Pennsylvania Game Commission Announces Bobcat Harvest Results; Game Commission to Issue 1,780 Permits for 2009-10 Bobcat Season

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that hunters and trappers harvested 487 bobcats during the 2008-09 bobcat seasons.

Harvest numbers for 2008-09 by WMU are: WMU 2A, 2; WMU 2C, 34; WMU 2E, 14; WMU 2F, 41; WMU 2G, 126; WMU 3A, 56; WMU 3B, 123; WMU 3C, 42; WMU 3D, 23; and WMU 4D, 15.

“The 2008-09 bobcat permit holder success rate of 40 percent is tied for the second highest with the 2005-06 harvest, both of which were only surpassed by the 2006-07 harvest rate of 42 percent,” said Dr. Matthew Lovallo, Game Commission Game Mammal Section supervisor and author of the agency’s bobcat management plan. “We expect that, if average winter conditions prevail, the permit holder success rate will range from 39 percent to 42 percent during the upcoming 2009-10 season.

“All of the tools we use to monitor the state’s bobcat population indicate increased abundance and continued geographic expansion outside of the established harvest area. The addition of WMU 4D in 2008-09 increased the available harvest area by 14 percent. Similarly, the addition of WMU 4A and 4E for the 2009-10 season will increase the allowable harvest area by 15 percent, and will better distribute harvest throughout the established bobcat range.”

During the 2007-08 season, 356 bobcats were taken; 258 bobcats in 2006-07 season; 221 bobcats in 2005-06; 196 bobcats in 2004-05; 140 in 2003-04; 135 in 2002-03; 146 in 2001-02; and 58 in 2000-01.

GAME COMMISSION TO ISSUE 1,780 PERMITS FOR 2009-10 BOBCAT SEASON

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced the agency will award 1,780 permits for the 2009-10 bobcat hunting/furtaking seasons at a public drawing in its Harrisburg headquarters on Friday, Sept. 11. As part of the public drawing for the allocated permits, those applicants with six preference points (five previous points and one for this year’s application) will automatically receive a bobcat permit.

“As Pennsylvania’s bobcat population continues to increase in abundance and its geographic range, we are able to again take steps to enable more hunters and trappers to participate in the bobcat season and to expand the harvest area,” said Dr. Matthew Lovallo, Game Commission Game Mammal Section supervisor and author of the agency’s bobcat management plan. “We also have opened WMUs 4A and 4E to the list of areas in which permits may be used.”

Those who received one of the 1,443 bobcat permits issued during the 2008-09 season are not eligible for this year’s drawing.

The 2009-10 hunting season for bobcats is set for Oct. 24 through Feb. 20, and the trapping season is set for Oct. 25 through Feb. 21. Those hunters or trappers receiving one of the limited permits through a public drawing will be restricted to pursuing bobcats in WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4D and 4E in southwestern, southcentral, northcentral and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Beginning on June 15, the Game Commission will accept applications for 2009-10 bobcat permits from holders of resident and nonresident furtaker licenses, resident and nonresident junior furtaker or combination licenses, or resident senior furtaker or lifetime combination licenses.

Applications can be made at the time an individual purchases his or her general hunting license — at any of the nearly 600 issuing agents or seven Game Commission offices — through the new Pennsylvania Automated License System, which also is accessible through the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). Only one application can be submitted per license year, along with a nonrefundable $5 fee, plus a 70-cent transaction fee that goes to ALS, the company that operates the license sale system. No paper applications will be accepted.

All applications must be submitted by Sept. 1 to be eligible for this year’s drawing.

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    For Information Contact:
    Jerry Feaser
    717-705-6541
    PGCNEWS@state.pa.us

SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission