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

See Examples For:

mule deer

And in its forests and on its grasslands, tule elk and mule deer graze, while bobcats and coyotes hunt for rabbits and mountain beavers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

Bruce Young, 80, a descendant of homesteaders, sat on his porch overlooking Stoner Creek near the Territory 1889 site, and shook his head as a mule deer wandered past.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 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

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