Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Mule deer vs. Whitetail- which would you shoot?

I've been talking to several Nebraska outfitters about booking a mule deer hunt. In some areas, either a mulie or a whitetail can be taken on the deer license, and many areas have both.

I was asked the question- if you came across a real smoker whitetail while on a mule deer hunt, would you take it?

My own personal answer was, yes, of course.

Given the opportunity, though, others might have a different answer.

What would be yours?

If the whitetail was a heavy antlered screamer I would definately take it.

Nelson

Depends on my mood

In our state (NW WY) Mule Deer are in trouble, White tails are encroaching and cross breeding. Many ranchers view them as vermin and they are shot on sight.

This happens all the time on the eastern plains. Depends on what you've killed and what shows up. Have had numerous hunters say they wanted a mule deer but shot big whitetails as soon as they popped up. Big is big, if I could kill either/or I'd go in with a mule deer first preference but smack a 170"+ whitetail if the opportunity presented itself

As for your preference for Nebraska, why is that? I'd much rather go to CO where you can shoot a whitetail or mule deer on a tag. The mule deer are much better in CO and a 150"+ whitetail is a reasonable expectation in a lot of places

Bighorn - That would be TUFF for me to answer. Having hunted wt all my life and long to hunt mulies.

IF the wt was a BRUISER, probably.

IF there were BRUISER mulies in the area, probably NOT.

Nevermind, I see your from CO and probably have a spot to hunt deer here already.

If I were on a hunt known to produce 180"+ mule deer, I'd have a hard time shooting a big whitetail. I can't get enough of those big muley bucks.

Bighorn,

That's an interesting dilemma.
My answer is yes, without question, every time.
Of course, I'm partial to the whitey's to begin with.

Big is big regardless what kind of tail he's got.

Mule Deer 1st when in Mule Deer Country - They are getting harder to hunt as they are becoming fewer and fewer. Especially large Mule Deer bucks.

I've shot two decent whitetails while hunting mule deer and would shoot another one that way anytime.

Mule deer are getting scarce as the whitetail encroaches on the mulie territory.

Me, I'd shoot whatever I saw, if they were of comparable weight, to fill my freezer. With that said, mulies tend to outweigh the little whitetails we have here.

Biker

Yes. And vice versa!

Make that heck yes.

I've hunted both... shot mulies in Colorado and Nebraska... and hunted whitetails in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Whitetails are more wary, mulies are bigger (usually)... depends on whether you're a head-hunter (antlers) or a meat-hunter.

But all things being equal... I'd shoot the biggest deer that dared to give me a shot.

But as to your specific question... I'd have to answer "Yes"... take the big whitetail even if you're on a mule deer hunt unless it is illegal or not done by tradition and look down upon by the locals. In that case, I'd stick to whatever kind of deer I originally signed up to hunt.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Very few whitetails in my state so I would definitely take a nice one if it came along.

If whitetails were the norm where you hunt then I would be very picky. Unless a monster whitey came along I would hold out for a muley.

My preference is to shoot Mule Deer when hunting "out West" but won't pass up a big Whitetail. Happened last season in Montana. I should be hearing from Wielenga Taxidermy any day.


ddj

Mule deer represent one of the hardest to get trophies in North America. Shooting little mule deer bucks is easy, they will always turn and look at you. Let them get about 5 seasons on them and they become one of the hardest to get. Whitetails are every where and even though a big buck is a big buck, I would take a mule deer any day.

I'd rather have a really big Whitetail any day over a really big Mule deer.................Hillbilly.

If you get a crack at a really big muley, you best put him on the ground if given the chance. Good mule deer bucks are tough to get.