SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is releasing the number of bobcats harvested by hunters and trappers for the last season.Â
The 2025-2026 Illinois bobcat season ended Feb. 15 with 627 bobcats harvested.Â
A total of 405 (62%) bobcats were taken by hunting, while trapping accounted for 222 (34%) of the harvest. 27 (4%) were salvaged by permit holders from circumstances such as roadkill. IDNR issued 2,000 permits for the 2025 season out of 9,700 bobcat lottery applicants.
Hunters and trappers in Jefferson County reported 33 bobcats, which was the most for any county this year. Macoupin County was second with 28 bobcats reported.Â
For more information about bobcat hunting and trapping, visit huntillinois.org/bobcat.
Illinois Bobcat Season Summary 2016-2025 | |||||
Year | Hunting | Trapping | Total Harvest | Salvage | Permits Filled |
2016 | 81 | 49 | 130 | 11 | 141 |
2017 | 159 | 159 | 318 | 40 | 358 |
2018 | 177 | 129 | 306 | 37 | 343 |
2019 | 151 | 155 | 306 | 29 | 335 |
2020 | 196 | 143 | 339 | 22 | 361 |
2021 | 174 | 116 | 290 | 23 | 313 |
2022 | 198 | 169 | 367 | 16 | 383 |
2023 | 214 | 156 | 370 | 19 | 389 |
2024 | 415 | 234 | 649 | 25 | 674 |
2025 | 405 | 222 | 627 | 27 | 654 |
