A group of deer moving together is most commonly referred to as a herd. This term is the universally accepted collective noun in modern English for most species of the family Cervidae, which includes white-tailed deer, mule deer, and red deer. While “herd” is the primary answer, the history of language has produced several other, more specific, or less common terms that also describe multiple deer.
The Primary Collective Nouns
Beyond the widely recognized term “herd,” a collection of deer can be described using various other collective nouns, many of which are archaic or regional. These terms often emerged from the historical traditions of hunting and medieval literature, particularly in England. A less common, but still recognized, term for a group of deer is a “bevy,” which is sometimes used specifically for a gathering of roe deer.
Another older term is a “rangale,” which is a historical collective noun for deer. The word “parcel” has also been used, sometimes to refer to a smaller group of deer. Less formal terms, occasionally used in regional dialects, include a “mob” or a “bunch.” Despite these alternatives, a “herd” remains the standard, universally understood term for multiple deer today.
Singular and Plural Usage
Confusion often arises concerning the proper grammatical form when discussing one deer versus many deer. The word “deer” is considered an irregular noun in English, meaning the singular and plural forms are identical. Therefore, whether referring to a single animal or a large group, the word remains “deer.”
Adding an “s” to form “deers” is generally considered incorrect in standard English. This lack of change in the plural form is common for certain animal names, such as “sheep” and “fish.” For example, one would correctly say, “I saw one deer,” or “I saw five deer grazing in the meadow.”
The context of the sentence, particularly the use of numbers or the verb form, indicates whether the noun “deer” is meant to be singular or plural. This rule is consistent across all species within the deer family.
Specific Names for Individual Deer
Individual deer are categorized and named based on their sex and age, and the terminology varies depending on the species and region.
Sex and Age Terminology
The mature male deer of most species, such as the white-tailed deer, is called a “buck,” and the mature female is known as a “doe.” The young of most deer species are called “fawns” until they are about one year old.
Species-Specific Names
Larger deer species use different terms. For red deer, the male is called a “stag” or “hart,” and the female is a “hind.” Even larger members of the deer family, such as moose and elk, refer to the male as a “bull” and the female as a “cow.”
Antler Terminology
Young males may be called a “button buck” if they are a fawn whose first small antler bumps are visible. A male deer in its first year with unbranched antlers is often called a “spike” or “spiker.” The soft, nutrient-rich skin covering the growing antler is referred to as “velvet.”