11 Different Types of Deer in North America

There are numerous distinct species of deer throughout the world.

Therefore, deer are more diverse than just their antlers. There are numerous classifications and divisions for deer species.

Mule Deer, Coues Deer, Elk, and Whitetail Deer are among North America’s most popular types of deer.

Our article will teach you everything there is to know about various types of deer in North America, including distribution statistics, physical traits, preferred habitats, and mating patterns.

Deer are classified as ruminants, a group of herbivores with a four-chambered stomach and a chewing mechanism for food digestion.

The facts and information about 10 different types of deer in North America will be listed below!

1. White-tailed Deer

One of the various types of deer in North America is the Whitetail deer, often known as the White-tailed Deer.

They are present in most U.S. states except Alaska, Hawaii, and a few states in the Southwest.

Whitetail deer inhabit most of Central America and the northern regions of South America, and They can be found as far north as Canada and south as Mexico.

There are numerous subspecies of this kind of deer because of its wide distribution.

Bergmann’s Rule emphasizes the significance of classifying deer subspecies according to their geographic range.

According to Bergmann, animals grow larger as they move further from the equator, which causes them to lose less body heat. 

2. Coues Deer 

The Coues Whitetail Deer is also one of the types of deer in North America, a subspecies of the White-tailed Deer, and is native to southern Arizona and New Mexico.

Although they can be found throughout Arizona, the southern regions, extending into New Mexico, have the highest numbers.    

They are sometimes nicknamed deer “Fantail” or “Arizona Whitetail” due to their innate propensity to flare their massive tails when threatened.

The Coues Deer is renowned for its propensity to blend in with its environment.

The greatest distinction between this species of deer and White-Tailed Deer is their smaller stature.

Coues are slightly smaller and can weigh up to 65 pounds, whereas coues bucks stand at around 2.5 feet tall and weigh about 100 pounds.

Some hunters prefer the spot-and-stalk method, where they first use hunting binoculars to locate the deer and devise a strategy to sneak up on them.

This is a lot more challenging than hanging out in a tree stand.

3. Key Deer

Less than 1,000 Key Deer, a subspecies of White-tailed Deer, remain, making them an endangered species.

The greatest danger to them is the loss of their current habitat due to coastal habitat development.

The Florida Keys consist of around 20 islands, hence the name “Key Deer.” Big Pine Key, one of the largest of the Key Islands, is the main habitat for this species of deer. 

One reason these types of deer in North America maintain the majority of the Key Deer population is the availability of fresh surface water there.

Swimmable to several nearby islands, they frequently return to Big Pine Key for fresh water.

Humans no longer scare key deer; some can even be hand-fed. Due to this, they are now more susceptible to dog attacks and deer/vehicle collisions, which are the main causes of death for the important deer.

As the smallest subspecies of White-tailed Deer, Key Deer are known as “toy deer” due to their small stature.

Compared to other types of deer in North America, the Key Deer’s physique can be described as stockier. Their legs seem to be broader and shorter overall.

Their coat varies from a dark reddish hue to a salt-and-pepper grey shade, and they have faint black markings on their faces.

The buck’s antlers are significantly smaller than the White-tailed Deer’s. Mature males, or bucks, are only 2 to 2.5 feet tall and weigh between 55 and 75 pounds, while mature females are much lighter.

4. Mule Deer

The Mule Deer is a native of Western America and gets its name from its oversized ears, which resemble those of a mule.

There are seven subspecies of mule deer, and they can be found everywhere, from California to Hawaii and even in Iowa.

Their seasonal movements take them to high altitudes, such as mountains, in the summer and low altitudes, such as valleys and foothills, in the winter.

It’s also crucial to remember that not all Mule Deer migrate.

For example, Mule Deer migration rates are low in the Rocky Mountain foothills but high in the Wyoming Green River Basin.

They are arranged into groups of related females and their young, while adult bucks are sometimes absent since they prefer a more solitary roaming style.

Being active both throughout the day and at night, with peak activity in the early mornings and late evenings, this kind of deer makes an excellent target for hunters.

In western North America, mule deer are the most prevalent and numerous big animal species.

Only 15 states allow hunting of mule deer, even though they are a widely dispersed species that may be found from the Great Plains to the western coastal regions.

5. Blacktail Deer

A subspecies of the mule deer, the black-tailed deer is mostly found in California, western Oregon, and Washington and close to the coasts of British Columbia and Alaska.

Due to their tail pattern, which differs from its larger subspecies, the Mule Deer, they are sometimes called Columbian Deer. 

Whether this kind of deer should be treated as a separate species or as a subspecies of the mule deer is frequently debated. 

This kind of deer is particularly active at dawn and twilight and regularly causes car accidents. 

Blacktail Deer can travel several kilometers by swimming. Their geographic range includes southern woodlands, forests, and riverbanks.

Due to their tail pattern, which differs from its larger subspecies, the Mule Deer, they are sometimes called Columbian Deer.

Whether this kind of deer should be treated as a separate species or as a subspecies of the mule deer is frequently debated. 

This kind of deer is particularly active at dawn and twilight and regularly causes car accidents. 

6. Elk

One of the biggest types of deer in North America is the elk, sometimes called the wapiti, a Native American term that means “light-colored deer.” 

Antlers, which stand at least four feet above a male elk’s head, are the animal’s most imposing characteristic. 

Elk now mostly inhabit western North America, especially in mountainous regions like Yellowstone National Park and the National Elk Refuge in Wyoming.

Although primarily located in western North America, tiny elk populations are being reintroduced in a few eastern states.

The Tule, Manitoba, Roosevelt, and Rocky Mountain Elk are the four subspecies that still exist in North America today.

They can be found from the Californian coast to the mountain ranges east of the Cascade Mountains. 

7. Caribou

The term reindeer, sometimes known as a caribou in Europe, describes the wild population of reindeer in North America.

Originally from the Arctic and hilly regions of Europe and North America, caribou are a species of deer. 

One of the types of deer in North America that moves widely is the caribou. As the summer months approach, herds go north to their grazing pastures.

While migrating south during the winter, they spend the season hiding out and feeding on lichens.

Their widespread range includes Asia, Europe, and northern North America. Their distribution in North America stretches from Alaska to northern Canada. 

In North America, caribou generally inhabit boreal and sub-boreal woods. They also favor northern Canada and Alaska.

In Alaska, caribou like bare tundra year-round, while most herds favor boreal forests in the winter. 

Male Caribou can reach a height of six feet and weigh up to 700 pounds, while females can only reach 260 pounds. Their normal coats are brown with some white undertones.

The start of the caribou rut season is from early September to late November, and the gestation period is typically seven and a half months.

Males compete for dominance by attaching antlers to rival males and driving them away to gain access to females.

The most dominant male caribou can stop feeding and breed with up to 20 different females at once. 

Alaska offers the most accessible opportunities for shooting caribou. Some of the larger Bulls can be challenging to locate despite not being very challenging to hunt.

The caribou season starts in August and concludes in December after the great herds have migrated.

The distinctive antlers of this kind of game, which have many points and eye guards, are what most hunters find appealing.  

8. Sika Deer 

Silk deer is next on our list of types of deer in North America.

East Asian native sika deer, also known as spotted or Japanese deer, are currently overpopulated in Japan. In the US, Texas and Maryland are also home to them.

The Sika Deer has the highest population in Japan, where attempts are being made to manage the expanding population.

Their range extends to subtropical woods in eastern Asia and intensively inhabited areas.

Their preferred environment consists mainly of deep forests. They migrate to cropland with forests but also graze in cleared forest areas.

The Sika Deer can live in most of the places they are found since they are easily adapted to various habitats. 

The Sika Deer is one of the rare types of deer in North America that retains its markings as it ages. On the back of their light brownish coat are huge, dominating patches.

Females can weigh up to 70 pounds, but males often reach around 90 pounds.

Additionally, they have a short, thick, delicate-legged body with robust, upright antlers, especially for stags (male Sika Deer).  

Males will mate with several females during the breeding season in late September.

For these types of deer in North America, the gestation period lasts roughly seven months, during which the mother gives birth to a single fawn.

However, hunting them within their historical range is only lawful in Russia.

9. Red Deer 

One of the types of deer found in Europe, portions of western Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Peru is the Red Deer, which is closely related to the Elk.

The Red Deer is frequently observed in herds and is considered a significant food source by other species. 

They are well-known for their seasonal migration patterns, which include spending the winters in forested areas at lower elevations and moving to higher altitudes in the summer.

The short, reddish-brown coat of the Red Deer is reddish-brown in the summer and grayish-brown in the winter. 

They can be distinguished from other types of deer in North America by their yellowish-cream short tail and rump patch.

Stags have large, backward-sweeping antlers, and adult Red Deer are rarely observed with spots. 

For Red Deer, the rutting season starts in the spring and lasts through the beginning of summer.

The gestation period is roughly seven months. Females often have one or two children per year. 

10. Axis Deer

The axis deer, sometimes called the chital or spotted deer, is an indigenous species of deer to the Indian subcontinent.

In 1932, Axis Deer was first introduced as a game meat, but they later escaped and settled in Texas.

They can be found in open places during the hottest hours of the day in their preferred habitat, which has a warmer climate.

These types of deer in North America can be spotted living in grasslands near forested shelters.

Due to the abundant foliage in those locations, they also choose woods near rivers.

Males of the Axis Deer can weigh up to 250 pounds, while females typically weigh around 100 pounds.

Females do not develop huge antlers, but males do. Their coat is typically dark or reddish-brown with a little white patch and has a faint white underbelly.

During the rutting season, men combat one another to display dominance. The toughest, antlered, strongest male gets to procreate.

After a 7.5-month gestation, females normally give birth to a single fawn. The breeding season lasts all year long. 

With private and open-range chances, Texas is the main state for Axis Deer hunting.

While private hunting may call for fees, approval, and permits, free-range hunting requires a permit.

When hunting these types of deer in North America, cozy blinds and tree stands are frequently employed, but spot-and-stalk tactics are also used.  

11. Moose

This is the last on our list of types of deer in North America. The moose, which belongs to the New World deer subfamily, is the largest and heaviest species in the deer family.

Most adult males show characteristic palm-shaped antlers during mating rituals and for aesthetic purposes.

“moose,” derived from the Algonquian word “moosu,” is a borrowing.

In the Northern Hemisphere, moose primarily inhabit boreal and temperate broadleaf forests, though they have also been found in subarctic regions.

Maine has the highest population among the lower 48 states, so people typically reside in Canada, Alaska, and New England.

In contrast to most deer species, moose are solitary creatures that consume water and terrestrial plants.

They move between various habitats as the seasons change in search of food plants, safety from predators, and shelter from harsh weather.

Thanks to their thicker skin and heat-retaining coat, they are particularly tolerant of the cold, but in warm weather, they prefer to be submerged in cool water because they are excellent swimmers.