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

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

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 2026

Originally, she said, she was betting on a coyote, but now she’s putting her money on mule deer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2026

Either way, the coyotes found a ready food source in the fawn of mule deer, which themselves have a controversial history on the island.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2025

Our second night out, two hours before dawn, I was steering from the flying bridge when the head of a mule deer materialized in the spotlight's glare.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer