INDIANA — The Indiana Natural Resource Commission has scheduled a public hearing to discuss a proposal that would significantly increase the number of bobcats allowed to be hunted or trapped across 40 Indiana counties.
If approved, the new rule would raise the state’s recreational quota from 250 to 400 bobcats—a 60% increase over the previous limit. Under the proposal, the season is set to begin on November 8 and conclude on January 31, or whenever the quota is reached.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host the hearing at 12:30 p.m. on May 19 at the Garrison at Fort Harrison State Park in Lawrence. For those unable to attend in person, a virtual attendance option will be provided.
The public is encouraged to submit feedback during this first comment period. Written comments can be mailed to: Natural Resources Commission C/O Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Legal Division 402 W. Washington Street, Room W-261 Indianapolis, IN 46204
The deadline for all comments for this period is May 19.
Bobcats were legally protected in Indiana for decades until last year, when the state opened its first recreational hunting and trapping season. The current proposal to expand that season has already drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups.
The nonprofit Humane World for Animals has announced its intention to oppose the rule change at the hearing. Representatives for the organization argue that there is a lack of scientific evidence to justify the increased quota and that trapping methods cause “extreme suffering” to the animals. The group further stated that the majority of public feedback during the 2025 season was in opposition to the hunt.
The DNR maintains that regulated seasons are a tool for wildlife management, while the commission prepares to weigh the scientific data against the public’s ethical and environmental concerns during the upcoming session.
