Photo courtesy of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Stamp sales support conservation of wetlands and wildlife habitat

The new federal duck stamp is on sale today at Bass Pro Shops nationwide. Whether you hunt or not, purchasing the $15 stamp is the easiest way to support wetlands and wildlife habitat conservation.

Bass Pro Shops will sponsor First Day of Sale events in all of the company's other forty-four retail stores throughout the country.

During the 2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest last fall, judges selected Minnesota artist Joseph Hautman's stunning depiction of a pair of Northern pintails to grace the 75th Federal Duck Stamp.

To date, the 75-year-old program has conserved almost 6 million acres nationwide. Much of it is part of the national wildlife refuge system.

First Day cancellations of the stamp will be available at every Bass Pro Shop hosting an event, and along with other collectible items such as a silk cache First Day of Issue cover, the Artists Commemorative Issue, and a new value added product -- The Federal Duck Stamp 75th Anniversary Commemorative Pane of Two. The Pane of Two commemorative is a limited-edition collectible produced in small paper format featuring Hautman's winning artwork.

Originally created in 1934 as the federal licenses required for hunting migratory waterfowl, the sale of federal duck stamps raises approximately $25 million each year to fund waterfowl habitat acquisition for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

A few duck stamp facts:

Over 5.2 million acres of waterfowl habitat have been purchased with duck stamp dollars.

Total Sales: More than 119 Million Stamps

Total Revenue Raised: More than $700 Million for Habitat Conservation

Responsible for the more than 36,000 Waterfowl Production Areas purchased in the Prairie Pothole Region.

Get out and by a duck stamp today. Better yet buy two!!!


Check Out:

Waterfowl Production Areas

Federal Duck Stamp Program website for Artist Signed Pane of One ordering instructions as well as depictions of all of the products available this year http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps.

Blog: A piece of history - Federal Duck Stamp Competition

Federal Duck Stamp Story