Mule deer whitetail Hybrid?

[Aerosith]

My 2020 deer in the palo duro canyon, does anyone think he may be a hybrid?

 

[kwyeewyk]

My 2020 deer in the palo duro canyon, does anyone think he may be a hybrid?View attachment 224850

What makes you think it might be? Just looks like a muley to me. Odd cowlick on the stomach.

 

[antlerradar]

Nice heavy bases. Looks like a mule deer to me.

 

[RobG]

https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_2012_heffelfinger_j001.pdf

This. Check the length of the metatarsal gland.

 

[jbseamus83]

I don't have the expertise to say if it's a hybrid or not. I'll leave that to the more informed posters on this thread. I just think it's an awesome looking deer and you should be very proud to have gotten him.

 

[Whiskey Freak]

Nice deer.

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

@Fishnride I killed a Muley with a similar configuration in MT.

 

[Redman]

Looks like a Mule deer to me.
Here is a SD Mule I killed and in this area there are a lot of whitetail as well, though his rack doesn't have a lot of typical mule deer characteristics I don't think there is any cross breeding in him.

 

[Fishnride]

@Fishnride I killed a Muley with a similar configuration in MT.
View attachment 227144

Ya. They do look really similar