Over the past century, the bobcat population in Illinois went through a drastic decline. In 1977, the state took steps to ensure the future of species by adding bobcats to the threatened species list. Those steps worked and in 1999, Illinois officials removed the recovered population from the list. Since then, the population has continued to thrive, more than doubling since 2000.
Now, Illinois sportsmen may soon have the opportunity to hunt bobcats under legislation passed last week by the House of Representatives. House Bill 4226, sponsored by Representative Wayne Rosenthal (R-95), repeals the current prohibition on taking bobcats in the state, giving the Department of Natural Resources the authority to establish a bobcat season as part of their management plan.
HB 4226 passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 91-20 on March 27th. The bill has now moved to the senate.
“Bobcat populations are continuing to grow and thrive in Illinois,” said Adam Wright, USSA associate director of state services. “This bill will give the Illinois DNR the tools they need to control the bobcat populations while providing an opportunity for sportsmen.”
Today, the state’s DNR estimates that population has reached more than 5,000 with a majority of the bobcats residing in the southern tier of the state.