Illinois bobcat season concludes with 290 harvested; Macoupin had 15

The 2021-2022 Illinois bobcat season concluded Feb. 15 with 290 bobcats harvested by hunters and trappers.

A total of 174 (56 percent) of bobcats were taken by hunting, while trapping accounted for 116 (37 percent) of the harvest. Twenty-three (7 percent) were salvaged by permit holders from circumstances such as road kill.

Hunters and trappers in Jefferson County reported 17 bobcats, which was the most for any county this year. Macoupin County was second with 15 bobcats harvested – one by archery, 10 by gun, and four were trapped. Only one bobcat was harvested in Madison County and that was b...