State Closes Bobcat Season After Quota Reached, Dubois County Impact

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources ended the 2025 bobcat trapping season on December 8 after licensed trappers reached a statewide quota of 250 bobcats in roughly four weeks. The season had been scheduled to run from November 8 through January 31 or until the quota was met. State officials say the season framework included a total harvest limit based on population data and systems to monitor harvest in near real time.

The department emphasized monitoring and review as part of its response to the rapid quota closure. “Licensed trappers had a successful first bobcat trapping season,” said Geriann Albers, DNR’s furbearer and gamebird program leader. “DNR will review what we’ve learned from this season as we move forward with regulated harvest and bobcat management.” The DNR had implemented databases and reporting mechanisms to track the total season harvest and said it will use information gathered this year to inform future management.

Lawmakers directed the agency to establish a regulated season, and this was the first bobcat trapping season in Indiana since 1969. The authorization followed legislative action that required the DNR to create a season after earlier efforts to legalize trapping stalled within the agency. The rapid attainment of the quota has prompted reactions from wildlife advocates who raised concerns about population impacts and the adequacy of current data and monitoring.

For Dubois County residents the closure changes the immediate management horizon. Licensed trappers will no longer be permitted to harvest bobcats under this season, while landowners and ranchers may see short term benefits or continued concerns related to predator activity. Local conservation officers and the DNR will be the point of contact for questions about permits, enforcement, and any reports of wildlife conflict. The outcome also sets up policy choices for state lawmakers and wildlife managers, who will weigh harvest limits, data collection methods, and public input when reviewing the program.

More information and details on licensing and regulations can be found on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website as the agency completes its review and outlines next steps.