Ducks and pheasants have a lot in common -- including a huge reliance on Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs). Buy a Duck Stamp and support upland habitat for all wildlife!
Upland hunters, waterfowlers, birders and stamp collectors celebrated when the new 2019-2020 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp – commonly known as the Duck Stamp – recently went on sale. The Federal Duck Stamp and its younger sibling, the Junior Duck Stamp, debuted at a special event hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Bass Pro Shops flagship store in Springfield, Missouri.
Did you know that Pheasants Forever actively purchases Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and donates each land purchase to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service? These areas - including National Wildlife Refuges - represent some of the most-utilized, publicly-owned resources frequented by waterfowl and upland hunters. Funded largely by Federal Duck Stamp purchases each year, Pheasants Forever remains a major proponent of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. If you’re looking for an easy way to fund critical habitat areas for the future, consider purchasing a $25 Federal Duck Stamp (or several) for the 2019-2020 upland season.
Next to a Pheasants Forever membership, it's one of the best habitat-supporting investments you can make!
Hunter Dustin Metz and his Lab Belle with a big old rooster taken off a western Minnesota WPA, November 2018.
Since 1934, Federal Duck Stamp sales (totalling over $1 billion) have funded the purchase of nearly 6 million acres of WPAs and National Wildlife Refuge ground, and most of those acres are open to public hunting. In their relationship to upland hunters, WPAs represent some of the best nesting and wintering grounds money can buy for pheasants and other upland wildlife ... and of course ducks.
“The Federal Duck Stamp recognizes hunters for their sustained contributions to wetland and waterfowl conservation during the last 85 years,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “Funds raised from this collectible work of art are critical to preserving our great outdoor landscapes and help to ensure access for generations to come.”
Last fall, a panel of five judges chose Scot Storm’s painting of a wood duck and decoy from among 168 entries in the 2018 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. Storm hails from Freeport, Minnesota. At the National Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest in April, judges chose Nicole Jeon’s painting from among best-of-show winners from states, the District of Columbia and several U.S. territories. Jeon, who hails from New York, painted a harlequin duck.
The new Duck Stamps are available for purchase online, at many sporting goods and retail stores, and some post offices and national wildlife refuges. Find all buying options
here.
Learn more about the Federal and Junior Duck Stamps
here.