Mule Deer Antlers For Sale

Here we connect you to the largest marketplace of authentic mule deer antlers for sale. Look below for our selections of natural mule deer antler sheds, mule deer mounts and even hard-to-find trophy-sized antlers. Get started by browsing through the listings below on this page and click on any that you’re interested in. You’ll then be taken to the official auction page with more information and details about the mule deer antlers you’re interested in.

You may notice that our antlers are all items that are now listed on the world’s largest auction site, eBay. We do this for a few reasons; for one. it allows us to offer our visitors (you) a broader choice of mule deer antlers for sale from across the country, but it also helps protect you during your transaction as a buyer. When you purchase mule deer antlers from some of these fly-by-night shops or individual sellers, you simply don’t know what you’re getting. They could essentially take your money without shipping you anything, and unfortunately there’s very little you can do about it. Thankfully, however, both eBay and their most commonly used payment processor PayPal work to protect the buyer from cases of fraud.

*As a participant of the eBay Partner Network, Deer Antler Store may earn a commission when visitors click on product links and make a purchase.

Male Mule Deer

Mule Deer Information

Unlike the whitetail deer (which is most commonly seen on the east side of the Rocky Mountains), the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a species that primarily inhabits the western part of North America, as well as western parts of the Canadian Rockies and Mexico. Typically, they stay on the western side of the Mississippi River and are rarely found on the eastern side.

As you may have guessed, they get their name from their large, mule-like ears, which can reach impressive lengths of up to 9 inches long! With such large ears, mule deer are able to hear more efficiently than other mammals, and they can even turn their ears almost completely backward to pick up sounds in any direction. This a critical defensive mechanism that’s helped the mule deer escape from natural predators on numerous occasions. When they are alerted by a potential predator, they will hop away on all four hooves (stotting).

Characteristics of The Mule Deer

In terms of physical appearance, the mule deer looks strikingly similar to the whitetail with a few noticeable differences, one of which is the longer and more prominent ears. Their ears can grow to nearly 3/4 the size of their head, making them highly useful for detecting the sounds of predators far off in the distance. Most mule deer typically have a tan to light brown colored coat on their body that often changes color as the seasons change. The rear end and tail of these deer will have a white patch with a black tip on the tail. Mule deer are most easily identified by looking for their large ears and black-tipped tail.

Unlike the whitetail, mule deer don’t run away when threatened. Instead, using all four legs, they will bounce away (known as stotting). While this may seem unconventional, mule deer are extremely efficient runners when trotting, reaching speeds of over 40 mph. The force created by placing all four hooves on the ground and kicking off makes them quite efficient runners.

Mule deer are herbivores and consume only plants and vegetation. Their diet depends on the season what’s available to them in their surroundings, but will typically consist of woody vegetation, plants, blueberries, blackberries, grass, shrubs and other types of brush. Like most deer species, they tend to stay to remain in a close proximity to their food and water source. If the resources in an area begin to disappear, however, they will travel in search of a more suitable location to meet their needs.

Mule Deer Herd

How Big Are Mule Deer?

Like most animals in nature, mule deer will vary greatly in size, but their size is roughly the same as an average whitetail deer with a shoulder height of 3 to 3.5 feet tall. The weight of a mule deer can range between 115 and 330 pounds with an average of 210 lbs. Of course, there have been several mule deer harvested by hunters weighing over 400 pounds, but these are few and far between.

The scarcity of food during winter may affect the mule deer’s weight and size. When winter storms blanket the landscape with thick snow, it’s oftentimes difficult for them to find food. Mule deer have somewhat adapted to this by feeding more during the fall season so they will have extra fat and calories stored in their body. This lessens their body’s food requirement during winter, allowing them to eat less while remaining healthy.

Fun Facts About Mule Deer

  • The largest herd of mule deer lives in the Green River Valley, Wyoming, where approximately 30,000 of them roam free.
  • Mule deer usually have a distinct black-tipped tail.
  • Mule deer are very fast animals, both on land and in the water. Although they rarely use it, they can reach speeds of 10 to 12 mph when swimming.
  • With their large feet and hooves, mule deer can dig underground to find sources of water.
  • Because they eat only plant-based food, mule deer lack canine teeth.
  • Mountain lions and wolves are the primary natural predators of mule deer.
  • Unlike whitetail deer, a mule deer’s antlers typically lack brow tines.
  • Their life expectancy is roughly 10 years in the wild, with predators (both humans and animals) and starvation being their number one threat.

Mule Deer Buck

Information About Mule Deer Antlers

Like other species of deer, only male mule deer (bucks) grow antlers. The antlers of a mule deer typically grow out in two equal forks and are smaller than those of a whitetail. They will shed their antlers once the rut is over and begin to grow new ones between the months of March and September. The shedding and antler regrowth process will happen yearly. In terms of size, a mule deer’s antlers are usually slightly smaller and less massive than their counterpart the whitetail. Of course, there are still some mule deer bucks with large and impressive antler racks, especially in the regions farther north.

Mule Deer Subspecies

  • California mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus californicus)
  • Cedros Island mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus cerrosensis)
  • Desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus eremicus)
  • Southern mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus fuliginatus)
  • Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus)
  • Inyo mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus inyoensis)
  • Peninsula mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus peninsulae)
  • Tiburon Island mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus sheldoni)
  • Black-tailed mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)
  • Sitka black-tailed mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis)

Video of Beautiful Mule Deer

Watch this incredible footage of some beautiful mule deer roaming wild in the open land of Wyoming.

References:

PNNL Mule Deer

Mammals of Texas – Mule Deer

The Mule Deer Foundation