The Illinois bobcat hunting season has concluded with 649 cats being harvested by hunters and trappers. In Marion County, 15 cats were harvested, the fourth highest in Southern Illinois.
A total of 415 (61.6%) of bobcats were taken by hunting, while trapping accounted for 234 (34.7%) of the harvest. Twenty-five (3.7%) were salvaged by permit holders from circumstances such as roadkill. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) issued 2,000 bobcat permits in the 2024-2025 bobcat lottery out of 9,200 applicants.
Hunters and trappers in Fulton County reported 26 bobcats, which was the most for any county this year. Pike County was second with 25 bobcats reported.
In Clay County 19 bobcats were harvested. Clinton County had 9, Fayette County 21, Jefferson County 23, Washington County 8, and Wayne County 10.
IDNR continues to monitor the status of bobcats and will evaluate the program as new data become available from ongoing research.
