September 3, 2025

Photo by Bob Geary, submitted to the 2018 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has drawn the winning lottery entries for the 2025 Maryland Black Bear Hunt. 

Lottery entrants were randomly selected and will receive a permit valid for the six-day bear hunting season open from October 20-25, 2025 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. Entrants can check the black bear hunt webpage lottery results section for their DNR ID number. 

New this year, there will be two black bear hunt zones. Black Bear Hunt Zone 1 comprises Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties, while Zone 2 comprises Frederick and Washington counties. A total of 1,050 entries were drawn between the two black bear hunt zones, with 950 drawn for Black Bear Hunt Zone 1, and 100 drawn for Black Bear Hunt Zone 2.

“This year’s black bear hunt is unique because this is the first time a hunter could apply for two lotteries, both of which offer hunters the opportunity to contribute to the management of the species in the state,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer said. “Congratulations to those successful applicants. We wish you all good luck and safe hunting during our 22nd annual black bear season.”

A total of 4,410 hunters applied for the lottery with 52% of the permits going to Western Maryland residents, 38% to all other Maryland residents, and 10% to non-residents. 

Successful applicants will receive an email or letter in the mail with further instructions on how to finalize the permitting process. As a reminder, permittees are allowed to designate up to two sub-permittees prior to the hunt and each hunting party may harvest a single bear under the permit. Any successful applicant that has not received a notification by Sept. 17, 2025 should email blackbear.dnr@maryland.gov or call 301-334-4255.

Lyon County commissioners listen to comments from hunters, landowners on getting rid of shotgun-only deer zones

Local News

Sep 3, 2025

Deb Gau

dgau@marshallindependent.com

Photo by Deb Gau Lyon County resident Dana Bartz, in front, read notes on his concerns about how to protect residents’ safety, during a public hearing on rifle hunting Tuesday evening.

MARSHALL — Area residents spoke out Tuesday on whether Lyon County should allow rifles to be used for deer hunting.

While some Lyon County residents voiced concerns over safety, or how rifle hunting would impact the deer population, many of the comments at a public hearing were in support of the change.

“I hunt deer here, and I’m in favor of being able to use rifles here,” said Lyon County resident Joe Zeug.

Lyon County commissioners said they weren’t going to make a decision on the issue Tuesday. But they would consider public comments from the hearing.

“For us, it’s a listening (session). We want to hear from you folks, your feelings on it,” said Commissioner Gary Crowley.

Commissioners had called for the hearing after a new state law was passed, getting rid of shotgun-only deer hunting zones in Minnesota. Under the new law, rifle hunting would be allowed across the state starting in the 2026 deer season. But individual counties in shotgun zones can decide whether to opt out of rifle hunting, Crowley explained.

“They’re giving the option for counties to not go along with it,” Crowley said at the start of the hearing. “So if a county says no, we’re not going along with it, then it will be strictly shotgun.”

Some of the area residents speaking at the hearing said they were concerned that hunters using high-powered rifles could pose a safety risk to people and property.

“I’m not against the use of high-powered rifles, but as a rural resident of Lyon County, I should receive reasonable consideration for my safety on my property,” said Lynd Township resident Dana Bartz. Bartz suggested that the use of .308 caliber bullets be limited to a certain distance away from residences or cities.

Later in the meeting, commissioners said that they would only be able to decide on whether to opt out of rifle hunting. They would not be able to place limits on factors like ammunition caliber.

“I think it’s important to recognize that the creation of the shotgun zone for part of Minnesota was never done as a safety measure. It was done as a means to reduce the deer harvest, because the effectiveness of a shotgun is less than that of a centerfire rifle,” said western Lyon County resident Tim Meyer. “The other thing to recognize is all the states that border Minnesota … allow rifle hunting, and the injury rates from hunting are no different in those states that allow centerfire rifles than they are in Minnesota.”

Meyer encouraged commissioners to go along with the new rifle law.

“There are rifles being used in our county right now,” said Lyon County resident Craig Kesteloot. “If you go coyote hunting, you’re allowed to use a rifle. Muzzle-loader rifles have some of the same distance ranges as another type of rifle might, and they’re far less safe to handle than a rim or centerfire rifle would be.”

Brent Kesteloot said it was a misconception that rifles “shoot for miles on end, or hundreds of yards on end.”

“Most of us who have grown up in this area are familiar with a typical 80-acre piece of property that’s a half mile deep. Well, that’s 880 yards, and a .308 (bullet) drops 18 feet in that distance. So you would have to be extremely reckless and be pointed at an extreme angle to ever reach anybody at that distance with that bullet,” he said.

“I don’t have any personal concerns about going to a rifle season,” said Lyon County resident and firearm safety instructor Ron Prorok. “We teach our students to be safe whether they’re using a crossbow, whether they’re using a shotgun, whether they’re using a centerfire rifle or a muzzle loader. It’s the principles of what you’re using and how you’re using it. You’ve got to be safe with the tools you have.”

Matt Evans said allowing rifle hunting was one more option that might encourage younger generations of hunters. ”

We don’t want anything to deter young people from going into the outdoors,” Evans said.

A couple of speakers, including Bob Rialson, said they were concerned that rifle hunting would make it too easy for hunters to harvest deer.

“The one concern that was brought up a little bit that I really am concerned about is depopulation of deer,” Rialson said.

Commissioners also played a voicemail message from Minnesota Rep. Chris Swedzinski, who was not able to attend the hearing.

“I think this has been a long time coming. States around the country have moved in this direction. South Dakota, right across the border, is a rifle area,” Swedzinski said in his message. “And they do not have any increase in accidents compared to what we would have with (shotgun) slugs.”

Comimssioners said after Jan. 1, the Minnesota DNR would start talking to counties about whether they will opt out of rifle hunting.

If Lyon County decides to opt out, “According to statute, there’s a process that we have to go through where we would do public meetings again and all of that,” said Commissioner Rick Anderson.

Crowley thanked area residents for their feedback.

“I know we all as commissioners, we’ve all gotten a lot of comments — phone calls, in-person comments, plus emails from folks that can’t be here this evening,” Crowley said. “It’s kind of a wide variety, and everybody’s got their idea,” he said.

Sept. 2, 2025

Media Contact: TPWD News,  Business Hours, 512-389-8030

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AUSTIN – Teal hunting season kicks off Sept. 20 and for the first time in nearly 20 years, Texas waterfowl hunters face a shortened early season.

The Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  (USFWS) and Canadian Wildlife Service in May of 2024 estimated the blue-winged teal breeding population at 4.55 million birds, a 15 percent decline and the lowest estimate in two decades. USFWS requires a minimum population of 4.7 million birds to authorize a full 16-day season.

The most recent May survey showed an even lower estimate of 4.4 million blue-winged teal, which is now 13 percent below the long-term average. Unfortunately, hunters can also expect another shortened season next year during the 2026-27 hunting season.

Blue-winged teal, the second most abundant duck in North America and the primary species targeted during Texas’s early teal season, have faced tough conditions on their northern breeding grounds. Prolonged drought in key areas of Canada and the Dakotas has reduced habitat quality and nesting success, leading to population declines.

“While it’s disappointing to see the decreased hunting season, teal remain an important and resilient species,” said Kevin Kraai, Waterfowl Program Leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Hunters can still expect fair opportunity this September, especially where wet conditions earlier in the summer have provided good habitat locally.”

Habitat conditions are on the drier side across Texas following a wet summer. Drought conditions in Central Texas restricted irrigation water for the state’s rice prairies and left landowners reliant on rainfall to fill wetlands and fields. Hunters can expect teal to concentrate in the areas where irrigation or groundwater is available.

Despite the challenges, Kraai indicates hunters can still anticipate an average teal season in Texas this fall.

“Local wet conditions earlier this summer should hold birds in many areas,” added Kraai. “Hunters who scout ahead and adapt to shifting conditions will likely find success.”

The nine-day statewide 2025 early teal season in Texas will run Sept. 20-28. The daily bag limit on teal is six, with a possession limit of 18.

Kraai reminds migratory bird hunters that they need to make sure they are Harvest Information Program (HIP) certified and confirm the HIP questions are answered correctly. HIP surveys allow biologists to get an accurate sample of migratory game bird hunters so the USFWS can deliver harvest surveys to selected participants later in the year.

Hunters should purchase their new 2025-26 Texas hunting license prior to hitting the field. In addition, teal/waterfowl hunters will also need a migratory game bird endorsement, Federal Duck Stamp and HIP certification. It’s also required by law that hunters have proof of their completion of a hunter education course.

The Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 modified provisions of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly referred to as the Duck Stamp, now allowing an individual to carry an electronic stamp (E-stamp) for the entire waterfowl hunting season.  A physical Federal Duck Stamp will be mailed to each E-stamp purchaser after the hunting season between March 10 – June 30, 2026.

Hunters can find teal season dates, regulations, bag limits and more on this year’s Outdoor Annual. Hunters can also access digital copies of their licenses via the Outdoor Annual and Texas Hunt & Fish apps.

Anyone hunting on Texas public hunting lands must purchase an Annual Public Hunting Permit. Texas has more than one million acres of land for public access. More information about these lands and locations can be found on the TPWD website. Hunters using public lands can complete their on-site registration via the Texas Hunt & Fish app.

Peterson pleads guilty to unlawful transport of animals

Local News

Sep 3, 2025

Deb Gau

Staff Writer

dgau@marshallindependent.com

• https://www.marshallindependent.com/news/local-news/2025/09/russell-man-sentenced-in-illegal-hunting-incident/

MARSHALL — A Russell man charged with shooting a deer from his vehicle pleaded guilty this week to unlawful transportation of wild animals, Lyon County court records said. Shawn Andrew Peterson, 56, received two years probation and had his hunting license suspended for three years, court records said.

Peterson appeared in Lyon County District Court Tuesday on charges of unlawful transportation of wild animals, discharging a firearm from a public highway, trespassing and transporting a loaded firearm. A criminal complaint alleged that last fall, a Lyon County resident reported seeing a pickup truck chasing a deer along 40th Avenue.

The driver of the pickup allegedly rolled down the window and shot the deer, the complaint said. A witness reported seeing Peterson and a second person run out into a field to retrieve the deer, the complaint said. The complaint alleged Peterson told law enforcement that he did not have permission to hunt in the area where the deer was shot.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Peterson pleaded guilty to unlawful transportation of wild animals, a gross misdemeanor. Court records said Peterson received a stayed sentence of 364 days in jail, a $500 fine, and two years probation. Peterson was also ordered to pay $500 restitution and forfeit the gun that was used in the incident. His hunting license would be suspended for three years, court records said.

The additional charges against Peterson were dismissed, court records said.