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Originally Posted by upsscott
I just listened to the Joe Rogan podcast where he interviewed a biologist who specialized in coyote behavior. One thing I took away from it is that it really does no good to kill them unless you are threatened immediately. Apparently when you hear them bark and yip in the evening they are doing a roll call. When one comes up missing it prompts the females to produce more pups. How this is? I have no clue. This is just what the guy said
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Coyotes do indeed have a unique ability to adapt litter size as required. The major determining factor is food supply; in abundant years they can have litters of over a dozen, while in lean years litters will be as small as two. It all has to do with the mother's general health, which is most affected by food supply.
I've never heard of this adaptive strategy being used to replace missing members of the local population. When looked at from a food supply angle, however, it makes sense in that once less mouth is dipping into the larder, so to speak.
What to do about coyotes? Shoot 'em on sight, any time, anywhere. That's been my policy for decades. I used to actively hunt them when the pelts were getting over a hundred bucks apiece (a lot of people did), but then they dropped to under ten bucks and most everyone quit. Not sure what they are worth today. There are way too many of them, though, so just kill them.
As previously mentioned, .223's work great. I used a .220 Swift on most I shot, but it's essentially just a .223 on steroids. Don't use mil surplus FMJ ammo - I like Nosler Ballistic Tips or Hornady V-Maxes, both plastic tipped bullets that provide violent expansion. Get something like that in a .223 and let 'er rip. If you don't have a .223, just get the lightest bullet, highest velocity ammo you can in whatever caliber you do own. 110 grain varmint bullets from the '06 work great.