Short, yet interseting CWD conversation

[AT Hiker]

yesterday with a Wyoming Game & Fish employee. I was inquiring about a specific deer unit that had overlapping Mule deer and whitetail seasons.

The gist of the conversation was that WY G&F wants whitetails gone in this specific area, which is a non-traditional whitetail area. He said they look at whitetails as carriers of CWD and want them gone to protect the native Mule deer. The problem they run in to is that many of the whitetails live on private land, these landowners have now learned to capitalize on big whitetail so they are managing them for such.

Thought I'd share, especially since CWD first spread via Mule Deer

 

[Buzzard Breath]

You didn't mention that in your text when I responded with "I'd listen to the expert and put in for unit __ or __." I would have probably recommended the opposite, had known.

 

[AT Hiker]

You didn't mention that in your text when I responded with "I'd listen to the expert and put in for unit __ or __." I would have probably recommended the opposite, had known.

I also forgot to mention in this thread that the first G&F employee told me the issuance of mule deer buck tags had to do with crop damage

 

[backyardtndeer]

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense about cwd.

Years ago I read that in some cases where both exist whitetail bucks will breed mule deer does, and the offspring retain whitetail characteristics which is negatively impacting the mule deer population.

 

[BSK]

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense about cwd.

Years ago I read that in some cases where both exist whitetail bucks will breed mule deer does, and the offspring retain whitetail characteristics which is negatively impacting the mule deer population.

Except those mixed-breeds are incapable of producing offspring.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Except those mixed-breeds are incapable of producing offspring.

You are saying that hybrid deer can't reproduce?

Never heard that before, interesting article on that topic here https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/... HAPPENS,intermediate between the two species.

 

[AT Hiker]

You are saying that hybrid deer can't reproduce?

Never heard that before, interesting article on that topic here https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/deer-scouting/deer-behavior/hybridization-a-unique-tail-of-whitetails-and-mule-deer#:~:text=HYBRIDIZATION HAPPENS,intermediate between the two species.

Some science on the topic, too.

Population genomics of free‐ranging Great Plains white‐tailed and mule deer reflects a long history of interspecific hybridization

Hybridization is a natural process at species‐range boundaries that may variably promote the speciation process or break down species barriers but minimally will influence management outcomes of distinct populations. White‐tailed deer ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[BSK]

Some science on the topic, too.

Population genomics of free‐ranging Great Plains white‐tailed and mule deer reflects a long history of interspecific hybridization

Hybridization is a natural process at species‐range boundaries that may variably promote the speciation process or break down species barriers but minimally will influence management outcomes of distinct populations. White‐tailed deer ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Very interesting AT Hiker. That's the first evidence I've seen for potential breeding of whitetail-mule deer hybrids. Never count nature out!

Generally speaking (and in all penned studies), whitetail/mule deer hybrids are like mules (a horse/donkey hybrid). They are incapable of reproduction.

 

[Biggun4214]

Except those mixed-breeds are incapable of producing offspring.

In the 70's blacktail deer were released on Volunteer Ammunition Plant and their crossing with whitetail helped kill the program. But black tail characteristics showed up for years afterwards.

 

[tellico4x4]

Years ago I read that in some cases where both exist whitetail bucks will breed mule deer does

Hunted a ranch on Powder River in 2008 that had a lot of whitetails along river. Owner told me that a muly buck would not hardly step foot in there as the whitetail bucks were so aggressive towards them. Plenty of muly does were in there though.

The ranch I hunted this past fall in NE Sandhills had both species along the creek bottoms & hitting the alfalfa pivots. Saw one "cross" that looked more like a whitetail, but antlers had mule deer characteristics. Would have loved to shot a big cross but that was just a 3 yr old.