I've never heard or seen as many coyotes as I have this year. How much impact do you think they make on the heard? Is ther any research out there?

I have thought the same thing. And their activity a few weeks ago was throughout the day. Howling, calling, moving the whole time, and not just around sunset or during the night. Noon. 2pm. 4pm. I saw NO DEER that day, which is unusual for that time of year.

I saw and shot more yotes the week of thanksgiving, than I ever have in the panhandle. We had good deer movement on the cameras the week before but then the yotes and snow moved end and nothing.

I'm up in KS and had to pass on the same yote 3 times. It pained me to do so, but it was worth it to get my deer. The yote ran right past a large group of them and they just took notice but did not run off.

Had several coyotes roaming the fields at my place all week. 4 of em won't be doing that any more. I just can't pass on a yote or a hog even when deer hunting. The temptation is just to great. Shot one and 15 seconds later a doe ran right past the yote I shot and a buck was right on her tail. It didn't bother them a bit.

They have a big impact on fawns each year. They don't go after the bigger deer unless there injured. They do help some with killing piglets and that's good but I shoot them when I see them.

There is research out there. I did look for data a year or so ago and I found that Texas and South Carolina had about the same info. What the state sites said was that of 100 fawns born in the spring, about 60 percent would be dead by the Fall of the year, most of that being due to coyote predation.

I've taken to coyote hunting year round, except when it's just too hot, and I think I've made a difference, however small. I won't see a coyote for a month, and then I'll shoot 4 or 5 in a very short period. I'm still looking for the female I call Tripod. I shot her year before last, but it was so darn dark that I guess I didn't hit her square, but shot her right rear leg off. She survived. I know it's a 'her', cause I shot her mate just recently and it was a male. I have some game camera pics of ole Tripod. She'd better watch out, if she's still alive. Since I shot her mate, I wonder if she can hunt enough to survive.

I think everyone should take a trip or 2 after season around Jan. or Feb. with nothing but song dogs in their sights. This would make a difference with the fawns, turkey hatch and so on. Buy some calls, electronic, or hand calls and watch some videos, if you have never hunted coyotes. This is alot of fun and great management.

I read a report that stated a mature coyote will eat 6-10 fawns per year. I'm assuming that depends on how dense the deer herd is. I also read that areas that have a bad predator population will lose 60-80% of the fawn crop.

I know that last year we had a severe coyote problem and we hardly had any fawns on camera by the time summer was here and very rarely saw a yearling deer during season. We intensely hunted and trapped them after season was over. This year we hardly even hear them any more, we had a ton of fawns on cameras, and we have a large amount of yearlings.

Kill them all!

I have had a surge in the yote population on my place. I think they are on the increase due to the state releasing turkey on a place next to us. We have killed more this year than the last 5 combined.

They have a hugh impact on fawns if there are not many rats and rabbits to eat.

While research proves that coyotes can have a tremendous impact on your fawn crop, most folks forget about the mortality on mature bucks weakened by a strenuous rutting period and hard winter. Unfortunately the closer the buck to doe ratio,the more bucks will fight and become injured or weakened making it easier for coyotes to prey on them. Coyotes are highly intelligent and learn to use high fences, especially corners to help capture prey.
You will notice a spike in mature buck mortality from coyotes when they are sheddding their antlers. Bucks are weak from the rut and winter and now lack their weapons for defense.
Research has shown that coyotes can kill 30% of your mature bucks if there is no predator control in place.
Adios,
Gary

You'll note the difference in fawn crop survival if you eliminate as many as possible.

If that's the case we will pass on shooting them then. We have enough deer its hard to keep control of the pop we have. We have a bunch of yotes from what I can tell and still see a lot of fawns. If more survived it would be even harder for us to control the numbers.

There's always one it seems....

There's always one what Robert?

Our yote crop has been good the last 2 years and the fawn crop has told the story. Haven't seen a fawn in those 2 years and we have shot coyotes til the buzzards are full. Hog sounders have gotten smaller too, not as many young ones running around. I will mess up a good deer hunt to shoot yotes, I just can't let em walk.

If that is the problem you have then kill all the rats and rabbits you can. Then the coyotes will eat all the fawns. Then they will start on the larger deer and in about 5 years you will no longer have any deer. A simple fix to having too many der.

We have more hogs and yotes than I can count and a growing fawn crop.

No research needed. Common sense. Predators prey on prey and prefer easy prey. Class dismissed and carry on. Kidding
Coyotes never get a pass from me NEVER EVER regardless of the scenario. If I can get a scope or a sight pin on them they are going down no doubt.

Every animal needs a natural predator, in the case of yotes guess I'm it.

If you have to leave a deer all night so you don't push him they can have a great impact!!

Most studies I have read where done in the early 60's through the early 70's, but I think the findings would still apply. I have read one study ( I have it some where in my files) where coyotes where only a threat during the 1st few months of birth. The gut findings in most coyotes consisted of mice, carrion, hares, seeds, weeds, ect tra.

Here is one excerpt abstract from the Journel of Wildlife Management (1970).

"This study was conducted to determine the impact of predation on productivity of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in South Texas by removing predators from one area and comparing the results to a control area. A total of 188 coyotes (Canis latrans) and 120 bobcats (Lynx rufus) were removed during predator removal efforts on the approximately 5,400-acre (2,186-ha) experimental area from 1 February to 30 June 1971 and 1972. Aerial counts in 1971, a severe drought year, revealed a fawn:doe ratio of 0.47 in the experimental predator removal area compared to 0.12 in the control area. In 1972 more favorable climatic conditions led to higher deer productivity in both areas, but the relative difference between the two areas was maintained. The experimental area had a fawn:doe ratio of 0.82 compared to 0.32 on the control area. Counts from roads indicated a decline in fawn:doe ratio with increasing distance from the experimental area. These data indicate that deer populations in this locality could be increased with a very intensive predator control program. To justify such a predator control program on the basis of present information, however, a more intensive hunter harvest would probably be required to hold the deer herd below the density level where starvation, diseases, or other factors begin to take their toll. "

Always one? Now there are 2. I'm squarely in Redchevy's corner on this one.

It's about the balance of nature that demands the predator/prey relationship be kept in sync. Although a coyotes normal food is mice, rabbits and other small game, they help keep the deer herd in check and at a level that the forage base can support. With less demand from the forb predator, the range will support a healthier crop. Remove the tool(coyotes, cats, hunters, etc.) and you will have too many deer looking for limited groceries.

The most successful rancher is going to be a grass farmer who watches the impact of cows on the forage base. In this case too many grass predators ruin the forage base. That's no different than too many deer on the forb base.

Like bass and bass and bluegills, deer and predators need each other for a healthy relationship.

Go ahead and shoot the coyotes. Their prey will multiply somewhat but then, due to the abundance of prey, the coyotes will have more babies to take advantage of the abundance of groceries. And, those groceries will not be as well fed to escape the predation.

BTW, too many deer over eating the range is why Texas opened doe seasons.

I know about 30 yotes the past couple of years that aren't having any impact on my herd!