A questionnaire was conducted to document the present hunting situation and hunters' attitude toward wildlife management, hunting regulations and the hunting environment in Saitama and Tochigi prefectures. One hundred ninety three respondents were from Saitama and 126 were from Tochigi. An average age in year was 55.0 in Saitama and 55.3 in Tochigi, and independent businessmen were the most numerous. Pheasant and duck were the most popular game species in both prefectures. Annual number of days spent hunting were 21.3 in Saitama and 24.7 in Tochigi, which was reported to have decreased recerntly due to low game populations. Disappearing hunting sites, diversifying recreation, and the anti-hunting movement were also reported to have contributed to this phenomenon. Most hunters regarded themselves as a naturalist and were interested in the idea of wildlife management.

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Japanese weasels (Mustela itati itati) were introduced into Miyake-jima Island, Tokyo, to reduce the number of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) and black rats (R. rattus). They currently threaten the endemic component of this island's fauna. Public attitude toward nature, introduced Japanese weasels and the future of the island were studied using a questionnaire survey. One hundred eighty seven families were nominated for the survey, of which 80 individuals responded (2% of all residents). Eighty six percent of the respondents were interested in nature, and 56% thought it important to protect nature or develop industries that integrate nature conservation practices into their activities. Ninety five percent of the respondents recognized that Japanese weasels had been introduced and 94% knew the purpose of that introduction. A significantly greater number of respondents agreed that control after Japanese weasel on Miyke-jima Island was necessary than those who disagreed (X²-test, p < 0.001).

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A questionnaire was used to evaluate population trends of Japanese wild boars (Sus scrofa leucomystax) in the Showa era (1926-1989). Response was received from 419 branches of the Japan Hunters Association in 35 prefectures. Population trends were classified into 4 phases (increasing, decreasing I, decreasing II and recovering) by changes in wild boar harvest and the index of hunting success of each prefecture. From the period befor WWII (BW) (1926-1942) to the period after WW II (AW) (1946-1959), decreasing trends were found in the southern part of the Kinki district and Shizuoka, Miyazaki and Kochi prefectures where wild boar hunting was prosperous. Increasing trends were found in the other prefectures. From AW to the high economic growth period (HG) (1960-1974) prefectures which previously showed decreasing trends had increased, but from HG to the present (PR) (1975-1989) most prefectures showed decreasing trends. However, increasing trends during the period from HG to PR were found in Gunma and Tottori prefectures of Honshu Island, and Fukuoka, Saga and Oita prefectures of Kyusyu Island. This may be due to the fact that these areas are located at the wild boar dispersal front in each respective island.

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We investigated tree barking by sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Nikko, Tochigi prefecture in 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997. In Omote Nikko area, 15.8% (28 species) of 2,288 trees (52 species) were barked by sika deer in 1993, and it increased to 31.5% (19 specis) of 1, 038 trees (28 species) in 1994. In Oku Nikko area, 5.5% (11 species) of 397 trees (19 species) were damaged in 1994. Average size of tree surface damaged and ratio of heavily barked trees (over 50% of trunk circumference) increased significantly from 1993 to 1994 in Omote Nikko area (t-test, p < 0.001, x²-test, p < 0.05 respectively). Sika deer preferably damaged Abies homolepis, Quercus mongolica, Clethra barbinervis and Chamaecyparis obtusa. Percentage average of damaged trees at the investigated sites exponentially increased with the lapse of year. Decrease of occurence of tree barking by the animals in high altitudinal area above 1,500m since 1991 may be caused by the increase of snow accumulation that forced the animals move downwards. In a new wintering area of the southern slope of Mt. Nantai, the area with damaged trees expanded to high altitude from 1992 to 1996. On the other hands, at Akanuma, Oku-Nikko, mostly dominated by Larix leptolepis, the damage peaked in 1993 and then decreased rapidly until 1996.

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