Post by Woody Williams on Oct 23, 2017 5:36:59 GMT -5
Bobcat Season?
What is you all’s opinion?
312 IAC 9-3-18.1: Bobcat Hunting & Trapping Season Authorizes a bobcat hunting & trapping season. There would be a bag limit of one bobcat per person and a statewide quota, and the season would be open in a restricted number of counties in Southern Indiana.
Background: Bobcat populations have expanded during the last two decades, incidental kills have increased with more than 60 mortalities reported annually since 2010, and the population continues to expand in the southern part of Indiana. The population in southern Indiana is sufficient to withstand a regulated harvest and this resource can be utilized. State law requires the DNR to manage for viable populations and a regulated trapping and hunting season is the best option. An increasing number of bobcats are accidentally killed via vehicle collisions and traps legally set for other species such as coyote and raccoon. At this time, bobcat cannot be retained or used by the trappers or hunters. With current fur prices, there is the potential for these bobcat pelts and carcasses to be illegally marketed in neighboring states that have open bobcat seasons. A regulated season in Indiana will address this problem and increase recreation and economic opportunities for businesses and individuals. A season will provide successful trappers and hunters the opportunity to sell bobcat pelts to licensed furbuyers who can market these furs through international fur auctions or manufacturers.
The full write up starts on page #9 at …..
www.in.gov/nrc/files/item_4_nrc_sept_2017.pdf
The proposed season for trapping AND hunting is from November 8 through January 31 of the following year.
My opinion –
Trapping – I’m not a trapper but I do know that coyote trapping season comes in on October 15. That means any bobcat accidentley trapped from that date until November 8 will have to be released. That ends up with a trap wise cat and a cat with a sore paw.
A trapper can only take one a year so my suggestion is to open the bobcat trapping season on the same opening date as coyote – October 15 and close it on January 31 the following year..
Hunting – Bobcats are a pretty special newly hunted varmints in Indiana and as such deserve their very own season that is not concurrent with any type of firearm deer season. During the general firearm, muzzleloader season or the late antlerless season a bobcat would just be a target of opportunity by a deer hunter. The hunting tools used by firearm deer hunters would make a pretty good sized hole in any bobcat pelt and pretty well ruin it.
With number of deer hunters out it is possible to hit that county limit pretty quickly. Most deer hunters are more interested in bagging their deer and will not be closely following the state’s posted bobcat limits and will more than likely just know that “bobcat season is in”. Basically, if they see a bobcat they will kill it. Only after the fact when they try to register it will they find out that the county limit had already been reached. They will more than likely be cited for that.
My suggestion is to have a bobcat season after all the deer firearm seasons are over. This will open up a brand new hunting opportunity for hunters that would like to get into varmint hunting. The varmint hunters will be concentrating on the coyotes and their new quarry the bobcat only so they will keep tabs on the county bobcat limits. I’d propose that the season from January 1 through January 31.
Please make you opinions known to the DNR and NRC by giving comments at - www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm
The Natural Resources Commission is next scheduled to meet on November 14, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., EST (9:00 a.m., CST) at the Fort Harrison State Park, Garrison, 6002 North Post Road, Indianapolis. The November agenda will be posted when available.
www.in.gov/nrc/2354.htm
What is you all’s opinion?
312 IAC 9-3-18.1: Bobcat Hunting & Trapping Season Authorizes a bobcat hunting & trapping season. There would be a bag limit of one bobcat per person and a statewide quota, and the season would be open in a restricted number of counties in Southern Indiana.
Background: Bobcat populations have expanded during the last two decades, incidental kills have increased with more than 60 mortalities reported annually since 2010, and the population continues to expand in the southern part of Indiana. The population in southern Indiana is sufficient to withstand a regulated harvest and this resource can be utilized. State law requires the DNR to manage for viable populations and a regulated trapping and hunting season is the best option. An increasing number of bobcats are accidentally killed via vehicle collisions and traps legally set for other species such as coyote and raccoon. At this time, bobcat cannot be retained or used by the trappers or hunters. With current fur prices, there is the potential for these bobcat pelts and carcasses to be illegally marketed in neighboring states that have open bobcat seasons. A regulated season in Indiana will address this problem and increase recreation and economic opportunities for businesses and individuals. A season will provide successful trappers and hunters the opportunity to sell bobcat pelts to licensed furbuyers who can market these furs through international fur auctions or manufacturers.
The full write up starts on page #9 at …..
www.in.gov/nrc/files/item_4_nrc_sept_2017.pdf
The proposed season for trapping AND hunting is from November 8 through January 31 of the following year.
My opinion –
Trapping – I’m not a trapper but I do know that coyote trapping season comes in on October 15. That means any bobcat accidentley trapped from that date until November 8 will have to be released. That ends up with a trap wise cat and a cat with a sore paw.
A trapper can only take one a year so my suggestion is to open the bobcat trapping season on the same opening date as coyote – October 15 and close it on January 31 the following year..
Hunting – Bobcats are a pretty special newly hunted varmints in Indiana and as such deserve their very own season that is not concurrent with any type of firearm deer season. During the general firearm, muzzleloader season or the late antlerless season a bobcat would just be a target of opportunity by a deer hunter. The hunting tools used by firearm deer hunters would make a pretty good sized hole in any bobcat pelt and pretty well ruin it.
With number of deer hunters out it is possible to hit that county limit pretty quickly. Most deer hunters are more interested in bagging their deer and will not be closely following the state’s posted bobcat limits and will more than likely just know that “bobcat season is in”. Basically, if they see a bobcat they will kill it. Only after the fact when they try to register it will they find out that the county limit had already been reached. They will more than likely be cited for that.
My suggestion is to have a bobcat season after all the deer firearm seasons are over. This will open up a brand new hunting opportunity for hunters that would like to get into varmint hunting. The varmint hunters will be concentrating on the coyotes and their new quarry the bobcat only so they will keep tabs on the county bobcat limits. I’d propose that the season from January 1 through January 31.
Please make you opinions known to the DNR and NRC by giving comments at - www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm
The Natural Resources Commission is next scheduled to meet on November 14, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., EST (9:00 a.m., CST) at the Fort Harrison State Park, Garrison, 6002 North Post Road, Indianapolis. The November agenda will be posted when available.
www.in.gov/nrc/2354.htm
