Bobcats, beware. Illinois lawmakers have renewed their call to lift a ban on hunting bobcats.
Former Governor Pat Quinn vetoed a previous attempt in one of his last acts as governor. Bobcats are off limits to hunters now, and democratic Sen. Linda Holmes of Aurora wants to keep it that way.
"There isn't a need to get rid of this animal, which is a native predator species in the state," Holmes said.
She says the bobcat population is fragile, and unlike hunters' other prey -- which carnivorous eaters can turn into a meal -- bobcats are solely hunted as trophies.
But the Senate voted to create a bobcat hunting and trapping season in Illinois. Sen. Sam McCann, a Macoupin County Republican, says it'll ensure the population doesn't boom.
"That's all this bill is trying to do is manage the resource so it doesn't become open season on these creatures," McCann said.
A similar measure has been approved by the House.
Gov. Bruce Rauner's office wouldn't say if he'd sign a bobcat hunting bill into law, but Rauner is an avid hunter of birds.