Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?

[Doublelunger]

I was talking with my hunting buddy last week and we were discussing which was the tougher to get Boone & Crockett trophy.  I was of the opinion that here in Washington a 170" whitetail would be quite a bit tougher to get.  My buddy agreed with me but said he had heard guys argue that its tougher to get a big mule deer than a big white tail.  He had also heard an argument that its easier to get a 200" whitetail than a 200" mule deer....which i thought was total BS. This argument could have been taken out of context I suppose and maybe they were talking about Kansas or something.  What are your guys thoughts on this?

[bobcat]

That's a tough question for sure, but I would have to say the mule deer would be tougher to get. My reason for thinking this is mostly due to the timing of the hunting seasons and the fact that whitetails are easier to get to during those seasons. The mule deer season for modern firearm is only 9 days, and it's well before the rut kicks in, and also before snow pushes the big bucks down from the high country. The late whitetail modern firearm season is during the rut and this is the only time those big bucks will ever be seen in the fall during daylight hours.

Now I could be all wrong on this because I have very little experience hunting whitetail deer, but that's the way I see it.

[Todd_ID]

Mule deer would be tougher.  A whitetail that size will be killed in the rut from a treestand.  A muley that size will be killed 4 miles from the road.

[jackelope]

Mule deer would be tougher.  A whitetail that size will be killed in the rut from a treestand.  A muley that size will be killed 4 miles from the road.

 

[carpsniperg2]

Mule deer would be my bet for sure Every year there are a solid number of 170 class whitetails killed. Why there is very few mule deer that break that mark every year.

[Watimberghost]

I agree with the rest of the bunch, especially Todd_ID's post, 190" muley would be harder to harvest

[threedwizard]

I live in Utah, and don't hunt much whitetail, but I agree with the pack. Mule deer that big are very hard to find anytime during hunting season. We don't have anything close to the rut for hunts here. I taken some solid 170" bucks, but never saw a buck that big during the hunt, only in December on winter range.

[400out]

Both don't exist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just a myth made up to sell tags          

[Hilltop123]

Both are easy to kill, but to find one of that caliber, thats the hard part.......just thought I'd state the obvious.

[bobcat]

Both are easy to kill, but to find one of that caliber, thats the hard part.......just thought I'd state the obvious.

True, unless you're hunting with a spear.

[Hilltop123]

I personaly like the the dagger, between my teeth, method of hunting.........we won't disscuss the loin cloth at this time.....

[Clark33]

I read somewhere, I think it was in Eastman's that Mule Deer are the toughest animals in NA to get in the B&C book.  Mule Deer get my vote for sure.

[400out]

Both are easy to kill, but to find one of that caliber, thats the hard part.......just thought I'd state the obvious.

Thanks 

[bow-n-head]

I personally have seen several 170 + whitetail. Missed 2 and killed one over 200. I have never seen a mule deer in an area you could hunt that would make 190. I have seen one in a special unit that has a less than 1%draw odd and he was on private property where you couldn't hunt anyway. I'd take a big mulie any day over almost anything.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Even of the upper 20% of very experienced hunters that frequent this site, how many of them have even ever seen a 190 class Muley in Washington during the off season.. ?

I'll bet that the respondents will be slim.  (I could be wrong, but I doubt it)

170 WT's exist here but you've got to do some really good research/scouting for public land hunts. I think odds of a 170 class WT on private or leased land is quite do-able.

-Steve