Illinois hunters and trappers harvested 318 bobcats during the latest hunting season.
This was the second season since hunting bobcats was reinstated in 2016. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Ed Cross says it ran from November to mid-February.
A total of 141 bobcats were taken in the first season, and the cap will change each year based on bobcat population.
“This year, we had a thousand permits that went out to those who participated in the lottery,” Cross said, “and there was a cap of 350 bobcats for this season. The cap next year will increase to 375 bobcats.”
This year, 159 of the bobcats were trapped, 29 killed by bow, and 130 were shot by a firearm. 40 were taken from roadkill.