Abstract
Seasonal and yearly changes in head count, behavior pattern and utilized vegetation were observed in sika deer (Cervus nippon) by spotlight census in the Misen Mountains, Shimane Prefecture. Deer numbers were greatest in October, least in December, and remained constant from March to July 2002. The group composition in spring to summer was characterized by a single female or a group of females with juveniles. Male deer were active in autumn, when the herd was composed of single males or harems made up of a single male and a group of females. Sika deer were observed frequently in coniferous and broadleaved forests and on grassland. Their location depended on the distribution of vegetation along the spotlight census routes. Sika deer selectively grazed grassland in preference to other vegetation. The density of sika deer since 2002 has shown a decreasing trend in the Taisha and Izumo areas, but has increased in the Hirata area and expanded to the Kohoku area.
