A male deer can be called a stag or a buck depending on the size of the animal. Considering stag vs. buck terms, the term buck can be used for all male deer whether mature or immature, large or small. However, the term stag is used only for those male deer who are fairly large and mature.
Let us look at the main differences between a buck and a stag:
| Usage | Both the terms are used for male deer |
| Size | A buck can be smaller than a stag |
| Rarity of use | The term buck is more popularly used than stag |
| Strength | A stag is always strong while a buck might not be |
Table of Contents
What is a Stag?
Stag refers to a mature male deer having a large size. The animal has very large antlers compared to other male deer. These antlers are used for defense purposes and also help a stag in competing with other stags or bucks for female deer (Ref. 1). This term is not used universally.
What is a Buck?
Buck refers to a male deer of any size and at any stage of maturity. So, all male deer are called bucks. Their antlers might be large or small and can even be absent as in the case of water deer (Ref. 2). This term is used universally.
Considering the Strengths and Weaknesses of Stags and Bucks for Further Clarity
Stag Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths of a Stag
- They are mature and usually have a strong body.
- Large size and strong body help the animal in winning over its competition.
- Stag’s large antlers come in handy for defense purposes.
Weaknesses of a Stag
- The term stag is not widely used around the world.
- This term is quite narrow and refers only to a specific type of male deer.
Buck Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths of a Buck
- The term buck is widely used all over the globe.
- This term is very broad as it encompasses all types of male deer.
Weaknesses of a Buck
- A buck might or might not be strong depending on its size.
- The animal might not have antlers large enough for defense purposes.
- Bucks might be small, weak, and immature making them unfit for winning over their competitors.
Listing Buck vs. Stag Similarities for Further Understanding
- Both the terms are used to refer to a male deer.
- A large male deer can be called both a buck or a stag.
- A mature male deer can be referred to as both a buck or a stag.
- A male deer with large antlers can be called both a buck or a stag.
8 Key Points Of Difference Between Stag and Buck That You Must Be Aware Of
There are some key differences between stags and bucks that are listed here:
| Basis | Stag | Buck |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A large and mature male deer is called a stag. | A male deer is called a buck. |
| Size | Stags are always large. | Bucks might or might not be large. |
| Maturity levels | All stags are mature. | Bucks can both be mature or immature. |
| Antlers | A stag usually has large antlers. | A buck can have large, small, or no antler. |
| Strength | Stags are usually strong. | Bucks might or might not be strong. |
| Usage | The term stag is not used universally. | The term buck is used universally. |
| Comprehensiveness | The term stag is narrow as it covers only a specific type of male deer. | The term buck is broader as it covers all types of male deer. |
| Relationship | All stags are bucks. | All bucks are not stags. |
Comparison Chart
Stag and Buck FAQ
What is the Difference Between a Stag and a Buck?
The major buck vs. stag difference lies in the animal’s size. The term stag is only used for a large male deer while the term buck is used for all male deer whether large or small. Stags are mature male deer whereas bucks can both be mature or immature male deer. A buck is, therefore, a more comprehensive term used to mention all male deer including stags.
Is a Male Deer a Stag or a Buck?
All male deer can be called bucks. When considering stag vs. deer, stags are also male deer but this term is not used for immature and small male deer. In other words, only the large and mature male deer are called stags.
Are Stags Bigger than Bucks?
Stags are extremely big male deer but we cannot call them bigger than bucks. It is because the bucks that are large and mature are known as stags. So, while referring to a big male deer, you can use both terms interchangeably.
Are all Stags Bucks?
Yes, all stags are bucks since all male deer are known by the term buck. Stag is a term used to refer only to the mature and large male deer out of all the bucks.
Are all Bucks Stags?
No, all bucks are not stags. A male deer is called a buck irrespective of the animal’s size or maturity level. Stags, on the other hand, are large mature male deer that are strong and bear big antlers. So, the term stag is quite narrow whereas the term buck is very broad that covers stags and other male deer under it.
The Final Words
Both stag and buck terms are used for male deer. All male deer are called bucks whereas only the mature and large male deer are called stags. So, all stags can be called bucks while all bucks cannot be called stags. Another difference between a stag and a buck lies in the size of their antlers. Stags usually have very large antlers while bucks can feature large, small, or no antlers. Apart from that, it is worth noticing that the term stag is not universally used around the world while the term buck is pretty common in use.
