Deer are pretty fast, if not the fastest. They have a wildly majestic and beautiful sprint that makes them look beautiful. Although the primary purpose of deer to run is to avoid predators. Therefore, when it comes to survival, many think how fast does a deer run?
Although, they are not as fast as a cheetah. Thus, their speed depends on a number of things, including the species of deer, its size, age, and strength. However, on average, a deer can run more than 30 miles per hour. Likewise, Caribou is the fastest deer, as it can attain a top speed of 50 miles per hour.
In addition, the speed of deer varies from time to time since their habitat plays a major role in determining their energy. Further, they are excellent at springing and leaping.
Let us explore further!
How Fast Do Deer Run?
While finding the answer to deer speed, it is essential to keep some aspects in mind that affect it. One of the major points distinguishing deer speed is its species. However, studies have revealed the average speed of deer is about 30mph.
However, under certain circumstances, primarily when a predator is after them, they will have the fastest they can. Moreover, they are not accustomed to maintaining the top speed for an extended period. They will naturally slow down as the body tires.
Likewise, speed changes from species to species. For instance, a reindeer can achieve a speed of 43 mph, whereas a caribou can further speed up to 50mph.
What is the Average Speed of Deer?
Since each deer species has its top speed, zoologists have recorded and averaged deer speed. Here is a list of the average speeds of different species.
● White-tailed deer – 30mph
● Moose – 35mph
● Mule deer – 35mph
● Elk – 45mph
● Caribou – 50mph
If we compare these speeds with humans, deer are 3 times faster.
3 Most Common Deer Species and Their Top Speeds
Although biologically, there are numerous deer species; we will consider the following three when discussing their speeds.
● White-tailed deer
● Mule deer
● Red deer
Let us understand the top speeds of these species and see how they react to certain situations.
White-Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer are more accustomed to the eastern part of the United States. They have an average height of 3ft 6 inches and weigh around 203-405 lbs for males and 155-218 lbs for females.
When necessary, they can run at a speed of 35mph (56 km/h). However, they usually only walk, trot, or bound. If you are lucky, you can see white tailed deer swimming as well.
Moreover, they sprint for the sake of their life, if they sense any predator, including humans, they would run as fast as they can.
Mule Deer
Mule deer live in the western part of the United States. However, you can also find them in other parts of the country as they travel south to Mexico.
They are shorter than white tailed deer, reaching 3ft tall on average. However, they weigh more than their cousin whitetail deer as they attain 154 to 331 lbs.
However, their smaller height and heavier weight do not affect their speed as they can run at a speed of 38 mph (70 km/h). It also proves the fact that animals’ mass does not affect their running speed.
Red Deer
One fun fact about measuring the speed of red deer is that it was observed on a treadmill where they galloped at an average speed of 35-40 mph (60 kph).
Moreover, these are generally found in North America and Canada.
Deer Physiology: How Are Deer Able To Run So Fast?
Deer are generally excellent runners; they use their speed to outrun predators. Despite having a slow top speed as compared to cheetahs or greyhounds, they even dodge them for safety. However, this is not by chance, as there are anatomy and physiology that help deer to make such fast sprints.
Here are key elements that help deer run so fast, which is essential to learn in addition to knowing how fast a deer runs.
Speedy Genes Survive
Predators will catch the slowest member of the herd, therefore removing them from the gene pool. Therefore removing sluggish deer from the pool. Contrarily, faster deer will pass super speedy genes to the next generation of fawns.
Over time, this creates a pool of highly skilled and fast deer that can handle predators and improve their habitat.
Could A Human Outrun A Whitetail Deer?
Since deer have long and slender legs, they act like springs. Therefore, they are able to sprint at a pace that is not possible for other animals.
Moreover, they have specialized muscles and tendons that can store and release instant energy during each stride when they are running.
Additionally, they have a unique respiratory and cardiovascular system. Their system can supply continuous oxygen to their muscles, enabling them to run fast and sustain the pace for a specific time.
Likewise, their keen senses also make them agile.
If Deer Are So Fast, How Do Humans Hunting Deer?
One thing for sure is that deer are faster than humans; if a deer runs away from your shot, do not try cashing it. However, humans are still able to hunt deer despite being slow.
However, humans have developed numerous ways to prey on deer without running. For instance, we will use a greyhound dog, horses, and gunshot from a distance. Therefore, humans do not necessarily have to run with a deer like a cheetah to hunt a deer.
Speed and Blood Loss
If you had hit the deer, but the shot was not accurate enough to kill it right away. Tracking an injured deer becomes a necessity; however, interestingly, an injured deer can also reach top speed.
Nevertheless, the continuous blood loss will eventually have an impact on speed. So, you keep tracking, as you will eventually get to a dead deer.
Can a Dog Outrun a Deer?
Since many hunters use dogs to track and catch deer, therefore, it is vital to know what types of dogs can outrun a deer by achieving a speed higher than that of a deer.
Since dog speed varies from breed to breed, let us have a look at the average speeds of famous dogs.
● Greyhound: 45 mph (72 km/h)
● Vizsla: 40 mph (64 km/h)
● German shepherd: 30 mph (48 km/h)
● Boxer: 35 mph (56 km/h)
So, we can see that dogs can match and even outrun a deer. However, it depends on the dog’s health and fitness. So, keep your dog regularly exercised if you are planning to use it for your next hunting expedition.
How Fast are Deers’ Predators?
Coyotes, bears, and wolves are the most haunting predators for deer. However, none of these beat humans. Nevertheless, we will focus our attention on wild predators.
Which Are Faster, Deer Or Bears?
Both deer and bear have almost the same average speeds. Like deer, a bear can achieve an average speed of 35mph, as it has powerful forelegs. Therefore, we can say that deer and bears have identical speeds.
Are Cougars Faster Than Deer?
The Cougars are really quick! They can reach between 40 and 50 mph; therefore, they are faster than deer. In addition, they use a burst of energy to charge at deer.
Can Wolves Catch Whitetail Deer?
The average speed of a wolf is 35 mph, which is equal to a deer. However, wolves cannot maintain this speed for a consistent period and have to put brakes.
How does a Deer Avoid Predators?
One of the best methods adopted by deer to avoid predators is to run away. Often, a deer will run towards a familiar trail when it senses a danger. In this way, they use familiarity to avoid obstacles to their advantage.
Moreover, they run in zigzag manners, thus using their fidgeting impulses. They use it as a defensive maneuver to dodge predators in pursuit.
Likewise, deer use their jumping ability to avoid predators. At full speed, they cover a distance of 30 horizontal feet in a single leap.
How to Tell a Deer is About to Run?
Body language is the best source of information for predicting whether a deer is about to run or not. They also use this source to let other deer know of the approaching danger.
Further, they generally make distress signals, for instance, flagging before making a run. Moreover, they will raise their tail upwards to indicate danger. So, if you see a deer flagging, it is a clear signal that it will launch soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest deer species?
Caribou is the fastest deer species, as it can go as fast as 50 miles per hour.
Could a deer outrun a horse?
No! Horses are faster than deer, mainly due to their evolutionary adaptations for speed. Therefore, a deer cannot outrun a horse.
How fast are deer compared to tigers?
A tiger can easily outrun a deer as it has a speed of 50mph. Therefore, tigers are faster than deer.
What terrain are deer fastest in?
Bottoms, gullies, or ravines are the best terrain for deer to run at full speed. Therefore, valleys become their preferred places as they can run to save their lives.
Is there anything that scares deer the most?
Predators like coyotes, bears, and humans scare deer the most. Although there are other predators as well, these three are top of the list that make deer feel danger.
What are the weaknesses of deer?
Deer have a poor depth perception, as they cannot focus on one location with both eyes. Likewise, they have a lower resolution and are colorblind.