Deer Behavior

Learn about the unique ways deer behave in the wild, and discover the reasons why different deer populations around the world act in the way that they do.

Learn About the Unique Behavior of Deer

On this page you are invited to browse our articles about some of the fascinating ways that wild deer behave. 

These articles answer common questions about deer, including what they eat, when they’re most active, the reproductive cycle and process, and the ways deer interact with humans in the suburbs and elsewhere.

Scroll down to learn more about some of the unique things that deer do, and discover why they act the way that they do.

Are Deer Herbivores

Are Deer Herbivores?

There have been some odd stories circulating lately of deer munching on meat. If you’ve come across them (or if you’re just curious about what deer eat) you may ask “Are deer herbivores?” In today’s

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Can Deer Swim

Can Deer Swim?

For many people, there are few sights so odd as a deer swimming in the middle of a lake. You may wonder “Can deer swim?” or “Why do deer swim?” and you wouldn’t be alone.

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Deer Gestation Period

Deer Gestation Period

The deer gestation period depends on its species. Other factors, such as season, can also play a part in how long deer carry their young before delivery. If you’re a hunter, it’s important that you

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Deer Habitat

Deer Habitat (where deer live, and why)

While different types of deer have different habitat preferences, there are some common features hat deer look for to stay safe from hunters and predators. Let’s explore the ideal deer habitat conditions in today’s article,

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Deer Velvet Shedding

Deer Velvet Shedding

When it comes to deer antlers, the rut gets all the headlines. After all, this is the time when males literally bump heads to decide who gets the female. However, while males enter the rut

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Do Deer Attack Humans

Do Deer Attack Humans?

Deer are known for their docile and gentle nature. When people hear the word deer, what comes to mind would probably be Bambi, from the Disney cartoon. They’re often described as graceful, playful, and friendly. To

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Do Deer Eat Apples

Do Deer Eat Apples?

Deer are one of the most recognized animals in North America. Most people have seen a whitetail deer, while hunters specifically will spend a lot of time with these animals. Still, how many people know

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Do Deer Eat Peonies

Do Deer Eat Peonies?

Deer eat pretty much every kind of vegetation, and they are certainly fond of munching on garden flowers. If you have a garden and live in an area with deer populations, you probably know how

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Do Deer Eat Roses

Do Deer Eat Roses?

Has something been munching at your roses? If so, maybe you are at a bit of a loss figuring out the culprit. If you live in a suburban or rural area where there are deer,

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Do Deer Eat Tulips

Do Deer Eat Tulips?

Many different kinds of critter will raid your garden if they get the chance. It may surprise you, but one of those is quite large: the deer. Deer won’t usually come into gardens during the

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Do Deer Hibernate

Do Deer Hibernate?

Most of us know that some animals (such as the North American black bear) hunker down to sleep through the cold winter months. This is called hibernation. Have you ever wondered what deer do in

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Do Deer Migrate

Do Deer Migrate?

If whitetail deer are the only deer species you’ve ever seen, maybe you’re surprised to learn that other kinds of deer are migratory species. Do deer migrate? Yes – there are a wide variety of

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Do Deer Mourn Their Dead

Do Deer Mourn Their Dead?

More than 70 years after its release, Bambi is still a ubiquitous movie. Even if you haven’t seen it, you’re likely aware of it. It’s about a young deer, but it’s far from a light-hearted

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Do Deer Move in the Rain

Do Deer Move in the Rain?

Deer move around for a variety of reasons. After all, they’ve got to find food and safe areas to rest and sleep. They also move during the rut (breeding season). While we can often expect

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Do Deer Move in the Wind

Do Deer Move in the Wind?

When preparing for hunting season, one topic that usually sparks debate amongst hunting enthusiasts is whether deer move in the wind. Most hunters would probably say deer don’t move on windy days. Strong winds cause

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Do Deer Whistles Work

Do Deer Whistles Work?

There are approximately 30 million deer, including whitetail deer, moose, and elk, in the United States. With such an enormous cervid population, the risk of cars and other vehicles colliding with these animals is quite

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Elk Bugle Sound

Elk Bugle Sound (listen)

If you’ve ever found yourself in elk territory between September and October, you might have been lucky enough to hear the thrilling sound of an elk bugle call. This call is a sound like no

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How Do Deer Sleep

How Do Deer Sleep?

With so many predators wanting to eat deer (including venison-loving hunters), you may well wonder how cervids are ever able to get sleep. How can they let their guard down? How do deer sleep without

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How Many Deer Are In a Herd

How Many Deer are in a Herd?

Deer behavior, including whether they live in herds, varies across species. Some are generally solitary creatures, others live in herds, and some form herds during mating season and live alone for the rest of the

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How to Find Deer Bedding Areas

How to Find Deer Bedding Areas

Efficiently finding deer is one of the most important parts of hunting. There are many things to consider when searching for deer, and the best way to try and find deer is to think like

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What Sound Does a Deer Make

What Sound Does a Deer Make?

From the barking deer of Asia to the unmistakable bugle of a bull elk, deer make a variety of sounds. In this article, we’ll answer the common question What sound does a deer make? and

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When Are Deer Most Active

When Are Deer Most Active?

Every hunter needs to know when deer move around, eat, and engage in the most activity. If you’re out hunting, you’re more likely to be successful if you are in the woods at these times.

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When do Deer Give Birth

When Do Deer Give Birth?

There are over 90 different species in the deer family (Cervidae) located across all regions of the world. There will be some variation in the local deer population depending on your area. However, there are

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When is Deer Mating Season

When Is Deer Mating Season?

Deer reproduction is amongst the natural world’s most interesting cycles. For male deer especially, reproduction is the dominant force in a buck’s life. It occupies much of the year, but specifically when is deer mating

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Where do Deer Go to Give Birth

Where Do Deer Go to Give Birth?

Depending on the position in the food chain, each creature is destined to follow a certain path of life. Whether that be prey or predator, one thing is common to all creatures in the animal

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Where do Deer Go When it Rains

Where Do Deer Go When it Rains?

There are many questions that can be answered about deer by observing and understanding their behavior. One question hunters and others often ask is “Where do deer go when it rains?”. Understanding the answer to

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Why Do Deer Run Into Cars

Why Do Deer Run into Cars?

Vehicle collisions with deer can be extremely dangerous, and not just for the animal. Drivers and passengers have been seriously injured and even killed in such accidents, and enormous amounts of damage can be done

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Why Do Deer Stomp

Why Do Deer Stomp Their Feet?

Like other kinds of animals, deer have their own methods of non-verbal communication. The way that deer move, stand, and behave is their way of communicating to others of their species, other animals around them,

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