Mule Deer

Zion's Most Common Large Mammal

The park's canyon floor is prime mule deer habitat - sheltered, well-watered, and rich with vegetation - and deer move through it all day long. They take their name from their large, mule-like ears, which swivel independently and give them exceptionally sharp hearing.

Unbothered by People

Mule deer in Zion are famously relaxed around visitors. It's not unusual to find them grazing in the Visitor Center parking lot, standing calmly beside a shuttle stop, or wandering through the campground at dusk as if they own the place - because, in a sense, they do. They were here long before the roads were. Give them room, and never feed them.

Antlers, Velvet, and the Rut

Bucks grow and shed their antlers every year. By late summer the antlers are full-sized and covered in soft velvet; by the fall rut the velvet is gone and bucks compete for does. Fawns arrive in late spring and are often seen in June and July, sometimes still dappled with white spots.

Where & When to See Mule Deer

Look along the Pa'rus Trail, the meadows near Zion Lodge, and around the Visitor Center - deer are reliable there at dawn and dusk, and often visible midday in winter. In the colder months they gather on the canyon floor where forage and shelter are easiest to find.