Antlers of the males are flattened and palmate with numerous points. Have no upper canines. Fawns are spotted at birth. Browses on twigs of hardwood trees and bushes. Mating occurs in September to October.
Bucks assemble the does in groups and fight off rivals.
Throughout mating season bucks do a dance-like ritual and bellow deeply to attract the females. Season lasts about 4 weeks. Fawn is suckled until the following spring. Males develop a single unbranched antler in their second year, and each succeeding year the antlers are larger and have more points until the fifth or sixth year. Antlers are generally shed in April and new ones are full grown and free of velvet in August.