Bobcat Hunters and Trappers Can Check Permit Application Status Online

Bobcat Hunters and Trappers Can Check Permit Application Status Online

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The results of the 2018-19 Illinois Bobcat Hunting and Trapping permit lottery are now available online through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) website. Applicants can check the status of their application at https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/furbearer/Pages/BobcatPermitLookup.aspx.

More than 5,000 hunters/trappers applied for bobcat permits, and 1,000 permits will be issued.

The 2018-19 Illinois Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Season is from November 10, 2018 to February 15, 2019. A total of 375 bobcats can be hunted and trapped (not including salvaged animals), and the season may be closed by public notice before February 15, 2019 if harvest approaches the limit of 375.

Hunters and trappers must have a bobcat permit before attempting to harvest (or salvage) a bobcat. If a bobcat is harvested or salvaged, permit holders must purchase a Bobcat Registration Permit ($5) online within 48 hours of harvest: https://www2.il.wildlifelicense.com/start.php

IDNR will mail the successful hunter/trapper a CITES tag within two weeks.

Open and closed counties for the 2018-19 Illinois bobcat season are indicated on the map at this link: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/BobcatHarvestZone2018-19.pdf


More information on furbearer hunting and trapping can be found in the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2018-2019 (on pages 43-47): https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/HuntTrapDigest.pdf.