I'll use an area I hunt in 2E which borders 2G.We used to have great rabbit hunting there.You couldn't ask for better rabbit habitat and that still holds true today.Then we started seeing yote scat with rabbit fur.Then we started seeing and hearing yotes.It's been a few years since we jumped a rabbit.They did a job to them.
This year myson shot a buck and the next day his gut pile was completely gone.Nothing but yote tracks left.So they are doing well in our area.I've seen them chase adult deer also.
In places like this and 2G the low deer populations is a result and overharvesting.LET'S FACE IT,THE LESS DEER THERE ARE THE MORE PRESSURE IT PUTS ON THE FEW REMAINING FROM THIS COYOTE POPULATION.Because of this in areas with higher coyote numbers the number of anterless tags should be cut even more next year.
Coyote numbers should be taken into consideration when they approve the anterless tag numbers for each WMU.
The coyote population has increased.The deer population has decreased.Like I said,it only puts more pressure on the few deer remaining.
To answer the original question BT,hunting took the numbers down and then the coyotes compounded the low populations.IMHO