<p>Foragers face many variables that influence their food intake, such as habitat structure, time, weather, resource characteristic and food quality, as well as plant defenses. I studied of the foraging behavior of free-ranging common duikers (<i>Sylvicapra grimmia</i>) within the Soutpansberg, South Africa. I measured foraging using giving-up densities (GUDs) and activity using camera-traps to test for habitat utilization and dietary selection by common duikers inhabiting a grassland containing distinct “islands” of woody vegetation. I used GUDs to test for: 1. Spatial and temporal habitat selection during the four lunar phases, 2. selection among triplets of trays with varying food density, and 3. among trays with varying food quality. Foraging was affected by the surrounding vegetation and moon phase. Foraging was highest (GUDs were significantly lower) during the no moon phase and outside the islands of woody vegetation. The duikers’ foraging efforts changed with resource density and favored pellets with the highest protein content. The results demonstrated that foraging patterns are affected by habitat assessment and perceptions of risk which alter the overall habitat quality. The methods integrate behavior into wildlife ecology by “asking” the animals to reveal their perspective of the environment. The methods are applicable for predator–prey studies, habitat quality, and for assessing the impacts of heterogeneity on spatial and temporal habitat-use.</p>