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BOBCAT POPULATIONS GROW, SPREAD OUT
Highest populations can be found in the northcentral counties, according to the Pa. Game Commission. Last week, the agency announced the most recent bobcat hunting and trapping results while unveiling a 40 percent increase in permits for the upcoming seasons. "All of the tools that we use to monitor the bobcat population indicate increased abundance and continued geographic expansion," said Dr. Matthew Lovallo, furbearer biologist with the Game Commission. Of the 356 bobcats killed by hunters and trappers during the 2007-08 seasons, some 127 came from Wildlife Management Area 2G, which includes all of Cameron County and the southern halves of Potter and McKean counties. Another 33 were taken in Area 3A, which includes Potter, McKean and Tioga counties north of Rt. 6. About 40 percent of licenseholders are expected to succeed in the 2008-09 season, Lovallo said. Since bobcat hunting and trapping was legalized in 2000, harvest figures have grown annually, as have license allotments. There were 58 taken in the 2000-01 season; the figure was up to 258 for the 2006-07 season. Last year, the Game Commission awarded 1,010 permits from an applicant pool of more than 6,000, up from a license allotment of 720 permits the previous year. For the 2008-09 hunting and trapping season, the agency will award 1,435 permits by public drawing on Sept. 12. Lovallo forecasts that 530 bobcats will be taken during the season. Those applicants with six "preference points" (five previous points and one for this year's application) will automatically receive a bobcat permit. Those who received a permit for the 2007-08 season are not eligible for this year's drawing. The 2008-09 hunting season for bobcats is set for Oct. 20 through Feb. 16; trapping season is Oct. 21-Feb. 17. Mail-in applications are due by Aug. 15. Online applications through the Game Commission website will be accepted through Sept. 2. |
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