I just saw this was an older post and saw the mount. Did you find out if it may have been an escapee.

I use to catch several black phase coyotes in Western Arkanasas years back when I trapped there. They have been the best colored and furred animals I have caught in my lifetime to date. Beautiful animals to say the least. A couple had the color of prime silver foxes. Others more black color. White spots on their neck/chest area and a nice white tipped tail.

I caught this one almost three years ago. The next year I caught another that was close to the same color. These first two were on New Year's break and fur was in really good condition. Last year it was mid-January and I caught two more blacks but they were pretty much just black with brown underfur and white markings. The mid-January ones were showing signs of shoulder rubs.

As far as the mount goes, it seems the silver highlights faded into more of a light tan. I don't know if it was something to do with the tanning process or what. I don't think it was switched out.

Mr. Jameson - I do most of my trapping in eastern Oklahoma but this little 8 acre location is in western Arkansas.

I'll attach a couple pictures from this last year.

Here’s one I caught several years ago. Sold it for way less than it was worth to a taxidermist since I was new to trapping. Sure wish I would have kept it!

Pretty awesome! I haven't seen a black yote around here YET. There's a cinnamon one I caught on camera last year and ran out in front of me while driving... I would be estatic to catch either color! Your black yote is very nice for sure.

Very nice! I got a black one last day of the season last year.

Nice darkie... good deal bud

That definitely coyote, I can smell it from hear. Cyber scratch and sniff.

beautiful mount and those other blacks sure are nice looking yotes.

I caught my first black one this year as well but it wasn't near as pretty as yours. I'm going to get it tanned. Congratulations!

I have caught two here in SE Oklahoma both of them had a white patch on their chest and on their toes. I sold both to Taxidermist , funny seeing how I'm a Taxidermist myself.