The species is adaptable and occurs in temperate forests with occasional snowfall as well as in dense forests in the warm subtropical zone. In China, Reeves’s Muntjac has been reported to occupy rocky places and open woodlands of pine and oak. It seeks cover in steep ravines, and usually has well defined areas to which it retreats (Smith and Xie 2008). It has also been reported to reach the highest densities in low mountains and hilly areas, at forest edges and in shrubby habitats (Sheng 1992). However, in Taiwan, it is found mostly in forested areas (Pei and Chiang 2004), typically in primary forest with dense canopy cover and it tends to avoid steep terrain (Chiang 2007). It is distributed over a wide elevation range, from near sea level to 3,500 m asl in habitats ranging from subtropical lowlands to coniferous forests/alpine grassland at the highest altitudes. However, there is a decreasing trend in abundance with increasing altitude (Chiang 2007). The species is basically solitary, although sometimes found in pairs or small family groups. Home ranges average about 100 ha, overlap considerably, and do not vary in size by gender. Females mature within the first year, with the majority of females reaching sexually maturity at eight months (Sheng 1992). It appears to lack strong seasonality in reproduction (Sheng 1992, Hayssen et al. 1993, Smith and Xie 2008). Gestation is 209-220 days. It grows new antlers in summer (peaking in June and July) (Pei and Liu 1994) (Sheng 1992, Pei and Chiang 2004) although velvet antlers were sporadically found throughout the year (Pei and Chiang 2004). In Taiwan, camera trapping data in remote areas with least human activities showed that Reeves’s Muntjac in Taiwan is crepuscular with significantly more diurnal than nocturnal activities (68% vs. 32%, Pei and Chiang 2004), which agreed with radio-telemetry results (McCullough et al. 2000), as well as those from mainland China (Chan unpublished data). It is most active during the 2 hours after sunrise and before sunset and seasonal variations of activity levels were more pronounced in the afternoon (Pei and Chiang 2004).

This species in endemic to China including Taiwan Island. In mainland China, this species ranges from Guangdong and Guangxi up to Gansu and Shaanxi, covering the vast subtropical region of the Zhujiang (Pearl) and Yangtze River catchment basins. The exact southern limit of this species is not clear, as old records from tropical Guangdong and Guangxi may be a result of misidentification of Muntiacus muntjak, as in the case of Hong Kong (Hill and Phillipps 1981, Shek 2006). Extensive camera trapping throughout South China in recent years put the southern species limit at north of 25°00’ at northern Guangxi (Chan, B. pers. comm.). The species has been introduced to England (where it is still present) and France (where it is no longer present) (Grubb 2005).

The species seems to be relatively secure in appropriate habitat, but its range is in an area where there is a high human population density and very heavy exploitation of wildlife. There is a need to monitor this species' habitat and population levels. In China, the species is not protected by national laws, but is protected under provincial regulations in some provinces. It occurs in most protected areas within its wide range.