Julie Danner, age 11, of Casper, Wyo., for her question:

HOW MANY KINDS OF DEER ARE THERE?

Deer is the common name of more than 60 different hoofed animals. Included are reindeer, moose, elk, caribou and white tailed deer.

Deer are the only animals with bones on their heads that are called antlers. Unlike horns, which are actually hard layers of skin, antlers are true bones.

The largest deer in the world is the North American moose. This monster weighs over 1,800 pounds and stands about seven and a half feet tall. On the other end of the scale is the pudu of western South America. This tiny deer is only about one foot high and weighs 20 pounds.

You'll find deer living in many parts of the world. Some of them are at home on hot, dry deserts while others live in the Arctic Circle. Other deer can be found on the plains, in forests or near swamplands.

Deer have been hunted by man for hundreds of years because deer skin was used for clothing and deer meat was used for food. The early settlers learned from the Indians how to dry deer meat, which is called venison.

Venison was dried either in the sun or over a campfire. This method was called jerking. It made the meat light in weight and it also allowed men to carry large amounts easily. It would keep for a long time and could be eaten later.

Hunters killed so many deer that finally the animals had to be protected by law. Today, national and local governments have established regulations to protect deer.

The deer that you'll find in the United States include the white tailed deer, the mule deer, the caribou, the elk and the moose. The white tailed deer, which is also called the Virginia deer, is the most common large game animal of North America. It stands about three and a half feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds. When the deer starts to run, its foot long tail stands straight up.

Mule deer are a lot like the white tailed deer, except they have large, furry ears which resemble those of a mule. Buckskin leather is made from the skins of both the mule deer and the white tailed deer.

The reindeer of North America are the caribou. Unlike all other deer except reindeer, both the male and female caribou have antlers. These animals grow to be about four feet tall.

Elk stand about five feet tall and their antlers may spread to more than five feet at the widest part. The elk is also called the wapiti.

Moose is the largest of all deer. Often their legs are four feet long and their antlers may weigh 60 pounds.

Even though it is a huge animal, the moose can run quickly and gracefully through the forest if trouble seems near.