Do Coyotes Kill Mature Deer?

by
posted on December 27, 2011
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
bs_2015_fs.jpg (23)

Many of my friends in the online hunting community received an email forward recently that shows two scrawny coyotes attacking and killing a mature, healthy-looking whitetail buck. There was also another one of a cougar killing a big buck near a deer feeder. So this led many people to proclaim the opposite of what we usually hear from anti-hunters and armchair biologists: that predators prey on only the weak, old or sick animals. This email seems to lend credibility to disproving the following myth:

The Myth:
Coyotes and other predators only prey on the sick and weak.

The Investigation:
Before we believe an Internet email that was forwarded by dubious sources (the last time I believed one I nearly sent my life savings to help a "friend" in needwho was trapped in Nigeria) we need to ask the experts rather than assume this email is legit. (The deer could be sick, or the photo could be a fake.)

The Expert Deferral:
Larry "Mr. Whitetail" Weishuhn is a degree-holding wildlife biologist, and probably more importantly, has literally spent a lifetime in the outdoors studying whitetails and coyotes in their natural environment. So I asked him if average coyotes can killdeer, including mature bucks.

"Yes, coyotes do kill healthy adult deer! No question about it," said Weishuhn.

For a second opinion, I asked lifelong hunter, trapper, Colorado game warden and outdoor writer photographer/writer Judd Cooney.

He said the same thing. "I have seen it [a coyote killing a mature deer] with my own eyes on many occasions," said Cooney. (He’s got the photos to prove it.)

The Conclusion:
Myth busted. Despite what classroom biologists or anti-hunters with anti-predator-control agendas may tell you, coyotes and other predators such as mountain lions, do routinely kill large, healthy deer.

Latest

Pennsylvania Game Commissionlede
Pennsylvania Game Commissionlede

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

New for 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke in 450 Bushmaster

Christensen Arms has announced the release of the Evoke rifle chambered in powerful 450 Bushmaster.

Oklahoma Wildlife Commission Passes Rules for Nonresident Hunters, Public Hunting Lands

New emergency rules and resolutions for public hunting lands were approved last month by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission.

First Look: Premium and Premium Deluxe Die Sets From Redding Reloading Equipment

Redding Reloading Equipment has expanded its Premium Die Set and Premium Deluxe Die Set product lines, including over seventy of the most popular cartridges in the industry today.

Junior Hunter Gear: Get Your Kids Into the Field

Looking for ways to get your fields out from behind the screens and into the great outdoors this summer? Check out these great pieces of outdoor kit to help spur the process.

Stealth Cam Adds On-Demand Livestream

Shortly after teasing the launch of its new trail camera functionality at the 2025 SHOT Show, Stealth Cam has announced that On Demand Live Stream is available via the Command Pro app.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.