Check the laws, but most states allow you to shoot coyotes anytime. Yes, coyotes are smart if you only have one dog they will send in a member or two of the pack to lure the dog away then kill the livestock, or kill the dog. 2 or 3 dogs are always best with them, or the donkey, the donkey won't leave the flock. Also lights. We put lights up around all our pens, yeah the energy bill sucked, but we didn't lose anything to coyotes.
If you hear them howling alot at night, you might want to sit outside near you pens with anykind of firearm (paintball, bb, real bullets) and try and get some warning shots in. They are very crafty and hard to get a good shot at. My husband shot one, very dark, and the coyote was right at the edge of the light. There was lots of blood, but either it got away or the rest of the pack took it, they will eat their dead.
Good luck.
If you hear them howling alot at night, you might want to sit outside near you pens with anykind of firearm (paintball, bb, real bullets) and try and get some warning shots in. They are very crafty and hard to get a good shot at. My husband shot one, very dark, and the coyote was right at the edge of the light. There was lots of blood, but either it got away or the rest of the pack took it, they will eat their dead.
Good luck.