Morphology
Mule deer have large bodies and ears. In the summer, their coat is a reddish brown color, whereas in winter, their coat is a blue-grey color. There are usually light colored patches on their faces, throats, bellies, inner legs, and rump area. They have a short, narrow, white tail that has a black tip. Some aspects of mule deer morphology varies by sex and age.
Fawns: Fawns are deer up to one year in age. At birth, they usually weigh 6 to 8 pounds. Mule deer fawns are reddish brown with white spots. During their first summer, fawns reach weights up to 80 pounds. To avoid predation, fawns do not have a scent.
Does: Mature does weigh between 100 and 150 pounds.
Bucks: Mature bucks weigh considerably more than does. They range from 150 to 200 pounds on average, but they can reach weighs of 300 pounds. Bucks also possess anters. Antlers are bony structures that extend from the head. The difference between antlers and horns is that antlers are shed annually.
