The problem is that we do not really have a choice about living with the coyote. We are just pounding sand to try and fight it. You’ll not get rid of coyotes. Can you trap and have some effect on fawn recruitment?…..sure…..but it’s a very expensive, labor intensive method that only produces short term results. Without continual, intense trapping….predator populations will moderate right back out in balance with the prey populations and may even rebound to much higher levels than what was originally found. This is due to the fact that because we have eliminated a key predator, then many of the small game populations will increase and set the table with a food supply capable of supporting many more coyotes than when game populations were moderated. By eliminating the predators we set the table for a possible boom and bust.



There are better long term solutions to dealing with coyotes rather than trapping. For those that are in the position to do so……adding adequate fawning cover to your property is a much better solution. Game populations are directly tied to the habitat that supports them. Instead of trying to eliminate a part of the food chain that you will never get rid of…..instead, increase the capacity of the whole food chain. The driving force for the whole process is the habitat. Use your time, effort and resources to improve the habitat instead of battling coyotes.

Another solution to look to as well before trapping is to reduce doe harvests to help counter fawn mortality. Its much easier to not pull the trigger than it is to run a bunch of trap lines.