I’ve never seen a coyote closer than maybe 100 yards while hiking. I also keep a close lookout for mountain lions-their tracks, and for wild hogs.
One day I was hiking on a trail between a game fence and a rock face and I saw fresh mountain lion tracks-my hair stood on end. I walked backwards to the main trail swinging a big stick and singing the first song I thought of-Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap-as loud as I could-I haven’t hiked that trail alone since...
I used to go out for hikes in some pretty remote areas just after dawn and at dusk. I finally had to quit as I just too creeped out by the notion of being a mountain lion meal.