mule deer

American  

noun

1. a deer, Odocoileus hemionus, of western North America, having large ears and a gray coat.

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mule deer British  

noun

1. a W North American deer, Odocoileus hemionus, with long ears and a black-tipped tail

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Etymology

Origin of mule deer

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Neither can male mountain lions or mule deer, both of which inhabit this dramatic desert.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026

McIntosh has watched mule deer since he was a kid.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2025

Santa Catalina Island’s mule deer are back in the crosshairs.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2025

One study found that a newborn mule deer west of the Sierra Nevada crest is over six times more likely to be killed by a black bear than to die of any other cause.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2024

Several times they spotted small bunches of mule deer moving along the upper meadow slopes near the tree line.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols