January 12, 2016 at 1:11 pm
Each year, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife conducts a contest to select artwork for the Maine Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Stamp. The contest, which first bega in 1984, is open to Maine residents who are 18 years of age or older.
The species chosen for the 2016 contest is the Blue-winged Teal. All artwork entries must be submitted by 4pm on Friday, March 25, 2016.
Complete contest rules and the offical entry form can be found by visisting: http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/pdfs/2016DuckStampRules.pdf
Judging for the 2016 contest will take place on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 5pm at the Augusta Civic Center, during the annual State of Maine Sportsman Show. The winning piece will be reproduced for the 2016 migratory waterfowl duck stamp and the winning artist will receive an award of $1000.oo and a sheet of 10 stamps. Second place will recieve an award of $300, and third place an award of $100.
Although in 2002, MDIFW discontinued the duck stamp requirement of hunters, (and instead now require the purchase of a waterfowl hunting permit on the hunting license), migratory waterfowl stamps are still available for purchase by collectors. Revenues from the sales of both the stamp and the waterfowl hunting authority are dedicated to waterfowl conservation programs in Maine.
Stamps from previous years can be viewed and ordered by visiting http://www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/support/duckstamp_program.html
To view the 2015 winners, click here.