Mule deer reference · Size + weight
A blocky, big-eared western deer — 150 to 300 pounds of buck on a three-and-a-half-foot frame, heavier than a whitetail, a fraction of an elk. Buck and doe weights, shoulder height, the eight-inch ears, and how size shifts from the northern Rockies to the desert Southwest.
The quick answer
A mature mule deer buck runs 150 to 300 pounds and stands three to three and a half feet at the shoulder — a mid-sized deer, heavier and blockier than a whitetail, and a fraction of an elk’s mass. The biggest bucks come from the northern Rocky Mountain country; the desert mule deer of the Southwest runs smaller. And then there are the ears — eight to ten inches of them, the feature that named the animal.
By the numbers
| Animal | Weight | Height / size | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buck (male) | 150–300 lb | 3–3.5 ft at the shoulder | Big northern Rocky Mountain bucks top the range; desert mule deer run smaller |
| Doe (female) | 95–200 lb | ~3 ft at the shoulder | No antlers; lighter-built |
| Fawn (newborn) | 6–9 lb | Knee-high | Spotted, born in June |
| The ears | — | 8–10 in long | The mule-like ears that give the deer its name |
Frequently asked
A mature mule deer buck typically weighs 150 to 300 pounds, with the largest northern Rocky Mountain bucks at the top of that range and desert mule deer running smaller. Does weigh 95 to 200 pounds. Mule deer are noticeably heavier-bodied than whitetails of the same region, with a blockier build suited to rough, open western country.
A mule deer buck stands about 3 to 3.5 feet at the shoulder; does are slightly shorter at around 3 feet. They're a mid-sized deer — much smaller than an elk (which stands close to 5 feet and weighs three to five times more) but larger and blockier than most whitetails. The famous mule-like ears add another 8 to 10 inches above the head.
Generally yes, especially in the West. A mature mule deer buck (150–300 lb) tends to be heavier-bodied and blockier than a whitetail buck of the same region, though big northern whitetails can rival smaller mule deer. The clearest tells aren't size but the ears (much larger on a muley), the black-tipped tail, the forked antlers, and the bounding stot.
The Rocky Mountain mule deer of the northern interior West is the largest-bodied mule deer, with mature bucks reaching 300 pounds. The desert mule deer of the Southwest is smaller. The coastal black-tailed deer — a mule deer subspecies group — is smaller still. Body size generally increases with latitude and colder climate.
From the page to the field
Elk Glade guides mule deer on GMU 59 limited entry — combined with elk on the shared seasons, or on their own. Low pressure, mature bucks, an hour from Colorado Springs.
