CNBNews

“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 2009-19 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.