A recent press release from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reported that 649 bobcats were “harvested” during the most recent season.
2,000 permits had been issued.
Here are the details of the taking of Bobcats:
Method: Hunting and trapping
Can use: legal traps, archery, 0.22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearm or shotgun (no slugs), centerfire rifles (allowed only on private property)
Limit: Successful applicants may harvest one bobcat by hunting or trapping during the season. A bobcat taken as a road-kill counts toward the permit limit.
Applying for a permit: Bobcat permit applications are available online only between September 1 – 30. Applicants must submit a $5 non-refundable fee. Available permits will be allocated during a lottery and mailed to successful applicants.
There is still a lot of interest in the bobcat hunting and trapping season. There were over 9,200 applications submitted in 2024 and 2,000 permits issued (a record number of applications and the number of permits was doubled)! The odds of drawing a permit were 21.6% (1 in 5) and nobody who drew a permit last year will be awarded a permit this year. For those who have not been able to draw a permit, we hope you are successful next year.
New Update for the 2024 Bobcat Season
For the 2024-25 bobcat lottery, the Department issued 2000 bobcat permits to hunters and trappers. Results of recently completed research from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) estimated the Illinois bobcat population at +23,600. The research also ran a population model that indicated an additional 450 bobcats could be harvested annually without causing the population to decline (it should continue to increase slowly). In addition to this SIUC study, decades of data from Archery Deer Hunter Surveys and firearm deer hunters indicate trends in bobcat abundance and distribution continued to increase since the first conservative bobcat season was implemented in 2016. These data guide the Department as we ensure a healthy bobcat population in the state while providing opportunities for hunters and trappers. We will continue to monitor trends and make adjustments to the season based on the best available science.
Note: Must possess a Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Permit before attempting to harvest a bobcat. Must purchase Bobcat Registration Permit within 48 hours of taking a bobcat. A federal CITES tag mailed to you by the IDNR within 2-3 weeks. The CITES tag must be permanently affixed to each bobcat pelt before it is exported from the United States or transferred to a fur buyer, taxidermist, fur tanner, or garment manufacturer.
But, no opportunity to hunt or trap in McHenry County as one can see from the map below:
