi) is a relatively large race, more brightly colored than other Mexican and Central American whitetails. Summer coat is bright tawny, with a grizzled golden tint developing in the longer winter coat. Tail is bright tawny on top. Forehead is black, or black and tawny. Antlers are narrow, growing back in the plane of the face, with the tips curving forward and inward. Usually three points to a side, including a brow tine. Occurs on the coastal plains of the Gulf of Mexico from the city of Veracruz eastward, and southward through eastern Veracruz and Oaxaca states to the Pacific Ocean. (This race is also found in Tabasco, parts of Campeche and Chiapas, and southern Guatemala; however, these populations are included in the Central American whitetail category.)

 

HABITAT Open grassland, savanna and light forest, at any altitude. Preferably arid or semi-arid country.

 

DISTRIBUTION United States: The Carmen Mountains whitetail area of the Big Bend region in Texas, where it occurs in the Sierra Vieja and Chinati mountains in Presidio County and in the Del Norte, Rosillos, Chisos, and Dead Horse mountains in Brewster County.

 

Mexico: All parts, except for those areas allocated to the Coues whitetail in the northwest, the Texas whitetail in the northeast, and the Central American whitetail in the southeast. For record-keeping purposes, all whitetails in the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca are treated as Mexican whitetails.

 

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Brocket Deer

Genus Mazama

 

“Brocket” is from the French brocart or broquart for a stag in its second year with its first antlers, which are simple spikes.

 

Brocket deer are found only in the New World, where they occupy the ecological niche of the duikers in Africa and the muntjacs in Asia, and resemble them in appearance and behavior. They are small animals with arched backs, short tails, and no metatarsal glands. Males grow antlers that are short, daggerlike spikes, but occasionally will have a brow tine, or even several tines. Antlers are sometimes reported as being cast and regrown annually (as in other deer), and sometimes as being on a longer cycle. Brockets may have either 32 or 34 teeth, as upper canine teeth may or may not be present (dental formula is i0/3, c0/1 or 1/1, pm3/3, m3/3). Females have two pairs of teats. Brocket deer are found from southern Mexico to central Argentina and are common in some areas, but they have not been studied adequately and little is known about them because of their small size, solitary life style, secretive ways, and dense habitat.

 

Brocket classification is unclear at present. Four species have been recognized until fairly recently, but some authorities now think there may be as many as eight, or even more. Three species are found in North America:

 

Red Brocket Deer                                                  Mazama americana

Yucatán Gray-brown Brocket Deer                   Mazama pandora

Common Gray-brown Brocket Deer                 Mazama gouazoubira

 

Some biologists believe the red brockets of North America, or at least those of Mexico and Belize, should be recognized as a separate species (M. temama) because their karyotype is reportedly distinct from that of other red brockets, but this is not yet generally accepted.

 

Interestingly, red brockets in North America are much smaller than those in South America, whereas gray-brown brockets (except for permira on Isla San José in North America, and nemorivaga in South America) are about the same size everywhere. In North America, the red brocket is notably smaller than the gray-brown brocket, but in South America it is considerably larger.