Hunting suitability model: a new tool for managing wild ungulates

Rising numbers of wild ungulates in human‐dominated landscapes Europe can induce negative effects like damages to forests. Therefore, effective wildlife management, including harvesting through hunting is becoming increasingly important. However, current practices often fail diminish those effects, as many ungulate species retreat areas unsuitable for hunting. This predator–avoidance behaviour makes it difficult fulfill the demand reducing population numbers. Thus, there an urgent need innovative and management tools counteract this problem. Here we provide first time a suitability model mountainous visualise objectively realistically. Using red deer species, modelled with high spatial resolution (10 × 10 m), based on remote sensing information, field surveys expert knowledge professional hunters. We analysed spatio–temporal habitat selection by radio‐collared relation locations varying suitability. The various regarding influenced consistent our hypothesis. Red avoided suitable during daylight hours season, but not night. seems perceive landscape heterogeneous anthropogenic predation risk, shaped suitability, it. confirms empirical realism model. Concerning provides high‐resolution predictions where will when perceived risk increases. also yields useful insights particular locations, which valuable information especially non‐locals. Furthermore, serve planning tool inform decisions about strategies be performed most efficiently manage therefore minimize human–wildlife conflicts.