Winter habits of the coyote (Canis latrans) were investigated on Beaver Island, in northern Lake Michigan, and in the vicinity of Shingleton in Michigan''s Upper Peninsula during the period 1956-65. Information on movements, general behavior, and feeding habits was obtained by tracking coyotes for 827 miles in snow, and by examining 92 scats collected along their trails. White-tailed deer (Odocolieus virginianus) carrion constituted the coyote''s primary winter food in both areas. Coyotes actually killed few deer, and usually brought down only the smallest and weakest animals. Although certain other abundant prey species were available, coyotes were relatively unsuccessful in capturing them. The influence of this predator in controlling game populations in winter appears to be negligible.