|
Coming off a season of record harvest, the 2007/2008 bobcat season began Saturday, Dec. 1, in Nebraska. Bobcats may be hunted or trapped through Feb. 29, 2008.
Another good season is expected. "The outlook is excellent," said Sam Wilson, nongame furbearer program manager of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. "Times have never been better for bobcats. Many people are seeing them and having the opportunity to harvest a bobcat for the first time."
The bobcat harvest has risen dramatically since the late 1990s. The 2006/2007 record harvest of 1,604 bobcats was the fifth consecutive year with a harvest of at least 1,000.
Last season, the counties with the highest total of bobcats taken were Gage (134), Pawnee (90), and Richardson (85), although other southeastern and southern counties also had many bobcats harvested.
While the exact reason for the rise in bobcat harvest is unknown, it may be due to the establishment and proliferation of CRP, high prey densities, declining coyote densities, and thus reduced competition, and increasing interest in bobcats by harvesters.
For more information, or to purchase a permit, go to www.OutdoorNebraska.org. Permits also may be purchased at Commission permitting offices at Ak-Sar- Ben Aquarium, Alliance, Bassett, Chadron State Park, Fort Robinson State Park, Kearney, Niobrara State Park, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha, Lincoln, and Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area.
|
