What is the difference between stag and buck deer?
Both a stag and buck refer to the same animal. However, the difference is normally based on the maturity of the animal.
The article provides a detailed insight into the difference between stag and buck. Take the time to read through the guide for deeper insight.
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What Is a Stag Deer?
Stage refers to an adult large male deer. A large male deer tend to have very large antlers which are used for defense and also compete with other stags for females.
However, the term tends to differ depending on the dialect. Some people refer to extra-large male deer as bull and cow for females.
Besides that, the stag is a term that is not universally used and standardized. Therefore, do not find it difficult to call the large deer any name.
What Is a Buck Deer?
Buck is a general name used to refer to the male deer of any species. Sometimes the term can be used to refer to male sheep, goat, hare, and rabbit.
The term is highly standardized and it is applicable to any male deer regardless of the size or age. The male deer tend to be larger than female deer in size.
The name is widely used. They are found almost everywhere in the world except in Antarctica and Australia.
Comparison Chart: Stag vs Buck Deer
| Basic Terms | Stag | Buck |
| Meaning | Large adult male deer | Both mature and immature male deer |
| Size | Large | Moderate |
| Usage of Term | Rarely | Universal |
| Physical Features | Stronger to support large body weight | Strong for normal support in woodland |
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Main Difference Between Stag and Buck Deer In Point Form
- Stag refers to larger adult male deer while the buck is a term used to describe both mature and immature male deer.
- The stag is a term that is rarely used while the buck is a term that is widely used across the world.
- Stags tend to be bigger and stronger in terms of physicality when compared to bucks.
- Stags tend to be hostile when it comes to competition for females when compared to bucks.
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Comparison Video
Conclusion
Deer are mammals and herbivores. They belong to the family of Cervidae which is further subdivided into 23 genera with 47 species.
The term stag and buck tend to refer to male species of deer but the difference comes out from size and age.
The core difference between stag and buck is that stag is a large adult male deer while the buck is a general term used to describe both mature and immature male deer.
Examples of deer species are mule deer, spotted deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, reindeer, red deer, and chital among many others.
Moose is the largest species of deer and it normally weighs about 1800 lbs while the northern pudu is the smallest species that weigh 20 lbs.
The male deer are larger than females and they grow deciduous antlers. However, male and female deer in the species of caribou have antlers.
More Sources and References
- Deer. Wikipedia
- British Deer Guide. Country Files