Prairie State Wire

The Illinois bobcat hunting season for 2023-2024 ended on February 15, with a total of 370 bobcats harvested by hunters and trappers. According to the data, 214 bobcats were hunted, accounting for 55% of the total harvest. Trapping contributed to 156 bobcats, or 40% of the total. An additional 19 bobcats were salvaged by permit holders from incidents such as roadkill.

Jo Daviess County reported the highest number of harvested bobcats at 19. In the year 2023, there were 7,000 applicants for the bobcat lottery, and 1,000 permits were issued for the season.

In comparison, during the previous season (2022-2023), a total of 367 bobcats were harvested, with 16 being salvaged. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is actively monitoring the status of bobcat populations and will continue to assess the program using data from ongoing research efforts.

For those interested in more details about bobcat hunting and trapping in Illinois, information is available online.