Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Doublelunger on February 28, 2012, 01:35:56 PM

Title: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Doublelunger on February 28, 2012, 01:35:56 PM: 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?
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: bobcat on February 28, 2012, 02:35:46 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Todd_ID on February 28, 2012, 02:40:46 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: jackelope on February 28, 2012, 02:50:35 PM: Quote from: Todd_ID on February 28, 2012, 02:40:46 PM
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.

:yeah:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 28, 2012, 02:59:52 PM: Mule deer would be my bet for sure :tup: 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.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Watimberghost on February 28, 2012, 05:11:27 PM: I agree with the rest of the bunch, especially Todd_ID's post, 190" muley would be harder to harvest
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: threedwizard on February 28, 2012, 05:22:50 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: 400out on February 28, 2012, 06:00:07 PM: Both don't exist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just a myth made up to sell tags :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Hilltop123 on February 28, 2012, 06:10:59 PM: Both are easy to kill, but to find one of that caliber, thats the hard part.......just thought I'd state the obvious.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: bobcat on February 28, 2012, 06:12:10 PM: Quote from: Hilltop123 on February 28, 2012, 06:10:59 PM
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.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Hilltop123 on February 28, 2012, 06:14:36 PM: I personaly like the the dagger, between my teeth, method of hunting.........we won't disscuss the loin cloth at this time.....
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Clark33 on February 28, 2012, 06:16:54 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: 400out on February 28, 2012, 06:23:35 PM: Quote from: Hilltop123 on February 28, 2012, 06:10:59 PM
Both are easy to kill, but to find one of that caliber, thats the hard part.......just thought I'd state the obvious.
Thanks :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: bow-n-head on February 28, 2012, 06:58:50 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on February 28, 2012, 06:59:51 PM: 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
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: alecvg on February 28, 2012, 08:08:16 PM: I have seen one muley that I think would be pushing 190" and that was this season in CO. Unluckely, we were hunting a unit with a couple big ranches way up high, and he was 100 yds over the fence. Kind of frustrating when your off the road, away from other hunters, and you still can't shoot the buck. Although he ended up spooking unto public, we never saw him again. I do think muley would be the hardest.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: huntnnw on February 28, 2012, 09:47:56 PM: I would say muley maybe...there is just more whitetails around and that many more that can get to that size.The other side of things is there really isn't any "permits" that give anyone a unit or a specific season where u have any sort of advantage, weather, rut or low permit numbers for whiteys like you do with mule deer. There are some tags given out in some Western states that give u one hell of a shot at taking a 190" deer that doesn't exist with whiteys, due to the fact they live in heavy cover and don't become as vulnerable as muley bucks do in the rut as they prefer the open spaces.

Saying u had unlimited amount of money to purchase a governors tag for whitetails or Muleys I would say a person has a better chance to harvest a booner muley with the said tag over a whitey cause I dont see much advantage with a whitetail tag.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: B.G.hunter on February 28, 2012, 10:09:15 PM: Quote from: Hilltop123 on February 28, 2012, 06:10:59 PM
Both are easy to kill, but to find one of that caliber, thats the hard part.......just thought I'd state the obvious.
:yeah:
Maybe in the mule deer hay day (60's/70's) but even then. Or colorado.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: sakoshooter on February 28, 2012, 11:52:12 PM: Much tougher to find and kill a big mule deer than a big whitetail.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: huntnnw on February 29, 2012, 12:18:26 AM: OTC yes..not so sure on "money" tags
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Miles on February 29, 2012, 01:41:14 AM: I've hunted both whitetail and mule deer in Washington, and I grew up hunting whitetails (east coast). While I haven't taken a 170" whitetail, or a 190" muley, I have taken some pretty good bucks and will say this: In my experience mule deer are generally dumb. Locating one is the hardest part, and once you find them is relatively easy to stalk/kill them. Whitetails on the other hand, you can find them relatively easily, then they almost immediately take off running throught the thickest crap possible (never to be seen again). Sometimes you get a shot, sometimes you don't. I guess it also goes back to your style of hunting to though. Every whitetail I see is while I'm on the ground still hunting/tracking, not from a tree stand.

Mule deer hunting in my experience is more physically demanding, but then again...that depends on the hunter and type of hunting. The guys that drive to a wheat field and wait for first light to start spotting and selecting what deer to shoot have it pretty damn easy.

For my style of hunting, I would have to say that the 170" whitetail would be harder. :dunno: I'm more of a "run and gun" type of hunter that prefers to keep moving for the better part of the day. I'll sit for a while and spot/glass, then I'm off to another vantage point or still hunting through the timber.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: huntnnw on February 29, 2012, 02:30:59 AM: I would have to agree wit that.... Muley bucks are nothing like a whitey buck....locating one and the physical effort involved in it makes it harder in that way, but like you said once u find one u can usually keep tabs on them
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Miles on February 29, 2012, 03:54:57 AM: Quote from: Todd_ID on February 28, 2012, 02:40:46 PM
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.

For me it's a lot easier to hike 4 miles from the road, than it is to sit in a treestand for hours on end. You point at a mountain and say see you there at sundown.... I'll be there (and happy). You pull over and tell me to climb up into a treestand and you'll pick me up at sundown....I'll be ready for the looney bin.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: boneaddict on February 29, 2012, 05:09:21 AM: Note how hard it is even for a team of hunters, all alone during the late rut/ winter range utilizing all of their assets, to come up with a 190 buck. There just aren't that many out there.

I probably see 4x as many whitetails each year in that category, but as Miles said, they don't tend to stand around for a handshake.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 29, 2012, 05:17:09 AM: I myself wouldn't want to shake their hand just let a little air out of them. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 29, 2012, 06:39:40 AM: There are a lot of 2 and 3 year old whities that are easy to pattern, but the big bruisers are wily and way back in the woods. I'd say that except for food plot deer, the really bruiser whitetails in No. NH and ME are damned hard to find and kill.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: bearpaw on February 29, 2012, 07:00:24 AM: Both are damned tough to kill. But I think there are fewer 190 mule deer than 170 whitetails, therefore I say it's a little tougher to get the 190 mule deer.

If there were as many 190 mule deer as 170 whitetails, it would be a tossup. :twocents:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: boneaddict on February 29, 2012, 07:07:32 AM: I have seen more 200 inch whitetails than I have 200 inch muleys. Probably 10x more :chuckle:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Miles on February 29, 2012, 07:13:13 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on February 29, 2012, 07:07:32 AM
I have seen more 200 inch whitetails than I have 200 inch muleys. Probably 10x more :chuckle:

When they're running away they all look 200", I swear those whities collect tines as they're jumping through the brush. :chuckle:

You guys have a point. It's definitely a question that depends on a BUNCH of variables.

Here's a question: What's easier, a 170 inch whitey or a 170 inch muley? IN WASHINGTON.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: boneaddict on February 29, 2012, 07:15:07 AM: 170 muley. My goal every year in recent years
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Miles on February 29, 2012, 07:16:14 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on February 29, 2012, 07:15:07 AM
170 muley. My goal every year in recent years

I think so too.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: boneaddict on February 29, 2012, 07:16:42 AM: and there is alot that can be said about them being bigger when you only get glimpses of them and the flash of their tails.....that is if they don't have it tucked which they usually do when they are that big.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: boneaddict on February 29, 2012, 07:17:39 AM: If it weren't for trail cameras, about 95% of these big whitetail would be "non-existent"
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Miles on February 29, 2012, 07:22:40 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on February 29, 2012, 07:17:39 AM
If it weren't for trail cameras, about 95% of these big whitetail would be "non-existent"

Very true, many people wouldn't ever see them.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Alchase on February 29, 2012, 08:21:21 AM: I honestly have not hunted whitetail specifically, though i would definitely not kick a 170" or any other legal whitetail buck out of my sites while hunting mulies, lol

Now add a 150" Blacktail to the list
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: BLR 243 on February 29, 2012, 08:29:07 AM: A 135 or bigger Blacktail is the toughest.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: coachcw on February 29, 2012, 08:54:00 AM: it would be tough for me to kill a big whitey since I can't sit in a tree stand all day . that being said I think a big muley is the toughest mainly because where they live .
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: MtnMuley on February 29, 2012, 12:03:23 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on February 29, 2012, 07:17:39 AM
If it weren't for trail cameras, about 95% of these big whitetail would be "non-existent"

:yeah:

......and if it weren't for bait hunting primarily during the post rut, 95% of the big whitetails that get killed, would still be alive. ;)

As for the question, with the hunting over bait being allowed during Nov/Dec for whiteys, it's much harder to kill a 190" muley....by far. :twocents:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Arteman on February 29, 2012, 03:07:39 PM: Quote from: BLR 243 on February 29, 2012, 08:29:07 AM
A 135 or bigger Blacktail is the toughest.
Haha you beat me to it, was scrolling through to see if it was posted yet and if not I was going to. Ok, ill go back to my westside corner now and just watch. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on February 29, 2012, 05:17:20 PM: The mule deer by far.... I've only seen 5 ever that I think would be in that range....
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 29, 2012, 05:22:32 PM: I have never spent much time in whitetail area's. Last year I got into a area when hunting season was over and saw 3 whitetail bucks in one group that would smash the 170" mark. It was one of the coolest things ever to see that many masher bucks in one group. Plus there was atleast 4 that was around the 140-150 range. That was a amazing day! I have only seen a few mule deer that would come close to the 190" mark in my life.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Jellymon on February 29, 2012, 05:27:57 PM: 100" blacktail :chuckle:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on February 29, 2012, 05:41:14 PM: I've got 7 BT well over 100" :chuckle: One scores 140 and is just a 3 pointer!! :tup:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: steen on February 29, 2012, 06:01:39 PM: I would say, for me, it would be a whitetail cause I have never hunted a whitetail. I put in for quality deer and it would be muledeer so my chances of seeing a 190 class mulie is higher than a 170 whitetail.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Jellymon on February 29, 2012, 06:10:15 PM: Quote from: Kowsrule30 on February 29, 2012, 05:41:14 PM
I've got 7 BT well over 100" :chuckle: One scores 140 and is just a 3 pointer!! :tup:

Settle down there, just kidden around. :)
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: jrod on February 29, 2012, 06:54:18 PM: The 170" whitey's a lot cheaper than the 190" muley!!! No dought!!! :twocents:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: BLR 243 on February 29, 2012, 07:21:06 PM: Any pics of the 7 Blacktails over 100"
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on February 29, 2012, 07:44:22 PM: Quote from: Jellymon on February 29, 2012, 06:10:15 PM
Quote from: Kowsrule30 on February 29, 2012, 05:41:14 PM
I've got 7 BT well over 100" :chuckle: One scores 140 and is just a 3 pointer!! :tup:

Settle down there, just kidden around. :)

I know.... 100" BT isn't that hard..... 110 plus get's a little challenging.... :chuckle:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on February 29, 2012, 07:46:20 PM: Quote from: BLR 243 on February 29, 2012, 07:21:06 PM
Any pics of the 7 Blacktails over 100"

Yes.... Had a few pics posted on here way before the major crash..... Probably won't post any more though..... Can text a pic if you want.....
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: boneaddict on March 01, 2012, 07:20:03 AM: You'll note that blacktails weren't even worthy to be put in the title of this thread. Guess cause a Jackelope sized deer really isn't that impressive no matter what.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Miles on March 01, 2012, 07:23:34 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on March 01, 2012, 07:20:03 AM
You'll note that blacktails weren't even worthy to be put in the title of this thread. Guess cause a Jackelope sized deer really isn't that impressive no matter what.

I'll just have to kill twice as many in California I guess...
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: boneaddict on March 01, 2012, 07:26:52 AM: You can carry 3x the amount of sheds in your pack....
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Miles on March 01, 2012, 07:31:25 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on March 01, 2012, 07:26:52 AM
You can carry 3x the amount of sheds in your pack....

Very true, and I plan on it.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Arteman on March 01, 2012, 09:30:49 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on March 01, 2012, 07:26:52 AM
You can carry 3x the amount of sheds in your pack....
lol true that, but can find 3x amount of mule deer sheds to Blacktail in all that open country.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Miles on March 01, 2012, 09:44:34 AM: Quote from: Arteman on March 01, 2012, 09:30:49 AM
Quote from: boneaddict on March 01, 2012, 07:26:52 AM
You can carry 3x the amount of sheds in your pack....
lol true that, but can find 3x amount of mule deer sheds to Blacktail in all that open country.

I think there are some open grassy hillsides in California from some ATL pics I've seen. Give me a year or two to figure things out, and I'll show you what a pack full of California blacktail sheds look like. ;)
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Arteman on March 01, 2012, 10:10:03 AM: Those Cali BT bucks are big too, get it figured out Miles then pm me :chuckle: to the OP I'd have to say Mulies would be toughest, just my opinion. Seems I see more pics of big Whitetails on this site than muledeer, think Bone single handedly keeps them in balance with all his Mulies pics.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: igotbigbulls on March 01, 2012, 12:08:12 PM: im goin with 170" whitetail as i havent killed one that big yet.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: HairTrigger on March 01, 2012, 12:26:24 PM: Wouldn't be hard for either as long as you don't get buck fever lol
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: deerslyr on March 01, 2012, 01:25:27 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on March 01, 2012, 07:20:03 AM
You'll note that blacktails weren't even worthy to be put in the title of this thread. Guess cause a Jackelope sized deer really isn't that impressive no matter what.

Im waiting for RoyBoy to reply to that :chuckle:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: MtnMuley on March 01, 2012, 01:35:44 PM: Quote from: HairTrigger on March 01, 2012, 12:26:24 PM
Wouldn't be hard for either as long as you don't get buck fever lol

......and held the right card. ;)
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: boneaddict on March 01, 2012, 01:36:39 PM: Quote
Wouldn't be hard for either as long as you don't get buck fever lol

and can hunt 356 more days per year than the average person.
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: woodywsu on March 01, 2012, 02:11:39 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on March 01, 2012, 01:36:39 PM
Quote
Wouldn't be hard for either as long as you don't get buck fever lol

and can hunt 356 more days per year than the average person.

Quote from: MtnMuley on March 01, 2012, 01:35:44 PM
Quote from: HairTrigger on March 01, 2012, 12:26:24 PM
Wouldn't be hard for either as long as you don't get buck fever lol

......and held the right card. ;)

:yeah:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: igotbigbulls on March 01, 2012, 02:33:37 PM: thats right. because theres nothing but monster bucks standing around when the state doesnt have a season going on. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on March 01, 2012, 05:32:36 PM: No doubt a muley is a tougher kill! The reason is there are just more 170 whitey's, than 190 muley's plain and simple. Because of the habitat that whitetails live in it is easier for them to live longer therefore growing larger bone with age! Also makes them harder to find and kill but you have a better chance at getting a crack at one because there are more of them. In Washington I have seen several in the 190 class and one that was pushing the 205ish mark (Hanford buck) and I've seen some 180 and 190 class bucks in Idaho and Montana but they aren't around every bush and they aren't very easy to kill!

P.S. Whats a blacktail? :chuckle:
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: head hunter on March 01, 2012, 06:03:41 PM: Def. the 190 muley is harder I have had the luck of hunting 1 buck of that caliber in oregon a few years ago in archery season buck struck out. I have seen a few in washington that would be darn close. Two of which were last season. It took me 21 years of hunting to finally get a white tail over the 170 mark. Plus there is a lot more white tail than mule deer across the country
Title: Re: Whats tougher to kill, 170" whitetail or 190" mule deer?
Post by: HairTrigger on March 01, 2012, 09:09:55 PM: Quote from: MtnMuley on March 01, 2012, 01:35:44 PM
Quote from: HairTrigger on March 01, 2012, 12:26:24 PM
Wouldn't be hard for either as long as you don't get buck fever lol

......and held the right card. ;)
its my tag too lol