A buck, or male deer, is also called a what?

A buck, or male deer, is also called a stag. “Buck” is the broader everyday term used for an adult male of several deer species, while “stag” is especially common for an adult male red deer and is widely understood as a male deer generally.

Deer terminology varies by species and age. A young deer is commonly called a fawn. In many species, an adult male is a buck and an adult female is a doe. For red deer, the male is often called a stag and the female a hind. Moose and elk also have their own regional naming conventions, so wildlife vocabulary can differ between North America and Britain.

The most visible difference between a mature buck or stag and a doe is usually the presence of antlers. Antlers are temporary structures made of bone that males typically grow and shed each year. They are used in competition with other males and may also signal age and condition.

“Stag” should not be confused with “hart,” an older hunting term traditionally used for a mature male red deer, often one at least five years old.