The Buck Stops Here

by Kym Backland

Title

The Buck Stops Here

Artist

Kym Backland

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This deer "Buck", knows that he needs to stop for all the signs! That's why the BUCK STOPS HERE.. It makes me laugh, that he really stopped at the stop sign. I guess he is also going to use the crosswalk as well. And, for the record... I did not steal this signs!! Everyone always asks me this question, " Hey, where did you steal all these signs from?" I tell them, I bought them from a city auction! Others that I have that are new, are bought from a company that SELLS these signs.. Just wanted to let you know this information! Anyways, this is a BLACKTAIL BUCK, they are the main kind that are here in the Western part of Washington State.. I've seen this one born, and grow up. He stays around here, up in the woods. I know him by his markings. For a little information on the Blacktail Deer, I thought I would give you some details.. Well, alrighty then!
For many years the Columbian Blacktail Deer has been considered a subspecies of the Mule deer, however recent DNA testing has proven this not to be the case. In Valerius Geist's informative book Mule Deer Country he explains that by testing the mitochondrial DNA (the mothers DNA ) of the three species (blacktail, whitetail and mule deer), researchers have now determined that it was the mating of Whitetail does, and Blacktail buck's, that gave rise to the Mule deer and not the opposite as was once suspected.
Many now believe that millions of years ago the Whitetail expanded its range down the east coast of the United States, across Mexico and up the West coast where it evolved into the Columbian Blacktail. This migration and relationship may help explain the strong resemblance in appearance and psychological characteristics between the Blacktail and Whitetail.
Thousands of years later the recently evolved Blacktail's range spread eastward from the Pacific coast and the Whitetail's range again expanded westward. As some point the two deer species met again and the Blacktail bucks, displaced the Whitetail bucks, and bred the Whitetail does. Many researches now believe it is this hybridization that produced what is now known as the Mule Deer.For those not familiar with the Columbian Blacktail, their range, as recognized by Boone and Crockett (B&C), extends form central British Columbia, south to the Monterey Bay in California. Columbian Blacktails only inhabit a narrow strip of land from the shores of the pacific ocean, inland for approximately a hundred miles. This distance of course varies from location to location
In regards to the geographic boundaries of the Columbian Blacktail one must rely on the observations of wildlife biologists, graduate students and scientists who have done extensive scientific research and identification on the Columbian Blacktail. I wish it was as simple as having years of hunting experience in order to be able do identify the possible genetic make-up of a particular deer but unfortunately it�s not. This is why DNA is such an important tool in deer identification.

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July 6th, 2012

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