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.

Deer vs Gazelle

Deer vs Gazelle Comparison 2026

Swift yet graceful, the gazelle is one of the fastest land animals in the world. Gazelles are known for their pronking or stotting behavior, where they leap off the ground using all four limbs simultaneously.

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An intense illustration of bear species known to be dangerous. Depict a grizzly bear, a polar bear, and a black bear in a nocturnal forest environment. All are growling with fur bristling to emanate a sense of danger. The moon is glowing eerily in the background, casting a mix of shadows and faint lights on the bears and dense forest. Ensure there are no people, brand names, logos, or text present within the scene.

The Most Dangerous Bear To Encounter

Understanding Bear Species and Their Threat Levels When considering bear species and the potential danger they pose to humans, it’s essential to understand the various bear species that roam our planet. Bears can be found

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A detailed visual guide on how to clean a deer, presented through consecutive stages. Picture one: A scene with a deer lying down on a clean area, surrounded by tools such as a sharp knife, a water bucket, and a clean towel. Picture two reveals a careful incision being made along the belly with the knife. Picture three illustrates the careful removal of the internal organs. The last picture reveals a cleanly gutted deer. Please note: no people, text or brand names should be depicted in these pictures. The pictures should be clearly defined, easy to understand, and conducive to a step-by-step guide.

How To Clean a Deer (Step by Step)

Gathering Your Supplies Before you start the cleaning process, you’ll need to gather the necessary supplies. Having the right tools on hand is crucial to efficiently and safely clean a deer. Here are the basic

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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.

Sika Deer

Sika Deer

Cervus nippon or the Sika Deer is native to east Asia and is sometimes referred to as the Japanese Deer or the Spotted Deer. Years ago you could find many Sika Deer in northern Vietnam

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Indian Sambar Deer

Indian Sambar Deer

The Indian Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor) is an impressive deer which is native to India, South China, and Souteastern Asia. Its impressive size and unique coloring make it a target for hunting. It is a

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Marsh Deer

Marsh Deer

Marsh Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) are the largest type of deer from South America. Though they originally thrived in tropical and subtropical environments in the rain forest, today small units of Marsh Deer inhabit the swamps

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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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Philippine Spotted Deer

Philippine Spotted Deer

The Philippine Spotted Deer — also called the Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi) or Alfred’s Deer — is an endangered species endemic to the Philippine Islands. It lives on the Visayan island chain. This deer

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Elk

Elk

Like the white-tailed deer, the North American Elk (also known as the Wapiti) is a cervid. In fact, it’s the second-largest species in the deer family, making it an impressive animal. The North American elk

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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.