INDIANA – Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission has approved a bobcat trapping season in 40 southern Indiana counties, including Lawrence County, following the mandate of 2024 legislation.
The decision, made Tuesday after more than 3,000 public comments, allows for a statewide harvest of up to 250 bobcats. Licensed trappers can take one bobcat per season and sell the hide. The season will begin on November 8th. Trappers can use cage traps, foothold traps permitted under law, or snares with relaxing snare locks.
The counties where bobcat trapping will be allowed are Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Dubois, Floyd, Franklin, Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Putnam, Ripley, Scott, Spencer, Sullivan, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, Warrick, and Washington.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) gathered data, including a population model from Purdue University, before proposing the rules. Project head Geriann Albers stated that the agency will continue to monitor bobcats.
While many public comments were against the proposal, an administrative law judge noted that a zero bag limit would not comply with the Indiana General Assembly’s mandate.
Bobcats, once endangered in Indiana, were removed from the state’s endangered species list in 2005 and have since grown in population.
Samantha Chapman, Indiana state director at Humane World for Animals, expressed disappointment, stating the decision “contradicts ethical and science-based wildlife conservation” and favors those who wish to profit from selling bobcat furs.
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