Calling all wildlife drawers, painters, graphic designers: Artists can submit entries for the 2019 Minnesota Migratory Waterfowl Stamp contest starting Monday, August 20, until 4pm on Friday, August 31.
And the fowlest of subjects to be featured on this year’s stamp? The Gadwall duck was chosen as 2019’s lucky duck. Shakopee-based artist Mark Thone painted a white-winged scoter to win the contest last year.
So you’ve never heard of a gadwall duck?
The Gadwall can be found on the great plains and prairies. They typically inhabit reservoirs, ponds, fresh and salt water marshes, city parks or muddy edges of estuaries.
Male Gadwall are gray-brown with a black patch on their tail. Females are brown and buff with a thin orange edge on their bills. In flight, both sexes have a white wing patch that is sometimes visible when swimming or resting.
Artists will have to bring their A-game: No photographic product will be allowed as part of their finished entries. Winning artists typically issue limited-edition prints of the artwork, and retain proceeds.
The waterfowl stamp validation for hunting is $7.50, and, for an extra 75 cents, purchasers will receive the pictorial stamp as well. The stamp is also sold as a collectible for anyone that is specifically a waterfowl fan, or simply a stamp collector. Revenue from stamp sales will be donated waterfowl management and continued habitat work to ensure our feathered friends will still be around for the contest in 3019.
Judging will take place at 2pm on September 6, at the DNR headquarters in St. Paul.
If you would like to know more information on stamp contests, guidelines for submitting work, or want to sign up and receive regular email updates on the stamp contests, visit mndnr.gov/stamps.
Contest guidelines are also available from the DNR Information Center by calling 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367.
Read this next: New Wildlife Management Area in Dakota County
