DENVER - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has selected Bismarck, North Dakota, as the site for its 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest and related events. This year’s contest and associated events will be held at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum on September 23-24, 2022, and will be hosted by the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV). Representing federal, state, non-profit, and private landowner conservation partners, the PPJV works to sustain bird populations in the Prairie Pothole Region through voluntary wetland and grassland protection, restoration, and enhancement programs.
Matt Hogan, Regional Director for the Service’s Mountain-Prairie Region, shared his excitement for the 2022 hosting location. “As the center of the Prairie Pothole Region, North Dakota is a crucial stopover site and breeding grounds for migrating birds in the Central Flyway. North Dakota serves as a perfect spot for birders, hunters, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and artists to celebrate this year’s Duck Stamp Contest.”
The Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest is the only legislatively-mandated federal art competition in the nation. Thousands of wildlife artists have entered the contest since the competition began in 1949. A diverse panel of authorities will judge the entries and select the work for the next duck stamp. The winning artwork will be featured on the Federal Duck Stamp that will go on sale starting July 1, 2023.
The Federal Duck Stamp, formally known as the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, is a required purchase for waterfowl hunters aged 16 and older. Many non-hunters, including birdwatchers, conservationists, and stamp collectors also purchase the stamp in support of habitat conservation. As the longest running single-themed U.S. postal stamp, it is also valued as a collector’s item. Since its initiation, Duck Stamps have generated more than $1.1 billion dollars that are then directly spent on protecting and improving wetlands and associated upland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Wetlands support a myriad of species found across the country, provide buffers from flooding and drought, and provide economic stimulus to communities.
The PPJV is looking forward to highlighting local natural resources at the event this year, as well as the breadth and effectiveness of our many partnerships. A variety of activities are being planned in and around Bismarck before and during the contest, including:
- A field tour and open house sponsored by the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture
- A youth waterfowl hunting workshop offered by Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
- Becoming an Outdoors Woman sponsored by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department
- Urban and working lands birding events hosted by Dakota Audubon
- Youth field tour and educational events sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) activities sponsored by Delta Waterfowl Foundation
The contest location moves around the country each year to generate interest in wetlands and waterfowl, and to allow more people to see the exceptional wildlife artwork. To increase access to the public, the contest will also be live-streamed. Last year’s winning art featured a pair of redheads floating in the water, painted by Minnesota artist James Hautman.
The PPJV’s 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Contest webpage has event details, logistics, and activities. More information about the Duck Stamp Program, where to buy stamps, and images of previous winning stamps are online at: https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/federal-duck-stamp-gallery.
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The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen in the West, visit our website, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook, follow us on Twitter, watch our YouTube channel at and download public domain photos from Flickr.
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