First Bobcat Season in Illinois Concludes

Hunters and trappers took a preliminary total of 141 bobcats during the 2016-17 Illinois Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Season.

“We are very pleased with the response to Illinois’ new hunting and trapping season for bobcats,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Wayne Rosenthal. “The recovery of the bobcat is a conservation success story in Illinois. We were pleased with the response of hunters and trappers that applied for permits, and we will continue to evaluate the program.”

More than 6,400 people applied for 500 permits to take bobcats. Those awarded a permit in the lottery were required to register their harvest within 48 hours and purchase a Bobcat Pelt Temporary Permit. They reported taking 69 bobcats by hunting, 49 by trapping, 12 by archery, and salvaging 11 from roads. Bobcats were harvested in 44 counties in the open zone, which included western and southern parts of the state. Top counties were Pike (11), Jackson (10), Jefferson (7), Carroll (6), and Randolph (6).

The 2016-17 season for hunting bobcats with bow or gun was conducted November 10, 2016 through January 31, 2017 (closed during Firearm Deer Season), while permitted trappers were able to take bobcats Nov. 5, 2016 through Jan. 20, 2017 in the northern zone and Nov. 10, 2016 through Jan. 25, 2017 in the southern zone.

As far as counties in our area, Clay County reported one bobcat taken by archery, two by gun and one by trap; Cumberland County had two taken by gun; Effingham County had two taken by gun; Fayette County had two taken by gun and three by trap; and Jasper County had two taken by gun and two by trap.