Illinois Bobcat Harvest Nears Record Levels as Season Ends

The Illinois bobcat season just ended with nearly a record number of harvested animals, reflecting a growing population and high demand for limited permits.

Illinois Hunters and Trappers Have a Near-Record Harvest

Wildlife officials say the 2025-2026 bobcat season in Illinois ended Feb. 15 with hunters and trappers harvesting 627 bobcats statewide, continuing a dramatic increase in harvest numbers over the past decade.

According to data from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), hunters accounted for the majority of the bobcat harvest, taking 405, while trappers had 222 bobcats.

Permit holders salvaged an additional 27 bobcats from incidents such as roadkill.

Permit Demand Remains High Across Illinois

Interest in the bobcat season continues to exceed available permits. State officials issued 2,000 permits for the 2025 season from approximately 9,700 applicants through the state's lottery system.

Wildlife managers say the limited-permit system helps regulate the harvest while allowing officials to track the species' recovery and population trends.

Southern Illinois Counties Lead the State

County reports show that Jefferson County, Illinois, led the state with 33 bobcats harvested during the season. Macoupin County ranked second with 28 reported harvests.

Officials say the numbers reflect areas where bobcat populations have continued to expand over recent years.

Harvest Numbers Climb Over the Past Decade

The statewide harvest has grown sharply since the regulated bobcat season began. In 2016, hunters and trappers reported just 130 bobcats. That number jumped to 318 in 2017 and continued rising in subsequent seasons.

More recently, 370 bobcats were harvested in 2023 before a record-setting 649 were taken in 2024. The latest season's total of 627 ranks among the highest on record.