Indiana Natural Resources Commission to hold public hearing for bobcat rule changes

In March 2024, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation directing Indiana DNR to set rules for bobcat harvest by July 2025.

In 2025, Indiana had its first bobcat season and DNR received feedback from those who participated. A total of 253 bobcats were harvested within one month of the season’s opening.

Proposed rule changes for 2026 expand the harvest to include hunting in addition to trapping, and set the quota to 400 bobcats:

• The season would start on Nov. 8, and run through Jan. 31, 2027, or until the quota is met, whichever is earlier, consistent with the 2025 season.
• The quota would rise to 400 bobcats with a goal of decreasing negative interactions with bobcats across the 40 counties with high-quality bobcat habitat, while still maintaining a strong bobcat population in Indiana.
• The season will include hunting in addition to trapping, following requests from some hunters to hunt bobcats.

Preliminary adoption was given by DNR Director Alan Morrison. The public hearing is scheduled for May 19 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. (ET) for the bobcat rule at the following location:

The Garrison at Fort Harrison State Park
6002 N. Post Road
Indianapolis, Indiana

You can attend in person or online anytime during the public hearing. To attend online, go to www.IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket and click on the link for the bobcat rule.

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 public comments during this first public comment period is May 19.