Hunters and trappers in Pennsylvania harvested 487 bobcats in the 2008-09 seasons. The success rate of 40 percent is tied with the 2005-06 seasons for the second highest, the Game Commission reported.

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Game Commission officials announced that hunters and trappers harvested 487 bobcats during the 2008-09 seasons.

"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 Matthew Lovallo, Game Commission game mammal section supervisor and author of the 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," he added

Bobcat permits

The Game Commission will award 1,780 permits for the 2009-10 bobcat seasons at a public drawing in Harrisburg 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) automatically will receive a bobcat permit.

Those who received one of the 1,443 bobcat permits issued during the 2008-09 seasons 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.

The commission will accept applications beginning June 15. All applications must be submitted by Sept. 1 to be eligible for this year's drawing.