What Is a Group of Deer Called?

Deers? Dears? Deihrs? Knowing what to call a group of something has almost become a pastime nowadays, but there’s a good reason — it’s fun! Today, we are going to be taking a look at one of the most commonly seen animals in the world, the lowly deer. There are many different types of deer, but what do you call them? Let’s find out: What is a group of deer called? The different answers may surprise you!

What is a Group of Deer Called?

In most situations, you can refer to a group of animals like deer simply as a “herd”. A herd of deer is probably the most common way to designate them, but it is most assuredly the most boring. To be more deer-specific, the other ways to refer to a group of deer include a bevy, a rangale, a bunch, or a parcel. When using parcel, however, it’s generally going to refer to a group of only young deer.

Grammatically, one could also refer to a group of deer simply as a “group” since that is a collective noun or even a mob. One thing to be sure of, however, is don’t call them a gang! Gangs are a reference to elk, so unless you want to risk angering the rangale of deer you are referring to, it’s best to avoid it.

How Do You Say Deer Plural?

Getting the exact definition for a group of deer is maybe what you were looking for, but in case you were looking for how to say deer plural, we also have that!

The word “deer” is an irregular noun that does not change in its plural form. This means that whether you are referring to one deer or multiple deer, the word remains the same. For example, you could say, “I saw a deer in the forest” or “I saw many deer in the forest,” and the word would not change.

This is important to note, even when referring to different types of deer. In common language, for example, fish is the singular and plural form of the word, but the word “fishes” is used to represent different types of fish together. There is NOT a version of deer that is equivalent to the way that English speakers use fishes.

What are Deer Called Around the World?

There are different species of deer that live all over the world, but does everyone call them deer? Well, it depends on the native language, firstly.

In English-speaking regions, “deer” is usually a reference to a group of ruminant animals that belong to the Cervidae family, which includes common members like the red deer, white-tailed deer, and the roe deer. In scientific language, however, the category is a bit more expansive than English speakers generally use in regular language. This can be seen in how we reference animals like elk, caribou, and moose, which are all three considered members of the Cervidae family and, therefore, deer. For most people, though, elk are called elk and moose and called moose, not deer. There is a bit of a distinction between what people call deer in everyday language and what is scientifically considered to be a deer.

Do Deer Gather in Herds?

Most species of deer gather in herds for protection against predators and for mating purposes. These herds are mainly all-male or all-female except during breeding season when males fight for control of a female herd. Certain types of deer, such as moose, do not travel in herds.

The size of deer herds can vary depending on the species and their habitat. For example, white-tailed deer form small male herds of between 3-5 individuals, while caribou herds are sometimes known to swell to 500,000 individuals, like what happened in 2003.

Herds of deer can be seen all over the world, especially in the United States. Smaller herds of white-tailed deer are often seen at the edges of forests during dawn and dusk hours, and larger herds of elk are seen in mountainous areas in states like Colorado and Utah.

Regardless of the type of deer you see, you now know what you can call them if they are in a group together!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Volodymyr Burdiak/Shutterstock.com