INDIANA — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has finalized the calendar and operational rules for the state’s newly established bobcat trapping season, which is set to begin in November. The season will be highly regulated with a strict statewide quota and limited to specific counties in the southern portion of the state.
The move follows legislative action in 2024 that mandated the DNR to implement a season to take bobcats, which were removed from Indiana’s endangered species list in 2005.
Key Regulations for the 2025-2026 Season
The DNR has emphasized that this is a trapping-only season and that hunting of bobcats remains strictly prohibited. The regulations are designed to allow for a limited harvest while maintaining the species’ recovery.
| Detail | Specification |
| Season Dates | November 8, 2025, to January 31, 2026 |
| Statewide Quota | 250 bobcats |
| Closure Condition | The season will close immediately if the statewide harvest limit of 250 bobcats is reached, even if the end date has not arrived. |
| Bag Limit | Each licensed trapper may harvest a maximum of one bobcat per season. |
| Location | The season is restricted to 40 designated counties in Southern Indiana, including Brown, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Scott, Spencer, and Washington Counties |
| Licensing | A valid Indiana bobcat license and a separate trapping license are required for all trappers targeting bobcats. |
The establishment of the season has been controversial, with the DNR citing strong population recovery, while conservationists argue that the population data are insufficient to justify the harvest.
For licensed trappers, the start date of November 8, 2025, marks a new opportunity for the regulated harvest of the state’s only native wild cat. Trappers will be required to register their bobcat harvest through the CheckIN Game system and present the pelt for physical registration and CITES tagging.
