I read a biologist report from state (not PA for those cynics out there) that you need to kill a whole lot of a local coyote population before making a dent in that population of coyotes. The number that sticks in my mind is 75% before numbers start to drop off. Litters enlarge, other coyotes move in etc so it's a really tough battle. We run them with dogs, which is great fun and a heck of a lot of time, committment and work, but again if your a hound fellow it's terrific. The most effective means of killing thme to me seems to be trapping. We've noticed an increase in coyote numbers in the places we hunt them with dogs in.
We've followed a bunch of yote tracks over the years and find them eating roadkilled deer, carcassess dumped after butchering, deer shot or otherwise have died in the woods, but very very few running down and actively hunting them. We've found tracks of five together once, Four together several times, three a bit more, two frequently, but not as frequently as a lone track. Find they do a number on rabbits and pheasants and other small game. PA game commission study found coyotes and bears taking fawns in about equal numbers in the spring.
Enjoy, Juniorpc