75th MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING & CONSERVATION STAMP

First day of sale: June 27, 2008
Buy one today!

100% of the Kootenai NWR in northern Idaho was acquired with Duck Stamp dollars. © Stan Bousson

Also known as the "Duck Stamp," the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp was established by Congress during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934 as a federal waterfowl-hunting license whose proceeds went to wetland-acquisition for refuges. The stamp has evolved over time, and today it raises approximately $25 million annually for conservation. Over the years, stamp sales have generated more than $700 million, which has been used to help purchase or lease more than 5.2 million acres of wetland and grassland refuge habitat! The stamp not only serves as a federal waterfowl-hunting license but also as a free pass to any national wildlife refuges that charge entry fees. Many non-hunters buy the stamp to support the purchase of Refuge System habitat, for a refuge entry pass and as a collector's item.

Each stamp is just $15, and 98¢ on every dollar goes directly to acquire vital habitat in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Click here to see what percentage of every refuge was acquired thanks to Duck Stamp dollars.

First Federal Duck Stamp (1934)

The first Federal Duck Stamp was design by J.N. "Ding" Darling in 1934. Each year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sponsors a stamp-design contest. Wildlife artists from across the country submit their work for judging by a panel of artists and wildlife experts, and the winning art is used on the following year's stamp. Wildlife artists consider it a great honor to be selected as the winner of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest.

This year's stamp was designed by wildlife artist Joe Hautman of Plymouth, MN. Hautman's depiction of a pair of Northern Pintails was chosen as the winning image from among 247 entries at the 75th annual 2007 Federal Duck Stamp art contest. Hautman also won in 1992 and 2002.

Stamp Links:

The 75th Migratory Bird Hunting & Conservation Stamp On Sale Now! Purchase a Stamp today and become part of the solution.

Read the story 'Stamping out Ambivalence' from the June issue of NWRA's online monthly newsletter, The Flyer.

Members of the Duck Stamp listserve discuss ways to promote the duck stamp and share recent publicity. To find out more or to sign up, email dharwood@refugeassociation.org.

Learn more about the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp on the FWS Duck Stamp pages.