A roe deer is a small deer which lives in woods in Europe and Asia. A rather small, delicately formed Eurasian deer (Capreolus capreolus) having short branched antlers in the male and a brownish coat. roe deer a small European and Asian deer that lives in forests. Almost tailless Eurasian deer (Capreolus capreolus), found in small family groups in lightly forested regions. It stands 26-34 in. (66-86 cm) at the shoulder. Its coat is reddish brown in summer and grayish brown, with a conspicuous white rump patch, in winter. The male has short, usually three-tined antlers roughened at the base. When alarmed, the deer barks like a dog