Mule Deer - Pictures

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Mule Deer - Habits

Mule Deer are active at dawn and dusk, when they venture from protective cover. In the daytime deer are bedded down in cool secluded places. Breeding occurs in the fall, when bucks fight each other to exhaustion, setting up territories based on domination. A buck is capable of breeding several does. The rut begins in October and ends in February, with the peak of the rut season occurring in November. After the gestation period of 202-210 days, the mature does give birth to twin fawns, and the young does have one fawn.

Strong virile bucks can have little time even to eat because of younger persistent bucks, which should be driven away. In severe winters deer gather together and break trails more efficiently than a single deer can. Sometimes Mule Deer migrate in winter from higher elevations to lower winter ranges. Mule Deer can cope with snow up to 24 inches.

In the spring does select places for fawning and bucks become solitary. Baby deer are born in early summer. They are often left alone when the mother forages and returns only to nurse the fawn. Fawn survival is based on the protective coloration, on the ability to remain motionless, and the small amount of scent that makes them difficult to find. If you happen to find an "abandoned" fawn, it's better to leave him and allow the doe to return. Mule Deer never abandon their babies.

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