Bobcat hunters face rule change

OLYMPIA — Washington state has new requirements for small game hunters and trappers who harvest bobcats. The requirement that went into effect on September 1 requires hunters to submit the lower jaw of any bobcat harvested as part of the mandatory pelt sealing process.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) finalized this rule update through its most recent season setting process.

Stephanie Landry, WDFW carnivore, furbearer, and small game section manager, said, "WDFW will now collect the lower jaw from bobcats harvested in Washington so we can use the canine teeth to determine the age structure of harvested bobcats and track changes over time."

Landry explained that bobcat canine teeth cannot be removed as easily as the teeth of other species, which necessitates submitting the entire lower jaw.

The data collected during pelt sealing, including the age of harvested bobcats, will allow WDFW to better manage the state's bobcat populations. This process provides an opportunity for hunters and trappers to contribute to bobcat conservation efforts.

Pelts must be sealed by April 20. WDFW advises hunters and trappers to refer to the latest season and regulation information in the Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations or the Furbearer Trapping Regulations.

WDFW has prepared resources to help hunters and trappers comply with these new requirements, including instructions on lower jaw removal and how to request the return of bobcat jaws after canine extraction. These resources are available on WDFW's website.

For more information, hunters and trappers can contact WDFW at wildthing@dfw.wa.gov or 360-902-2515.