White-Tailed Deer are a mammal found in many forests of the United States, as well as the rest of North, South, and Central America. Another common name for this species is the Virginia Deer. As they occupy many of the forests that hikers roam, they are one of the most common mammals that are encountered out on the trail.
Human Interactions
Generally speaking, white-tailed deer are quite cautious and weary of humans, choosing to either flee or keep a safe distance from them. This will vary greatly depending on where the deer is found, and deer that are closer to major human civilization hubs such as towns, cities, or national parks may be more comfortable and willing to interact with humans in search of food.
Safety
Deer are generally safe from a hiker's perspective, as they are herbivores and don't the means, reason, or temperament to aggress towards humans. There have been occasions where deer use their hooves and legs to trample and stomp on humans, though typically those involve inappropriate behavior from the human. As with all animals in the wilderness, do not approach them and leave them alone. Observing from a distance is OK, but humans should not attempt to interfere in their lives out in the wild.
Diseases
Deer have been known to carry some dangerous diseases, namely rabies, though the amount of reported cases of rabies is in rapid decline. The biggest concern for deer in the wild is that they are common vectors for ticks, which can carry many diseases including Lyme. Chances are that an area with many deer will have many ticks as well.
Antlers
The males, known as bucks, are typically larger than females and will have antlers that are shed every year. These are a prized possession for hunters.
