Your end conclusion is partially correct, but the means by which you arrived at it isn't.

Cougars and coyotes (and actually any and all predators) do not "usually go after the healthiest and largest animals they can get". That's false. Quite the opposite. Lions, tigers, cheetahs, coyotes, cougars, etc all prey on the weakest animals in the pack if they have a choice. It's an evolutionary learned behavior because in nature, even a slight injury can end up fatal if it prevents the predator from moving at full speed. The added nutritional content of taking a heavier healthy buck over a sick or small one does not make up for the additional risk of sustaining an injury in doing so.

You end up seeing a lot of the larger bucks (with whitetails) killed by cougars because the bigger, dominant bucks tend to be the most likely to stand their ground instead of running. And while they may be big and bad, they still can't handle a cougar and become cat food. Coyotes do not target large bucks unless they're desperate. They'll always pick the weaker animals if they have any option whatsoever.

It's more likely that "the best sheep" were the ones trying to defend the herd and died as a consequence than it is that the coyotes were targeting them.

Looks like all these coyote experts can't answere don k question. I can answere it for you don. They eat what they want when they want!!! It don't matter if its sick, healthy, alive or dead. They get it in there mind and that's what they do. These coyote cuddlers on here don't have a clue bout what goes on in the woods except what some other looser tells them. If you let 1 coyote walk you are as guilty as he is for killing your own animals.

Ranchman you don't no sh!t.when you can read a coyotes mind ill hire you and pay 100k a year. You been fooled by the other coyote cuddlers on here. The truth is you are turning a opinion off some biologist or another educated nutt ball that wouldn't no a coyote kill from a road kill. Any one that says always or never with a coyote has never had to deal with them on a killing level

Ranchman you don't no sh!t.when you can read a coyotes mind ill hire you and pay 100k a year. You been fooled by the other coyote cuddlers on here. The truth is you are turning a opinion off some biologist or another educated nutt ball that wouldn't no a coyote kill from a road kill. Any one that says always or never with a coyote has never had to deal with them on a killing level

Ranchman you don't no sh!t.when you can read a coyotes mind ill hire you and pay 100k a year. You been fooled by the other coyote cuddlers on here. The truth is you are turning a opinion off some biologist or another educated nutt ball that wouldn't no a coyote kill from a road kill. Any one that says always or never with a coyote has never had to deal with them on a killing level

Run my mouth?

Now 8point you can stick it up your A22! You arm chair warriors dont have a clue about the real world

Ranchman you don't no sh!t.

You been fooled by the other coyote cuddlers on here.

The truth is you are turning a opinion off some biologist or another educated nutt ball that wouldn't no a coyote kill from a road kill.

Run my mouth? I been called every thing except a white man on here. Told I was stupid on other post and thrown off the bus. I did get a little excited when people don't believe what I see everyday but you have no idea what I put up with. I deal with anti-hunters and trappers daily. I took cussing from women at the fuel pump for having dead coyotes in my truck. I deal with lease members stealing equipment. The ATF records I have to keep are a headache. I deal with folks telling me they don't have a problem till there poodle is snatched off the bottom step right in front of them. I made one post about this happens all the time and then it starts. "I don't happen cause a coyote never foes this or that"! Bs! I'm never said I was the best but I'm dang sure not wrong! When someone calls about problems it's really hard to listen to and it really pisses me off when coyotes start killing livestock or fawns. I didn't start this on a whim, I come from a long time of trapping and working with biologist. I never ran down anyone's jobs or started no fights. I state the facts of what I see. Now when someone is giving bad advice I usually speak up. A guy while back wanted to no bout coyote control. All these guys start giving him advice a out how to kill every deer the man has and loose his hunting lease. You bet I spoke up. I am sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings. The only way we keep traps in our hands is by being responsible. The only way we keep the freedom to kill a coyote is because of the damage he causes. They are not fun or a vacation to me. They are a job. I do it the best I can and to the best of my knowledge. Coyote control and trapping is 2 different animals. While everyone is on the lake, I'm after a coyote from march till August. I take sept and oct off. 6 mo of 7 day a week 14-15 hrs a day of my life is devoted to protecting other people's property and livestock. No fur money, just work. I really think in the 13yrs that I have devoted to protecting other folks stuff so they can have a trophy animal to shoot is no joke.

Run my mouth? I been called every thing except a white man on here. Told I was stupid on other post and thrown off the bus. I did get a little excited when people don't believe what I see everyday but you have no idea what I put up with. I deal with anti-hunters and trappers daily. I took cussing from women at the fuel pump for having dead coyotes in my truck. I deal with lease members stealing equipment. The ATF records I have to keep are a headache. I deal with folks telling me they don't have a problem till there poodle is snatched off the bottom step right in front of them. I made one post about this happens all the time and then it starts. "I don't happen cause a coyote never foes this or that"! Bs! I'm never said I was the best but I'm dang sure not wrong! When someone calls about problems it's really hard to listen to and it really pisses me off when coyotes start killing livestock or fawns. I didn't start this on a whim, I come from a long time of trapping and working with biologist. I never ran down anyone's jobs or started no fights. I state the facts of what I see. Now when someone is giving bad advice I usually speak up. A guy while back wanted to no bout coyote control. All these guys start giving him advice a out how to kill every deer the man has and loose his hunting lease. You bet I spoke up. I am sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings. The only way we keep traps in our hands is by being responsible. The only way we keep the freedom to kill a coyote is because of the damage he causes. They are not fun or a vacation to me. They are a job. I do it the best I can and to the best of my knowledge. Coyote control and trapping is 2 different animals. While everyone is on the lake, I'm after a coyote from march till August. I take sept and oct off. 6 mo of 7 day a week 14-15 hrs a day of my life is devoted to protecting other people's property and livestock. No fur money, just work. I really think in the 13yrs that I have devoted to protecting other folks stuff so they can have a trophy animal to shoot is no joke.