The World of Deer

Deer information, history, and facts to help you understand this beautiful species and the role it plays in our ecosystem.

Referenced by the Following Media Outlets

World Deer As Seen On PBS.org, NJ.com, INaturalist (a joint venture of the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic), and the University of Michigan Zoological Museum Blog - AnimalDiversity.org

As a trusted source of information about deer, we are regularly cited by news outlets, nonprofits, and top publications across the web.

Since 2005, WorldDeer.org has provided facts and information about the many species of deer found around the world, along with the history of this unique animal.

Today on this website you’ll find thoughtful, accurate articles that seek to explain deer behavior and the relationship between humans and deer, enhanced with stunning photographs of deer in the wild.

Read Our Latest Articles About Deer

If you’re looking for information about the biology and behavior of deer, or answers to common questions about deer, you can learn a lot about this unique species of ungulates on this website. Start here, or explore more of our articles.

A detail-oriented depiction of a deer in its natural environment, standing majestically with a magnificent antler rack in full display.

Do Deer Eat Rhododendrons? (Yes — Toxins and All)

Yes — deer eat rhododendrons, particularly in winter, even though the leaves are toxic to ruminants in large amounts. Rhododendrons aren’t a first-choice food, but their big evergreen leaves are one of the few green

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Do Deer Eat Pachysandra?

Updated on September 7, 2026. Ratings below are university browse lists, not a nursery tag. Confirm the linked extension pages before you carpet a shade bed with Japanese pachysandra — or before you blame deer

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Do Deer Eat Coneflower?

Updated on September 8, 2026. Ratings below are university browse lists, not a six-pack tag. No coneflower is deer-proof when a suburban herd is out of food. Usually no — if you mean purple coneflower

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Do Deer Eat Black-Eyed Susan?

Updated on September 8, 2026. Ratings below are university browse lists, not a six-pack tag. Confirm the linked extension pages before you treat a drift of ‘Goldsturm’ as deer-proof — or before you blame a

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Purple ornamental allium globes in a late-spring garden border

Do deer eat alliums?

Updated on September 7, 2026. Ratings below are university lists, not a guarantee that a starving deer will never take a bite. Confirm the current lists on the linked extension pages before you order a

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Learn About Different Types of Deer

There are many different types of deer, and our website has information about just about all of them. We invite you to check out a few of the most interesting deer species below, and continue to explore our website to learn more about the many different types of deer around the world.

Roe Deer

Roe Deer

Updated on September 7, 2026. The European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is Europe’s small native woodland deer: rusty-red in summer, grey in winter, almost no tail. It ruts in July, then delays the embryo until

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Eld's Deer

Eld’s Deer

Eld’s Deer (Panolia eldii) is a species that goes by many different names. These include Thamin Deer, Brow-Antlered Deer, and Cervus eldi. Though endangered, this elegant and graceful species native to southern Asia is certainly

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Irish Elk

Irish Elk

Known worldwide for their incredible antlers, Irish elk are an extinct species that still holds a lot of fame because of their incredible size and beauty. With fossilized remains discovered in the 1600s, Irish elk

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Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

Fallow deer (Dama dama) are medium-sized Old World deer. Mature bucks grow palmate, shovel-shaped antlers; adults keep a black-edged white rump and one of four coat colors. The only confirmed native wild population lives in

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Coues Deer

Coues Deer vs Mule Deer

Updated on September 7, 2026. Coues deer are a tiny desert subspecies of white-tailed deer. Mule deer are a different, larger western species. In Arizona and New Mexico they share the same mountains, and the

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Brocket Deer

Brocket Deer

There are several different types of unique Brocket Deer which together fall under the genus Mazama. Found on the Yucatan Peninsula, Central and South America, and on the beautiful island of Trinidad, there are 10

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Basic Information About Deer

  • There are many different species of deer found around the world. All are hoofed ruminant mammals that collectively form the family Cervidae. In this family there are two primary groups: Cervinae (which includes North American Elk (Wapiti), Red Deer, and Fallow Deer), and Capreolinae (which includes species such as White-Tailed Deer, Roe Deer, Moose, and Reindeer).
  • Deer live and thrive in a variety of microclimates around the globe. Some species are right at home on the frozen Tundra, while others easily navigate the dense brush of tropical rainforests. While we typically associate forests with deer, most species prefer the areas of transition between thick forests and open grasslands. This is why there’s some evidence that logging actually benefits deer in some parts of the world, though they always require adequate forest and brush cover for populations to thrive.
  • Deer come in all shapes and sizes – ranging from the imposing Moose of North America (which can stand 8.5 feet tall and is the largest species of deer), to the tiny Northern Pudu of the Andes mountain range (which typically measures just 13-14 inches in height and is the smallest species of deer in the world).

Deer Hunting Articles

Are you a deer hunter, or do you want to learn more about how hunters work to find, shoot, and process these animals in the field? We’re expanding our site to include articles on topics of interest to readers who are hunters or who would like to learn more about deer hunting and tracking deer.

Texas vs Midwest deer hunting

Texas leases and cheap OTC tags versus Midwest draws, short gun seasons, and real public land in Missouri. Axis on private Texas land; whitetail-only in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri.

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Wisconsin vs Michigan Public Land Deer Hunting

Updated on September 7, 2026. Season dates, bag limits, baiting maps, and antlerless quotas move. Confirm them on the Wisconsin DNR deer page and the Michigan DNR deer regulations before you buy a tag or

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Illustrate a variety of high-quality hunting bows. The bows are aesthetically pleasing and modern in design, each demonstrating different features to represent their capacities. Some bows are shown from the front, others at a side angle to give a better view of the grip and the tension mechanism. The bows come in various sizes and their strings are tense, indicating readiness for use. The backdrop is outdoor scenery, lush green forest signifying the environment typically associated with hunting. Note, there are no brand logos or names on the bows, and no people or text in the image.

Best Hunting Bows: Top New Compound Bows

Understanding the Importance of Choosing the Right Hunting Bow When you’re on the hunt for the perfect bow, it’s not just about the thrill of the chase. It’s about finding a tool that will enhance

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