The red deer distances in Austria and its neighbouring countries have increased continuously over the last decades. Rising populations require increased shooting clearances, thus often increasing hunting pressure with the consequence of "instructed" red deer populations whose visibility is steadily decreasing. Inappropriately structured red deer populations with shifted sex ratios in favour of the animals also produce significantly more growth than well structured populations. For many people, the hunting of red deer is the "heart" of the hunt and in many places shapes the course of the hunting year. The practice of hunting often follows longstanding traditions and the game has cleverly adapted to our hunting behaviour patterns. The "unwary" are more easily hunted, the "more intelligent" survive and pass on their cautious behaviour. Successful hunting needs under.