Federal Duck Stamp Supports Wildlife Conservation
After two days of competition, Joseph Hautman of Plymouth, Minnesota emerged as the winner of the 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with his painting of three tundra swans flying over a wetland. The announcement was made via a live broadcast at the US Fish and Wildlife Service headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. This is the sixth victory for him in the prestigious contest.
Hautman’s acrylic painting will become the 2023-2024 Federal Migratory Bird Conservation and Hunting Stamp, or “Duck Stamp,” which will go on sale in late June 2023. The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $25 and rakes in roughly $40 million in sales each year. These funds support critical conservation to protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System for the benefit of wildlife and people’s enjoyment.
Last week, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, approved the allocation of nearly $105 million with grants through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and funds from the Wetlands Conservation Fund. Migratory birds. The fund is made up in part of Duck Stamp dollars, to support the acquisition of land from willing vendors for the Refuge System. The new areas provide additional public access to some of the most spectacular places available for hunting, fishing, bird watching, hiking and other outdoor activities.
“The Duck Stamp Contest is one of my favorite events every year!” said service director Martha Williams. “I am always impressed with the caliber of art submitted, and each and every entry reminds us of the beauty of the natural world Duck Stamp is designed to protect. I encourage everyone to purchase a Duck Stamp as it makes a real impact in conserving wetland habitats for waterfowl and many other wildlife.”
Since it was first established in 1934, Federal Duck Stamp sales to hunters, bird watchers, outdoor enthusiasts and collectors have raised more than $1.1 billion to conserve more than 6 million acres of bird habitat and other wildlife and provide countless opportunities for wildlife. -oriented recreation on our public lands.
Waterfowl hunters over the age of 16 must purchase and display a current Federal Duck Stamp. Many non-hunters, including bird watchers, conservationists, stamp collectors, and others, also purchase the stamp to support habitat conservation. Additionally, a current Federal Duck Stamp may be used for free admission to any national wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee.
In addition to Joseph Hautman, Frank Mittelstadt of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, placed second with his acrylic painting of tundra swans, and Robert Hautman of Delano, Minnesota, placed third with his acrylic painting of a Wigeon.
Of 187 entries judged in this year’s competition, 54 entries made it to the final round of judging. Eligible species for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were Tundra Swan (Whistler), Mottled Duck, Green-winged Teal, Wigeon and Barrow’s Goldeneye. View the online gallery of the 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest entries.
The judges for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were: Sean Murtha, artist; Richard Houk, philatelist; Marshall Johnson, conservation partner; Paul Schmidt, conservation partner; and Christopher Nicolai, waterfowl biologist and conservation partner.
You can contribute to conservation and America’s great outdoor tradition by purchasing federal duck stamps at many national wildlife refuges, sporting goods stores, and other retailers, through the US Postal Service, or online at https://www.fws.gov/service/ buy-duck-stamp-oe-stamp.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continued benefit of the American people. For more information visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube Y Flickr.