Mule deer weigh 2-5kg at birth, affected by litter size and sex as males are heavier than females.

Although mule deer are “Least Concern” and not in need of conservation action, the Cedros Island subspecies is “Vulnerable” and in danger of becoming extinct because its densities are low and poaching and predation by feral dogs are high.

Mule deer can give birth to 1 or 2 young, but 1st or 2nd time mothers most often have a single fawn.

Mule deer have several distinct strategies for avoiding predators and may choose to hide or move into cover and cautiously outmaneuver the predator.

Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine are of major economic importance for commercial timber, however, these trees are browsed heavily by mule deer during both the dormant and growing seasons.

Mule deer migrate from higher elevations in the summer to lower ranges in the winter due to decreasing temperatures, severe snowstorms, and snow depths that reduce mobility and food supply.

Most female mule deer conceive during their second year and give birth in June or July, though the time of birth will vary according to the environment.

The mule deer is classified as “Least Concern” because it is adaptable to a wide range of habitats, has large, stable populations, and occurs in numerous protected areas.

The annual cycle of antler growth in male mule deer is initiated and controlled by changes in day length acting on cell types that secrete growth-stimulating hormones.