Deer have specific names depending on their sex and age. This specialized terminology helps in understanding their life stages and roles within their natural habitats. While the general term “deer” applies to both sexes, male deer are often referred to by more particular names.
The Primary Names for Male Deer
The two most common names for male deer are “buck” and “stag.” The term “buck” is widely used for male deer of various species, including white-tailed and mule deer, encompassing both mature and immature individuals. It applies broadly to many smaller to medium-sized deer.
The term “stag,” however, refers to a mature, adult male deer, often one of the larger species with impressive antlers. While “buck” can be used for male deer of any age, “stag” specifically denotes an older, fully grown male, commonly used for species like the red deer. In some regions, the distinction also relates to the deer’s genus; for example, in the UK, male deer of the Cervus genus, such as red and sika deer, are known as stags, while fallow and roe deer are bucks.
Related Deer Terminology
Beyond the names for male deer, other terms describe female and young deer, providing a complete picture of deer nomenclature. A female deer is most commonly known as a “doe,” a term that applies to many species, including white-tailed, mule, and roe deer. For larger species, such as red deer, the female may be called a “hind.”
Young deer also have specific names based on their size and species. A baby deer of a smaller species is called a “fawn,” characterized by its spotted coat at birth. For larger deer species, such as red deer or elk, the young are “calves.” Some smaller species, like roe deer, have young known as “kids.”
Names Across Different Deer Species
The application of these terms varies across the diverse range of deer species found globally, reflecting regional usage and the animals’ characteristics. For white-tailed and mule deer in North America, the male is a buck, the female a doe, and the young are fawns. This common terminology is widely recognized.
In Europe, the red deer, a larger species, has males known as stags, females as hinds, and their young as calves. Roe deer, a smaller European species, follow the buck, doe, and kid naming convention. Elk, also known as wapiti, are a large deer species where the male is called a bull, the female a cow, and the young a calf, similar to cattle terminology. This shows how size and geographical location influence the specific terms used.