Federal Duck Stamps Raise Millions for Wetlands
Wildlife Refuges Aided by Hunters, Conservationists and Collectors
Mar 20, 2009
In 2009 11.5 million dollars is being distributed from the funds raised by the duck stamp program. Interested artists can send an entry to the Duck Stamp Design Contest which is held each year.
The Federal Duck Stamp Program
Federal Duck Stamps, which are officially known as Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, have never been used as postage stamps. The first stamp was created in 1934 as the national license for hunting migratory waterfowl. Hunters purchased a duck stamp, which served to indicate they had paid their hunting fees. This use continues today.
Regular visitors to National Wildlife Refuges benefit from buying the $15.00 stamps as well. Duck stamps function as passes for access to National Wildlife Refuges where daily admission is generally $5.00. Stamp collectors may purchase them as an addition to their collection. Junior Duck Stamps raise funds for conservation education programs.
Federal Duck Stamp Design Art Contest
J. N. ‘Ding’ Darling, as commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, designed the original ducks stamp. In 1949 the first art contest was organized and since then Duck Stamp designs have been chosen in this way.
Given a choice of painting one of five species determined by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, artists submit works to be judged by a panel of art, waterfowl and stamp collection authorities. Several of the top designs, including the original artwork of the winner of the contest, tour the country after the contest.
Artists who enter the contest do not receive any payment except a sheet of the duck stamp they designed. Many do, however, profit by selling copies of their artwork to waterfowl enthusiasts including hunters and bird watchers.
Seven National Wildlife Refuges Benefit From Duck Stamp Money in 2009
The Federal Duck Stamp Program is an excellent investment into habitat protection. For every dollar spent on stamps, ninety-eight cents goes directly into the purchase of lands for the National Wildlife Refuge system. This year seven refuges will increase their acreage from duck stamp monies.
In California, two counties will add nearly 1500 acres to the state’s refuge system. In Washington State and Oregon, 225 National Wildlife Refuge acres have been added in areas that are deemed critical to migratory waterfowl.
National Wildlife Refuges in Texas gain nearly 1500 acres. Louisiana adds about 225 acres; North Carolina adds 51 and New Hampshire gets an additional 80 acres through grants which are dispersed under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989.
In the past it was not unusual for conservationists and hunters to be at odds with each other. But that is changing as hunters realize they must protect lands for the species they want to hunt and conservationists realize that the hunters are willing to put much needed money into that process. The Federal Duck Stamp Program is one of the ways that conservationists and hunters find themselves working together for the National Wildlife Refuge system, which provides wildlife corridors along the flyways of many migratory bird species.
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