Comparison of Moose, Elk, and Mule Deer

Moose
A moose bull walking towards camera.
A bull moose walking in the Soda Butt area. Notice the shape of its antlers and the one-color dark brown fur coat. Some moose may have white on their legs and rump.
Elk
Bull elk feeding
Notice the shape of the antlers. Also note the color: the posterior is light, the body is darker, and the neck and head are the darkest.
Mule Deer
Mule Deer bull.
A bull mule deer is looking for danger in the woods. A key identification factor is the large, mule-like ears. Also, notice the coloration and the shape of the horns.

The moose, elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer are all members of the deer family that live in Yellowstone. The moose is the largest, the elk is the second largest, the mule deer is smaller than the elk, and the white-tailed deer is the smallest.

Look at the Moose's antlers. Those antlers are called palmate antlers due to their broad, flat, scoop-like shape, which resembles your own palm, where the other deer family member's antlers are branching, pointed antlers.

In the deer family only the males have antlers. To better understand antlers and horn check out this page.

Moose Cow
Female moose or cow standing in a meadow. Females of the deer family do not have antlers.

Moose

Characteristics
  • Bulls weigh close to 1000 pounds (454 kg) and up to 6.5 feet at the shoulder.
  • Females weigh 900 pounds (408 kg) and up to 6 feet at the shoulder.
  • Calves weigh 25-35 (11-16 kg) at birth.
  • Males shed their antlers late December/early January. They restart growing antlers in April.
  • The color of adults goes from golden brown to almost black.
  • Moose are the largest member of the deer family.
  • Males are called bulls, females are cows, and a baby is a calf.

Elk

Characteristics
  • Bulls weigh 700 pounds (315 kg) and are five feet tall at the shoulder.
  • Cow's weight: 500 pounds (225 kg) and 4.5 feet tall at the shoulder.
  • Calves weigh 30 pounds (14 kg) at birth.
  • Bull antlers start growing in the spring and dropping in March or April.
  • Color of adults goes from beige (near white) rump, tan body, and darker neck and head.
  • Babies are born in late May or early June.
  • Males are called bulls, females are cows, and a babies are called a calf.
Elk cow or female looking over shoulder.
Female or cow elk
Mule Deer doe coming out of a stream
Mule Deer doe just crossed a stream and coming out.

Mule Deer

Characteristics
  • Buck, or male, weighs 150-250 pounds (68-113 kg).
  • Doe, or female, weighs 100-175 pounds (45-79 kg).
  • Babies, or fawns, weigh 5-6 pounds (2.5 kg) at birth. Births usually produce twins.
  • Antlers grow from April to August. They are shed in late winter or spring.
  • The ears are huge, and that is where their name comes from.
  • Mule deer have a white tail with a black tip. The underside of a White-tailed Deer's tail is all white.
  • Males are called bucks, females are does, and a baby is a fawn.

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Animal Comparison Info

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