What Is a Group of Deer Called? More Names Than Simply 'Herd'

If you’ve seen several deer grazing together in a field or darting across a forest path, you may have wondered: What is a group of deer called?

The answer is simple and surprisingly common: a herd.

While "herd" is the most apt term in modern usage, deer have inspired several collective nouns through history, literature, and regional tradition. Let's walk through some of these names and explore why the deer family ( Cervidae ) gets such poetic attention.

The Classic Collective: Herd

The word "herd" is widely used across North American deer species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk. In the wild, herds are usually seasonal, forming during migration or in winter.

A herd may contain female deer (does), young deer (fawns), and occasionally male deer (bucks). During the rut