Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also venison) a (promiscuous) young woman.

1609		Dekker Gul’s Horne-Booke 15: The spending Englishman, who to maintaine a paltry warren of unprofitable Conies, disimparkes the stately swift-footed wild Deere.
1703		Hell Upon Earth 4: Some are expert at Night-gaming, or Venison-stealing; which is a Sport that proves often Dear.
1831		Satirist (London) 31 July 133/1: Sir Roger Gresley has had an action brought against him by a man who had the care of his deer. A bill was sent to him, [...] for supplying him with a a good fat buck and a pair of antlers.
1836		‘Some Love To Push’ in Cockchafer 48: Our deer we mark in the midnight dark, / And our loaded piece is there, / Our aim we take ere our dear can wake, / And oft we shoot the hair (hare).
1842		Whip & Satirist of NY & Brooklyn (NY) 3 Dec. n.p.: A sweet little deer caught [...] by a puff of wind and thrown three somersets and a flip-flop.
1843		Satirist & Sporting Chron. (Sydney) 4 Mar. 3/4: Sporting Tom [...] may go to Cooke’s River, over Prout’s bridge, looking for a deer! (dear).
1853		‘Cuthbert Bede’ Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) I 105: Our hero [...] strolled round the the neatly-kept potato-gardens denominated ‘the Parks’, looking in vain for the deer that have never been there, and finding them represented only by nursery maids and — others.
1903		A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 247: He is a terrible fellow with barmaids and such small deer.
1963		‘Nino Culotta’ Gone Fishin’ 142: ‘I fell over when I was frightened by a deer.’ ‘Blonde or brunette?’ ‘A deer with horns.’.

2. a dupe.

1664

Etherege Love In A Tub I iii: I’ve lodg’d a Deer shall make amends for all.