Natural Resources Commission Approves Bobcat Trapping Rules

The approval establishes a bobcat trapping season in 40 southern Indiana counties

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(Southern Indiana) - The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) today granted final adoption to allow the limited, regulated trapping of bobcats in designated southern Indiana counties. Additionally, the NRC granted preliminary adoption of rules overseeing carbon sequestration and carbon dioxide transmission pipelines.

Bobcat Trapping Rules

In 2024, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation (SEA 241-2024) directing the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to have rules in place for bobcat harvest by July 2025.

The approved rules include:

• Establishing a bobcat trapping season in 40 southern Indiana counties, including a limit of one bobcat per trapper and a cumulative season limit of 250 bobcats for all trappers combined.
• Allowing bobcats and their parts that are legally acquired to be sold.
• Allowing bobcats that are found dead to be kept by people with a permit.
• Adding bobcats to the list of species for which a game breeder’s license is required.

The NRC granted preliminary adoption of the rules in September 2024, and it later held two public comment periods and two public hearings.

Research maintained by the DNR and Purdue University shows that the bobcat population in Indiana has expanded during the last two decades. This research can be reviewed at on.IN.gov/dfw-rule-changes.

Bobcats have well-established populations in the 40 counties where trapping will be allowed. Analysis shows that this high-quality habitat can support regulated harvest while also maintaining a healthy, sustainable bobcat population.

After the rule’s adoption, DNR anticipates that Indiana’s first bobcat trapping season will begin this fall. A summary of all rules and regulations will be available in the annual Hunting & Trapping Guide, which is typically available in August.