Abstract: Habitat selection is the process that animals actively select suitable habitats to escape predators, reproduce, and forage, reflecting the ecological needs of animals. Land covers and seven habitat variables of Jiangsu Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve were investigated by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing and field surveys in spring, summer, and autumn of 2019. The Vanderploeg selection coefficient and Scavia selection index were calculated, and statistical test and principal component analysis were performed. The results showed that: (1) in spring, Père David’s deer preferred to select the habitats of Spartina alterniflora, Imperata cylindrica, and Carex scabrifolia communities with vegetation coverage less than 30%, vegetation density less than 150 plants·m^-2, aboveground biomass less than 100 g·m^-2, and the distance to water source less than 210 m (P<0.05); (2) in summer, they preferred the habitats of S. alterniflora and I. cylindrica communities with aboveground biomass less than 40 g·m^-2 (P<0.05); and (3) in autumn, they preferred to select the habitats of I. cylindrica, S. alterniflora and Suaeda glauca communities with vegetation height less than 4 cm and vegetation density more than 30 plants·m^-2 (P<0.05). Key factors affecting habitat selection of Père David’s deer in different seasons were feeding factor, food abundance factor, and water source factor, respectively. Through revealing the differences in habitat selection by Père David’s deer in spring, summer, and autumn, our results provided the reference for the conservation and restoration of Père David’s deer and their habitats in Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve.

Key words: Père David’s deer, habitat selection, Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve.