in-20260422-IR-312260102INA: BOBCAT HUNTING

TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION Notice of Public Comment Period for Interim Rule LSA Document #26-102 BOBCAT HUNTING PURPOSE OF NOTICE The Natural Resources Commission (commission), in coordination with the Department of Natural Resources (department), is soliciting public comment on temporarily superseding rules at 312 IAC 9-3-18.1 concerning bobcat hunting and increasing the statewide quota for bobcats. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS Governor's Approval: 20260422-IR-312260102GAA Regulatory Analysis: 20260422-IR-312260102RAA CITATIONS AFFECTED: 312 IAC 9-3-18.1 AUTHORITY: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-22-6 OVERVIEW Basic Purpose and Background The general assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 241-2024, which required the department to adopt rules to establish a license to take a bobcat not later than July 1, 2025. The first bobcat trapping season began November 8, 2025, and ended December 6, 2025, when the season quota was reached. Statement Justifying Requirement or Cost Hunters and trappers will need a license to take a bobcat under IC 14-22-12-1. The resident bobcat license fee is fifteen dollars ($15), and the nonresident bobcat license fee is one hundred twenty dollars ($120). Outside the requirement to purchase a license as required by state law, there are no new costs for regulated entities to comply with the proposed temporary rule changes. Based on the department's estimated projections for license sales in 2026, total compliance costs for a license for a resident who chooses to purchase a license would be approximately fifteen dollars ($15), plus twenty dollars ($20) for a hunting or trapping license, if necessary, for a total of thirty-five dollars ($35) per resident adult. Even if these costs were not voluntarily incurred, the accompanying Regulatory Analysis explains how the multiple direct and indirect benefits outweigh these costs. REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT The commission, in coordination with the department, is soliciting public comment on the proposed interim rule. Comments may be submitted in one of the following ways: COMMENT PERIOD DEADLINE All comments must be postmarked or time stamped not later than May 22, 2026. The rule, Regulatory Analysis, appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis and Statement Justifying Requirement or Cost, and materials incorporated by reference, if applicable, are on file at the Natural Resources Commission, C/O Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Room W261, Indianapolis, Indiana and are available for public inspection. Copies of the rule, Regulatory Analysis, and appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis and Statement Justifying Requirement or Cost are available at the Department of Natural Resources central office. PROPOSED INTERIM RULE (b) An individual may take a bobcat (Lynx rufus): (c) Except as provided under IC 14-22-11-1, an individual may not take a bobcat unless the individual possesses at least one (1) of the following licenses: (d) In addition to a license described in subsection (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(4), an individual must have at least one (1) of the following licenses: (e) An individual may not take more than one (1) bobcat in the season. (f) An individual who captures a bobcat alive and does not include it in the bag limit for the individual under subsection (e) shall release the bobcat into the wild in the location where the bobcat is captured immediately after discovering the bobcat. (g) An individual may take a bobcat in the following counties: (h) An individual may trap a bobcat with a: (i) An individual may hunt a bobcat with the following equipment: (j) An individual may hunt a bobcat beginning one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and ending one-half (1/2) hour after sunset. (k) The statewide quota for the season to take a bobcat is four hundred (400) bobcats. The department shall track the statewide quota for taking bobcats on the website of the department. (l) An individual who takes a bobcat shall: by registering the bobcat with the electronic harvest reporting system of the department not later than twenty-four (24) hours after taking the bobcat. An individual reporting a take under this subsection shall provide accurate information to the department. An individual shall keep the confirmation number provided by the electronic harvest reporting system of the department with the bobcat until the individual checks in the bobcat with a designated department employee or at an official bobcat checking station under subsection (m). (m) An individual who takes a bobcat during the season to take a bobcat shall possess the bobcat and show the skinned hide of the bobcat to a designated department employee or an official bobcat checking station not later than fifteen (15) days after the calendar month in which the bobcat is harvested. A department employee shall issue a tag to the individual. (n) A bobcat, including the hide and any other part of the bobcat, taken during the season to take a bobcat may not be: until the bobcat is registered with the electronic harvest system for the department and issued a tag by a department employee under subsection (m). (o) After registering a bobcat and obtaining a tag from the department under this rule, an individual who takes a bobcat may: the hide of the bobcat under this rule. (p) An individual may possess an untanned bobcat hide if the bobcat hide is lawfully obtained. (q) An individual may not take a bobcat: This subsection does not apply to an individual who takes a bobcat under a scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6 or nuisance wild animal control permit under 312 IAC 9-10-11. (r) An individual who takes a bobcat: shall notify the department not later than twenty-four (24) hours after taking the bobcat. The individual shall arrange to deliver the bobcat to the department. (s) A person may not possess a live bobcat except as follows: (t) An individual may not sell a live bobcat unless the individual obtains a game breeder's license under 312 IAC 9-10-4. (u) An individual may not take or chase a bobcat with the use or aid of a dog, except for an authorized federal and state wildlife management employee. LSA Document #26-102 Approved by Governor: April 6, 2026 Documents Incorporated by Reference: None Received by Publisher