What Kind of Deer Live in Northern California?

There are currently six different types of deer subspecies recognized in California. Four of these species can be found in central and northern California, while the southern mule deer and burro mule deer inhabit southern California. All six species of deer look very similar with only slight differences in markings, size and antlers, making it impossible for most people to tell them apart.

  1. Columbian Black-Tailed Deer

    • Columbian black-tailed deer are the most populous subspecies of deer located in California; inhabiting approximately 75 percent of the state. Their habitats stretch all the way from the northern California border south to near Santa Barbra. They are a smaller species of deer, with bucks reaching a large weight of 140 lbs. and rarely reaching the 200 lbs. mark. Columbian black-tailed deer get their name from their black tail and are the most hunted deer in the state of California, according to Western Hunter.

    Rocky Mountain Mule Deer

    • Rocky Mountain mule deer are located in the northeastern part of California and can be found in the counties of Lassen, Shasta, Siskiyou and Modoc. This species of mule deer is popular with California hunters because it is the biggest species of deer in the state. Mature bucks can be between 300 to 400 lbs. and stand 3 to 4 feet from the ground to their shoulder. They feed on many different types of high quality plant materials, making them able to adapt to different habitats.

    California Mule Deer

    • California mule deer are located slightly farther south than the Columbian black-tailed deer and Rocky Mountain mule deer. They can still be found in lower Northern California and their typical habitat runs along the west slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This subspecies of deer is also the second most heavily populated deer in the state of California. The antlers of a California mule deer will grow upwards, which is different from other breeds of mule deer whose antlers grow in a forward direction.

    Inyo Mule Deer

    • Inyo mule deer can be found in central and lower northern counties of California. They are more commonly found in central California but are found slightly north of Mono County. Expert hunters and wildlife enthusiasts can tell the Inyo mule deer apart from other species by its tail. The Inyo deer tail is going to be darker colored on the end, with a patch that is slightly bigger than other mule deer and has a pointy end pointing towards the deer head. The easiest way to know what type of mule deer you are seeing in northern California is to know what type of deer is most common in a geographical area.