Also, battue, they coyotes may NOT be in that area.. If it is mostly fields and edge.. I am not sure.. I know in the area I am familiar with in Pa. Coyotes have moved in.. Not sure how many.. They kill a couple each deer season.. Some in turkey season.. In the area I am familiar with, I think the big thing is the farms are not being kept up and going to brush..
Maybe the fields that still could have groundhogs, are being hunted more than I realize.. I also wonder if they go through cycles like other game.
I would have to look back at my journals, but in the 90's I hunted chucks hard for three or four summers.. My best year was 186.. But many of those favored places are now fields of golden rod..
