Bobcat

Felis Rufus

Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae

Other Names: Bay lynx, barred bobcat, catamount, cat of the mountains, lynx cat, pallid bobcat, red lynx, wildcat.

Status: Very valuable fur animal. Official Montana furbearer managed and protected by regulated fur harvest seasons.

Identifying Characteristics: The bobcat is about twice the size of a domestic cat and is the smallest of our native cats. Individuals exhibit considerable variation in color. Base coloration can be light gray, yellowish-brown, buff, brown, or reddish-brown. Underparts and inside of legs are white with black or dark brown spots. Facial fur is often streaked with black. Dorsal surfaces of the ears are black with a prominent white spot. Short tuft of black hair is present on the ears. This cat has a short tail, black only on the upper portion of the tip. Bobcat fur is short, dense, and soft. Retractile claws. Total length: 28 to 37 inches. Weight: 15 to 35 pounds.

Habitat: Utilizes wide variety of habitats; known to be an animal of patchy country. Prefers rimrock and grassland/shrubland areas. Often found in areas with dense understory vegetation and high prey densities. Natural rocky areas are preferred den sites.

Food Habits: Snowshoe hares and jackrabbits are the most common prey. Also feeds heavily on medium-sized rodents. Will eat carrion.

Life History: May be active during all hours but is primarily nocturnal. Solitary animal that is difficult to observe in the wild. Usually mates during spring. Litter size averages from two to four. Gestation 50 to 60 days. Young born May through June.

Similar Species: Lynx - bobcat feet are much smaller than those of the lynx. Feet lack large furry pads characteristic of lynx. Also have shorter legs than lynx. Lynx has black color all the way around the tail tip. Other cats have a long tail.

Further Information

BOBCAT -- STATEWIDE SEASON DATES: Trapping Districts 1, 2 and 3: December 1 - February 15 of the following year. Trapping Districts 4, 5, 6 and 7: December 1 - March 1 of the following year. License must be purchased prior to December 1. Season will close in 48 hours upon reaching the trapping district quota or on the season closure date, whichever occurs first.

Limit: Persons may take and possess seven (7) bobcats each per season in Trapping Districts 1, 2 and 3. There is no per trapper limit in Trapping Districts 4, 5, 6 and 7. The bobcat season on the Flathead Indian Reservation is closed to all trappers (members and nonmembers).

Trapping District	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Bobcat Quota	250	180	300	300	400	100	700

Hunting Season: Bobcat may be taken by hunting (MCA 87-2-601). Bobcat hunting is open each day one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset during the open season. Bobcat chasing is open each day from two (2) hours before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset in the hunting districts where mountain lion season has closed (check mountain lion closures at 1-800-385-7826). Bobcat chasing is open each day from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset in the hunting districts where mountain lion season is open. Bobcats may not be taken until legal bobcat hunting hours. Bobcats may not be hunted except during legal bobcat hunting hours. Dogs may be used to hunt and chase bobcats within prescribed seasons.

Dogs may be used to take bobcat (MCA 87-3-124), but no other animals defined by law as furbearing animals. Dogs may be used to hunt or chase bobcats within prescribed hunting hours and seasons.

Persons with a valid trapper license may legally chase bobcats during the open season and anytime after the season is closed in the Trapping District, or until April 14. A trapper license must be purchased prior to December 1 of the current year to be valid.

Landowner permission is required to hunt on private land, including releasing dogs or chasing bobcats during the chase-only season.

Chase-only Season: Trapping Districts 1, 2 and 3: February 16 - April 14. Trapping Districts 4, 5, 6 and 7: March 2 - April 14. Bobcat chasing is open each day one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Dogs may be used to chase bobcats within prescribed seasons. All Wildlife Managment Areas, National Wildlife Refuges and Deer, Elk and Mountain Lion Hunting District 282 are closed to the bobcat chase season.

It is prohibited for a hound handler or bobcat hunter to release dogs on a bobcat track, or allow dogs to chase a bobcat, or hold a bobcat at bay, when the season is not open to hunting or chasing bobcats.

Bobcats may not be trapped to be later released for hunting and/or chasing with dogs. Wild furbearers captured alive must be immediately killed or released. It is unlawful for a person to possess or transport wild furbearers alive (MCA 87-3-11).

Quotas: Current harvest quota information may be obtained by calling the appropriate Fish, Wildlife & Parks regional office during normal business hours or by calling 1-800-711-TRAP (1-800-711-8727) 24 hours a day or the FWP website at fwp.state.mt.us. The toll free line and website are updated by 1 pm. (MST) every day. Furbearer seasons will close in 48 hours when a species quota is reached prior to the end of the regular season.

The Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has authorized the department to initiate a closure prior to reaching a quota or subquota when conditions or circumstances indicate the quota may be reached within the 48-hour closure notice period.

Reporting: Trappers or hunters are required to personally report their bobcat harvest within 24 hours by calling the Fish, Wildlife & Parks regional office during office hours (8 AM - 5 PM weekdays) in the trapping district where the animal was taken so that FWP can monitor quota levels. Reporting can also be made after office hours and on weekends by calling 1-406-449-1065.

Pelt Tagging: Trappers and hunters are required to personally present the pelts of bobcat for tagging to a designated Fish, Wildlife & Parks employee residing in the trapping district where the animal was taken within five (5) days of harvest. Trappers or hunters unable to comply with the five day pelt tagging requirements due to special circumstances or the unavailability of local FWP personnel must still register their pelts within five days of harvest by calling the proper regional office to make arrangements for tagging by FWP personnel at a later time. Pelts not presented or registered to department personnel within 5 days are subject to confiscation.

Skulls: It is mandatory that skulls of bobcat be turned into Fish, Wildlife & Parks in good condition, at the time the pelt is presented for tagging. The skulls will be retained by Fish, Wildlife & Parks for processing and examination and then returned to the owner if desired. Good condition is defined as fresh or frozen and securely wrapped in such a manner as to have prevented decomposition in order that all tissue samples are suitable for lab analysis.

Trappers are requested to be able to identify or have skulls sorted by sex for bobcat before presenting them to FWP personnel.

Export: A federal export permit is required in addition to a Montana CITES tag before the pelts of bobcat and otter may be exported from the United States. Apply to U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 600 Central Plaza, Room 209, Great Falls MT 59401.