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HARRISBURG – With a limited bobcat season slated for the 2000-2001, 3,274 hunters and trappers have submitted an application for one of the 290 permits that will be selected by the Pennsylvania Game Commission at a public drawing on Friday, Sept. 8. The drawing will be held at 9 a.m. in the agency’s auditorium in the Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave.
"Nearly 30 years ago, the Game Commission, with the support of hunters and trappers, closed the bobcat seasons out of concern for the state’s bobcat population," said Vern Ross, Commission executive director. "After 30 years of protection and 15 years of field research, the Game Commission believes that populations have recovered sufficiently that we can provide a highly-regulated and limited hunting or trapping opportunity for bobcats."
Applications were accepted by mail from holders of resident furtaker licenses or junior or senior combination licenses along with a non-refundable $5 fee. Those selected in the random drawing will receive one permit for no additional charge to either hunt or trap one bobcat. The hunting season will run from Oct. 14- Feb. 24. The trapping season will run from Oct. 15- Feb. 24.
Hunting and trapping bobcats is restricted to Furbearer Management Zones 2 and 3, which are comprised of all or portions of the following counties: Forest; McKean; Elk; Potter; Cameron; Clearfield; Centre; Clinton; Tioga; Lycoming; Sullivan; Columbia; Bradford; Susquehanna; Wyoming; Luzerne; Lackawanna; Monroe; Pike; and Wayne. (Note to Editors: A map of the furbearer managements zones is on page 28 of the "2000-2001 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations.")
"Based on our extensive research, we estimate the current adult bobcat population to number 3,500," said Matt Lovallo, Commission furbearer biologist. "We have set a conservative objective of 175 bobcats to be harvested in northcentral and northeastern Pennsylvania – which are the only areas available for hunting or trapping of bobcats under the plan that was adopted.
"We do not believe that this conservative hunting and trapping opportunity will have any impact on the continued growth and success of the bobcat population. In fact, if there were even the remotest possibility that this adopted plan would have an impact on the bobcat population, the Game Commission would never have considered the season."
The Game Commission relies on the hunters and trappers of Pennsylvania to finance the management of all of the Commonwealth’s wild birds and mammals – both game species and non-game species – and does not receive any state tax dollars.
Uploaded: 9/7/2000
Uploaded: 9/7/2000