Mallards in flight adorn the 2018-2019 Federal Duck Stamp that goes on sale today. The 85th Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp made its debut at a special event hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Hanover, near Baltimore, Maryland.
The 2018-2019 Federal Duck Stamp features a pair of mallards landing in a marsh painted by Robert “Bob” Hautman. This is Hautman’s third Federal Duck Stamp; he also created the 1997-1998 stamp, featuring a solitary Canada goose, and the 2000-2001 stamp, featuring a northern pintail. He was named Ducks Unlimited Flyway Artist of the Year in 2018.
The Junior Duck Stamp features the emperor goose painted by Rayen Kang, a recent graduate of Northview High School in Johns Creek, Georgia. Kang enjoys drawing in her free time and she has taken art lessons from the age of 10, learning how to accurately portray still life, people, and nature from her observations. Her emperor goose painting was her third submission to the Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
The Federal Duck Stamp plays a critically important role in wildlife conservation. Since 1934 sales from the iconic stamp have raised more than $1 billion to acquire and protect more than six million acres of wetlands habitat on hundreds of national wildlife refuges spread across all 50 states and U.S. territories. First petitioned by sportsmen and women who banded together to protect wildlife habitat, the stamps continue to be fueled by waterfowl hunters required to buy a Federal Duck Stamp each year. In addition to hunters being required to buy the stamps, the stamps are very popular among collectors and many birders, wildlife photographers and other outdoor enthusiasts buy them to support wildlife and habitat conservation.
“It’s an honor for Bass Pro Shops to host the First Day of Sale ceremony in the Baltimore Outdoor World store,” said Bob Ziehmer, Senior Director of Conservation for Bass Pro Shops. “The Federal Duck Stamp is a national conservation icon, raising millions of dollars for wetland conservation and promoting wildlife art,” he said.
Leaders from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on hand included Greg Sheehan, Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Jerome Ford, Assistant Director, Migratory Birds; and Mike Johnson, Deputy Assistant Director, Migratory Birds. April Stills and Errica Parker, USPS Postal Service, and Bob Ziehmer, Senior Director of Conservation at Bass Pro Shops, were also on-hand to commemorate the occasion and among the first to buy this year’s stamp. Artists Hautman and Kang signed autographs and posed for photos with admiring fans.
2018 marks the 12th year Bass Pro Shops has hosted the first day of sale event. Hunters, conservationists and collectors can purchase the Federal Duck Stamp at all Bass Pro Shops retail locations in the United States.
To purchase or learn more about the Federal Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp, visit www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp.php.