Update: On May 29th, Senator Harmon passed HB3399 out of the Senate. This bill replaces the previous SB1981. It went to the House floor on May 31st, but it never reached a vote before the spring session ended. The deadline is now June 30th for a full vote. It must pass with a 3/5 majority.
We'd prefer to see a moratorium on hunting altogether, but this is still very good news! It expands the "no hunting zone" and reduces the number of permits allowed.
The amended text added to HB3399 states: "Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or trap bobcat in this State on and after the effective date of the bill in the counties of Boone, Bureau, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, DeWitt, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Henry, Iroquois, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Marshall, McHenry, McLean, Ogle, Peoria, Piatt, Putnam, Stark, Stephenson, Vermilion, Will, Winnebago, Woodford, and north of U.S. Route 36 in Edgar and Douglas and north of U.S. Route 36 to the junction with Illinois Route 121 and north or east of Illinois Route 121 in Macon. Provides that for the season beginning in 2017, a total number of 350 bobcats may be hunted or trapped lawfully, or the conclusion of the season occurs, whichever is earlier. Provides that for the season beginning in 2018, a total number of 375 bobcats may be hunted or trapped lawfully, or the conclusion of the season occurs, whichever is earlier. Provides for a sunset of this provision on June 30, 2019. Effective July 1, 2017."
