Wildlife managers require reliable and cost-effective methods for selecting capturing site. Live-deer capturing is a key factor for the success of radio telemetry, habitat selection, relocation, and many other deer ecological studies. Infrared-triggered cameras are often used for population-density survey, and an index of browsing intensity provides valuable estimates of vegetation and forest impacts caused by overabundant deer. We tested site selection of live capturing of sika deer (Cervus nippon yezoensis) from unbaited camera tapping and browsing intensity for deer on Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Hokkaido, Japan. The result of our study showed browsing intensity is insufficient and less reliable. Although more equipment cost requires, unbaited camera trapping is suitable technique to select live-capturing site of deer in particularly for wintering range of deer.

This study is supported financially by a grant from the Ministry of the Environment, under Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (D1103: Developing and Evaluating Capture Methods of Sika Deer for Ecosystem Management in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park).