Buck vs Stag: Difference and Comparison

Is there any difference between a buck and a stag (Buck vs Stag)?

A buck and a stag refers to the male deer. The difference between stag and buck is based on their maturity as male deer. Buck is also a word that refers to a male antelope, goat, sheep, or rabbit.

Unlike a doe, a stag has antlers, and it grows larger in size compared to a doe. The antlers are a distinctive feature of the male deer.

We will be looking at more differences between a stag vs buck.

What Is a Stag?

The English dictionary defines the term “Stag” as an adult male deer. It’s also another word for a buck- a male deer with a large antler.

Generally, there are different terms for the male deer based on the species. Stag is the word generally used to describe the largest type of deer. Stag is a male deer, a fully grown adult male red deer.

Naturally, a stag is known to have large antlers. Their antlers are a distinctive feature that differentiates them from a female deer- a doe. A stag is naturally larger than a doe and the antlers on its head are usually used for fighting with other male deer for the right to mate.

The word “stag” refers to an adult male deer, one that is more mature than a buck. A male deer can be described as a buck. However, a stag is the name often reserved for large bucks.

According to Wikipedia, the male (stag) red deer weighs about 160 to 240 kilograms (350 to 530 pounds). The size of the stag is about 17 to 250 cm (69 to 98 inches).

A stag is bigger than a doe and weighs more compared to a doe’s 120 to 170 kilograms (260 to 370 pounds).

Also Read: Doe vs Buck: Difference and Comparison

What Is a Buck?

The word “buck” refers to a male deer, antelope, goat, rabbit or sheep. A buck, just like the stag has antlers. They also use their antlers to fight with other male deer for the right to mate with a doe.

Bucks naturally prefer to live alone until it’s mating season- It’s within this period they will try to look for female deer to mate with. Bucks are known to have wide track and they also have a swaggering gait.

Deer antlers are made of bone and they are usually in different shapes and sizes. Bucks shed their antlers during winter and they grow new ones in the springtime.

According to Wikipedia, the North American male deer, which is also known as a buck weighs about 68 to 136 kilograms (150 to 300 pounds). The average size of a buck is about 71 inches in total length and 39 inches in shoulder height.

Buck vs Stag: Facts about Deer

Let’s look at some real facts about deer such as their habitat, social structure, and feeding.

Habitat

A deer is a hoofed ruminant mammal of the family Cervidae, which is usually found near forest/woodland and scrubs. These mammals are herbivorous animals that primarily feed on grass.

There are some species that prefer to live in open areas of moorland and heath. Deer are animals that can easily adapt to live places where they can find food. These animals may be seen in urban areas where they can find a food source.

Social Structure

Deer may group in herds. They may also act in a more solitary manner based on their species, age, and sex. A solitary deer will likely be territorial. This is usually the male deer until its mating reason.

Naturally, herding animals are likely to form groups. The herd mainly consists of animals that are closely related.

The herding deer may choose specific areas (core areas) that are likely to be miles away from the others. Territorial deer may be rarely seen once a year in the herd.

In the herd, the does are responsible for nurturing the fawns, while the male deer encircle the herd, looking out for predators that may attack the herd.

Within the herd, the relationship of the young deer with the adults varies. In areas where different species live together, they usually live separate lives. However, there may be passive competition among these species for resources and they may be aggressive towards each other.

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Feeding

Deer prefer to stay in areas where they feel secure and have cover. These mammal animals can ingest large quantities of bulky plant food and then return to their secured area.

They return to their secured area, lie down and ruminate. Naturally, deer graze and browse- which is taking ground-level plants and food from higher shrubby plants and trees.

Every species has its preference and this may vary based on habitat.

Buck vs Stag: Sense of Smell

Deer have an excellent sense of smell to detect food. This is one of their best attribute that helps them to detect approaching danger. Deer have a nose similar to a dog and this allows them to pick up the faintest smell.

Deer Geography

Deer are found in all continents of Earth except Australia and Antarctica.

White-tailed deer are mainly found in the United States, specifically in the regions east of the Rocky Mountains, whereas mule deer are found in the west.

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Buck vs Stag: Key Differences between a Buck and a Stag

A stag is a male deer, specifically a grown and mature one. A buck is also a male deer of any age.

Stags are the older and more mature male deer with large antlers. They are bigger in size and weigh more than a young buck and a doe. Stags appear heavier than bucks with their antlers.

A buck wouldn’t stand a chance if it were to fight a full-grown stag. A buck wouldn’t match a stag in strength and being aggressive.

The word “stag” generally refers to the red deer but can sometimes be used to describe other species of deer. On the other hand the term “buck” is more inclusive as it refers to the male version of other animals like sheep, antelope, rabbit, and goat. It also applies to male species of deer such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, and tailed deer.

Buck vs Stag: Comparison Chart

	Buck	Stag
Definition	A buck is also a male deer, especially a younger male deer.	A stag is a male deer, specifically a grown and mature one.
Average weight	A buck weighs about 68 to 136 kilograms (150 to 300 pounds).	The male (stag) red deer weighs about 160 to 240 kilograms (350 to 530 pounds).
Size	The average size of a buck is about 71 inches in total length and 39 inches in shoulder height.	The size of the stag is about 17 to 250 cm (69 to 98 inches).
Physical features	Bucks are strong for normal support in woodland	Stags are stronger to support their large body weight

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Conclusion

A buck and a stag refers to the male deer but the difference between stag and buck is based on their maturity as a male deer. A stag is a male deer, specifically a grown and mature one, while a buck, also a male deer refers to a younger deer.

There is a difference between a buck and a stag in terms of their size, weight, and maturity.

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References

A-ZAnimals: Stag Vs Deer: What’s the Difference?
Differencebetween: Difference Between Stag and Buck
The Deer Initiative: Species Ecology Deer Behaviour
Havahart: DEER