Somehow I have been getting for years in my email a Predator Extreme subscription. The one dated 06.09.2025 has an article from "Psychology Today" by Jake Breedon titled 'Learning to cope like a coyote'. If you can find it, I think you will enjoy the read as it sure does 'hit the nail on the head' describing these critters.
A good short read
- Thread starter jmeddy
- Start date
Thanks, Mike.
Learning to cope like a coyote
Learning to cope like a coyote
Cal Taylor
Sponsor
Mostly BS as usual for these type articles.
I thought it was interesting. I have observed coyote behavior in suburbia and find it fascinating.
Cal, you said "mostly," so based on your work, what parts of the article ring at least a little true? Any little nuggets to be gleaned from this fellow's perspective, especially for us hunters?
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Spurchaser
Well-known member
Doubt the author has ever seen a coyote and just basing his article on whatever info he can find on Google to equate it to psychology.
My take on coyotes is that "we" as a species have been trying to eradicate them since we crossed the Mississippi River and all we have accomplished is for them to follow us back to the Atlantic. Survivors and adaptors extraordinaries in my book.
And Clarence, your skill on the computer never ceases to impress me-thanks for the link.
And Clarence, your skill on the computer never ceases to impress me-thanks for the link.
Man, have I got you snowed.
I'm about as lost on a computer as the little boy what lost his chewin' gum in the chicken yard.
Cal Taylor
Sponsor
I'm no expert on "urban" coyotes so I have no opinion on those parts. The BS parts are all about how coyotes will "pack up" in Wyoming and devise a "plan" to hunt deer with everyone playing their part. They will start to tolerate each other in groups in the winter if the conditions allow. They will kill deer if the snow is deep enough but its not common. They will tolerate other coyotes somewhat on a large carcass, but there is a definite pecking order. The part about coyotes thriving despite what man has done is complete bullshit. Coyotes were decimated in areas of 1080 use up until the 80s. It was outlawed in 1972, but in most parts of the country with high sheep populations it was stockpiled and used long after that. In central Wyoming as an example, I spent most of my youth on big ranches in the area. There were no coyotes. Seeing a coyote track was an unusual event. I spent all of my time outdoors, mostly horseback, in big country. I never saw a coyote with my own eyes until I was somewhere late in high school, and never heard one until I was away from Wyoming into South Dakota and a few other places. There were tons of red fox and bobcats. Now it is heavily populated with coyotes and few red fox, and a lot less cats. I blame the low bobcat numbers on lions and the low red fox numbers on coyotes. If 1080 was still in use like it was then, coyote populations would be pretty thin.
hunt0168
Well-known member
Packing up… I don’t think this is common in coyotes here in NY. BUT… I have personally witnessed this behavior with my own eyes exactly ONE time. From my vehicle I observed 2 coyotes hold the attention of a seemingly healthy doe whitetail that was feeding in a large field. This was in early October probably 20 years ago in Madison County NY along the 9 mile Swamp. The coyotes would separate slightly and skirt back and forth while keeping a good distance from the doe. 30-50 yards out in front of her. Occasionally moving towards her only to turn and retreat. It seemed very intentional, but who knows? The most interesting aspect was while this was happening, I observed a second pair of coyotes that were circling higher up and behind the doe and closing the distance. Also seemingly very calculated. I did not get to observe the results of their endeavors, as darkness was falling. It was very interesting to observe though.
Now, in the same general area, my cousin owns hunting land in Madison County, on the 9 Mile Swamp. Over the years I have caught on trail camera more than once, up to 6 coyotes together during mid to late winter months when it seemed like odd behavior for the time of year.
I have found more than once, adult deer remains. Only once was I sure that it was brought down by coyotes by the evidence in the snow over a large area. Did not appear to be a quick, clean kill! Many could have just been scavenged deer that died from other causes? Unrecovered hunting incidents. Vehicle hits that made it back into the swamp before dying, etc. Hard to determine the exact cause of death.
Like I said, I don’t think it’s common for pack mentality to occur in coyotes. I don’t know if this is just a coincidence that the same general area over a 20+ year span has coyotes that seem willing to tolerate one another at times of the year when you would expect them to be dispersed or paired. On my cousins property, in late February or early March of 2019 or 2020, I called in a quad. I only managed to kill one of the 4 due the a feeding issue with my rifle. A young male. They came in very aggressively to coyote vocals. Nothing odd about that, but quads at that time aren't all that common for me.
Biologists claim our eastern coyotes have more wolf genes than the western coyotes. Larger bodies, thicker skulls. Maybe their was a perfect genetic storm in this area that produced some wolfy acting coyotes? Maybe it’s some learned behavior that they pass along generationally to their pups like wolves or killer whales?
Just my observations. IDK? I don’t really care. I will shoot them without prejudice either way! Lol.
Now, in the same general area, my cousin owns hunting land in Madison County, on the 9 Mile Swamp. Over the years I have caught on trail camera more than once, up to 6 coyotes together during mid to late winter months when it seemed like odd behavior for the time of year.
I have found more than once, adult deer remains. Only once was I sure that it was brought down by coyotes by the evidence in the snow over a large area. Did not appear to be a quick, clean kill! Many could have just been scavenged deer that died from other causes? Unrecovered hunting incidents. Vehicle hits that made it back into the swamp before dying, etc. Hard to determine the exact cause of death.
Like I said, I don’t think it’s common for pack mentality to occur in coyotes. I don’t know if this is just a coincidence that the same general area over a 20+ year span has coyotes that seem willing to tolerate one another at times of the year when you would expect them to be dispersed or paired. On my cousins property, in late February or early March of 2019 or 2020, I called in a quad. I only managed to kill one of the 4 due the a feeding issue with my rifle. A young male. They came in very aggressively to coyote vocals. Nothing odd about that, but quads at that time aren't all that common for me.
Biologists claim our eastern coyotes have more wolf genes than the western coyotes. Larger bodies, thicker skulls. Maybe their was a perfect genetic storm in this area that produced some wolfy acting coyotes? Maybe it’s some learned behavior that they pass along generationally to their pups like wolves or killer whales?
Just my observations. IDK? I don’t really care. I will shoot them without prejudice either way! Lol.