I have heard it would be a 200 bobcat limit for the whole state. If that's the case, you could take 200 out of a couple of counties in southern Indiana. They are that plentiful. 200 a year isn't going to stop or for that matter, slow down, their gradual increase in range.

Huntall, don't know you, and trying not to judge, but your mindset is exactly what has this great nation involved in such a sh*t show. The libs, just like yourself, believe if they don't like something no one should be allowed to have it period! Greed and envy don't sit well with true sportsman, if allowed a season, what is stopping you from driving a couple hours and setting traps out for a long wknd like many others in other states do?

Ill support IN. I don't live there and doubt I'll ever trap there but if I want to I can trap with the same regs as a resident. Why wouldn't every trapper support that?

This is a perfect example of what I was trying to say. If it doesn't benefit me I don't care. People better start caring as Scott and Sharpsman said the opposition jumped on the band wagon. I know of people in Don Wolf's area that catch cats in numbers. I know of one guy that stopped coyote trapping because he constantly caught cats. I wonder how many quail and pheasant a Bobcat can eat?
It's the same ole thing as guys that won't join a state or national trapping organization, but want their help in a time of need. It's what I call selfishness.

Or how many Turkeys and hatchlings that could migrate to north central Indiana?

This is the last time I'll post on this thread because they always go to far.

You say my way of thinking is liberal but in fact you're acting liberal.

I'm not doing anything that prevents you from accomplishing you goal of a getting season.

But you're saying I should help you do something I don't agree with and i should think like you and if I don't I'm wrong for it. Now isn't that how liberals think.

I mean seriously if i don't think like you do i don't care about trapping and I'm not a real sportsman lol . Some people go straight to acting liberal as soon as someone disagrees with them.

Like I said your not losing something your trying to gain something but when I don't want a season so I might be able to trap them in the future I'm selfish.

Exactly Sharpsman... Another thing that I can't understand about the lack of people at the meetings. Where was the NWTF, Indiana Deer Hunters, Indiana Bowhunters, Pheasants Galore, Quail Unlimited just to name a few. All of these groups would benefit as well, not just the trappers and hunters.

We may have lost something, an opportunity. When will we get another if it's needed ? I don't know the area of the state you live. But I've talked to some that know of cats being caught in small numbers in the northern part of the state

I live in SW Indiana, I see what our cat population is doing and I have released 14 cats over the past two seasons. I also attended the meeting at Spring Mill and voiced my opinion. At this meeting it was approximately 2/3 for it and 1/3 against. The proposed season that the DNR has will not even slow them down. This is a start, and that's what matters!!!! I am also aware that bobcat do not have a sustainable population in all of the counties but that does not mean we should have to wait because some don't have an equal opportunity. There is still some counties in Indiana that really have to manage their doe numbers because lack of population but others you can kill eight. The otter season has operated in this limited county format since the season opened and seems to be doing well. And, if I'm not mistaken the turkey season as well as deer(before my time) started this way. So my main point in this conversation is the DNR is doing the best they can with the info they have and it is their job to do so. As for as the reports the DNR gets on catches, road kills, and sightings is way under the actual number of what is being reported because the new has worn off and nobody thinks anything about a road kill or catching one in a trap anymore. I have spoken with the Conservation Officers in my area and they are tired of helping release them and picking up mangled road kills. If we don't do something to control the population the Toms will start kill the young and disease will set in and really hurt the population that we want to see expand.

The way i see it is, if you are not for it your against it and the LAST thing we need is trappers fighting trappers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly Patoka.The opposition claims it's all about money and a thrill.To many people don't realize it's about managing a resource.Which was my exact comments at the input meeting

Something else to consider... The biologist that I spoke with believes that our northern bobcats are coming out of Michigan. He doesn't think the bobcats would migrate through the corn belt region south of us.

For us trappers' sake, I hope a season doesn't open before December 1st. Otherwise the deer hunters will put a hurtin' on the quota before the trappers even have a chance to catch any prime cats. Nearly every deer hunter I know in the southern part of the state wants one mounted or tanned, and will be more on the hunt for cats than deer. Hopefully hunting season for them will be after gun season giving equal chance for hunting or trapping one.

There are not even close to enough bobcats to have a season in northern Indiana. And central Indiana is mostly Tipton Till Plains, and has consequently very little to no suitable bobcat habitat due to primarily agricultural land use patterns. There is unlikely to “ever” - at least in the scope of time we can concern ourselves with - be a sustained population of bobcats in central Indiana. The Northeastern portion of the lakes region has mediocre to fair bobcat habitat, and the population has been small but apparently consistent since I was kid in the 1980’s. Not enough to worry about or trap, but stable enough to be called present. I don’t expect them ever to be harvestable densities around here except maybe a few pockets.

Southern Indiana is a whole different deal. I routinely hear about bobcats from guys like Don Wolf and Patokariver who realease them so often they discuss the best techniques for not harming the animal (I hear bobcats take a delicate touch).
I strongly support a season in areas where they are plentiful. I just don’t understand why any trapper would not want to allow others with harvestable populations to make use of the resource. What’s going on here?

Well I made the first public comment meeting. Hunters/ trappers were represented well. Some of those against a season were at the least radicals commenting on their false information & propelling the PETA/ HSUS banter. Had some folks there but didn’t voice their opinions about the subject. They were a waste of chair space imo. They had no voice....this the time to speak up for the bobcat season.....

After several ours researching and a few more on the phone with a trusted friend that is a DNR property manager up north,I must admit I was uneducated on the subject and admit that there are at least 15 to 20 counties that should have a controlled number of bobcats taken from them so I do apologise for my ignorance of this subject.

That being said if they're any future meetings on this subject someone please pm me and I will attend.

Huntall, Thank you for doing some research. I don't think those who where opposed at the meeting will be changing their mind. The DNR will trust their research and we will get a season.

I live West Central Indiana. We have had bobcats here for over 30 yrs. We have good terrain and food supply. We saw a population explosion in cats several years ago. I know trappers that catch several even though they try like heck to avoid them. Even as far as not setting up areas because of the cats.
As far as the meetings, it seems as the schedule is not very cooperating for guys working long days and having to travel a ways to attend.
The DNR needs to look at it more like they did the otter season and not just a few counties south. Bobcats exist up the Wabash corridor.

This is good to see

[quote=yoteskinner]I live West Central Indiana. We have had bobcats here for over 30 yrs. We have good terrain and food supply. We saw a population explosion in cats several years ago. I know trappers that catch several even though they try like heck to avoid them. Even as far as not setting up areas because of the cats.
As far as the meetings, it seems as the schedule is not very cooperating for guys working long days and having to travel a ways to attend.
The DNR needs to look at it more like they did the otter season and not just a few counties south. Bobcats exist up the Wabash corridor.

Exactly. Parke and Vermillion Counties for sure. I can’t speak for anywhere else in this part of the state. Just in the last 10 years they have exploded. I have a female and her 3 young and a large assuming male that frequent right behind my house. Everyone that I know who run trail cams get them all the time. A 1 per quota and couple hundred throughout the state wouldn’t hurt a thing.

TTT