LEWISTOWN — You don’t have to see a bobcat to know it’s out there. The tracks, the silence, the quick shift of shadows in the pines — Pennsylvania’s most elusive predator leaves just enough evidence to keep people wondering.

That sense of mystery is exactly what Lt. Amy Nabozny, information and education supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Southcentral Region in Huntingdon, hopes to unravel when she visits Lewistown next month.

Her upcoming program will give residents a closer look at a species that has long captured curiosity in the Commonwealth, even as it remains one of the most carefully managed animals in the state.

Bobcats in Pa.

The Towpath Naturalist Society of Juniata and Mifflin County will host Nabozny’s program, “Prowler of the Pines,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 120 N. Main St., Lewistown. The evening will focus on bobcat biology, behavior and the research that guides the Game Commission’s approach to managing the species.

“I will be discussing the general characteristics, life cycle and habitats of bobcats in Pennsylvania,” Nabozny said. “It will include their breeding seasons, den selection, food preferences and lifespans, as well as some of the research our agency has conducted over the years.”

Her talk arrives at a time when the Commission has also voted on several significant changes for the 2026-27 license year, adding timely context for hunters and wildlife enthusiasts alike.

Bobcats have always occupied a unique place in Pennsylvania’s landscape. They are solitary, highly adaptable and capable of thriving in forests, swamps, rocky ridges and even the edges of developed areas. Yet for decades, their population struggled. By the mid-20th century, habitat loss and unregulated harvests had pushed bobcat numbers so low that the state imposed a complete hunting and trapping ban in 1970.

That ban remained in place for nearly 30 years. It wasn’t until 1999, after long-term monitoring showed sustained recovery, that the Game Commission reopened a limited season. Even today, the species is managed with a level of caution that reflects both its history and its ecological importance.

Strict rules for a recovered species

For hunters, that caution is evident in the regulations. The bobcat hunting season is short, typically running from early January through the first days of February.

One year may see dates such as Jan. 8 to Feb. 2, while the next might run Jan. 7 to Feb. 1. The exact dates shift annually, and hunters are required to check the current year’s regulations to ensure compliance. The narrow window is designed to balance opportunity with sustainability, allowing limited harvest while protecting the long-term health of the population.

Permits are another key component. Anyone wishing to hunt bobcats must hold both a furtaker license and a bobcat permit. The permit is issued through a controlled drawing system, and hunters are limited to one bobcat per license year. This system ensures that harvest levels remain predictable and manageable.

Bobcat hunting is also restricted to designated Wildlife Management Units, and not all of them are open each year. Hunters must verify which units are available before heading into the field. Any harvested bobcat must be reported to the Game Commission within 48 hours, either online or by phone, allowing biologists to track harvest numbers in real time.

These regulations reflect a broader philosophy of population management. Bobcats are resilient, but their numbers can fluctuate based on habitat conditions, prey availability and human activity. By maintaining tight controls on harvest and closely monitoring population trends, the Game Commission aims to ensure that bobcats remain a stable and thriving part of Pennsylvania’s wildlife community.

The species’ rebound since the 1970s is often cited as a success story in modern wildlife management — a reminder that careful oversight can restore balance where it was once lost.

PGC weighs broader changes

While Nabozny’s program will focus on the natural history and management of bobcats, it comes at a moment when the Game Commission is considering several broader changes to the state’s hunting framework.

For the 2026-27 license year, the Commission has voted to allow firearms throughout the entire Agricultural Deer Control Program season, which runs from August through April. The change is intended to help farmers dealing with persistent crop damage by giving them more flexibility in managing deer numbers.

Another proposed change involves the schedule for antlerless license sales. Currently, residents apply on the fourth Monday in June, with additional rounds following in biweekly segments through July and August. The new proposal would eliminate the rigid schedule-based system in favor of a modified rounds process, aiming to reduce confusion and improve access for hunters.

The Commission also voted to allow all mentored hunters, including those under 7 years old, to receive antlered deer and turkey harvest tags beginning in the 2026-27 license year. Supporters say the change will help introduce young hunters to the full experience of Pennsylvania’s hunting traditions.

These proposals will now move to a public comment period before receiving a final vote later this year.

A chance to learn more

For many residents, the timing of Nabozny’s program offers a chance to learn not only about bobcats themselves, but also about the evolving landscape of wildlife management in the Commonwealth.

For those who have ever wondered what moves through the woods when no one is watching — or how the state balances conservation with opportunity — the evening promises insight, clarity and a closer look at a creature that rarely stands still long enough to be seen.

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