The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced the rules and timeframe for the 2015 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp, or Louisiana Duck Stamp competition.

Blue-winged teal will be the featured species in this year’s competition. Bluewings are the earliest migrants in the fall and some of the last migrants through Louisiana in the spring.  Over the past 5 years, blue-winged teal have been the second most abundant species in the bags of Louisiana waterfowl hunters. Blue-winged teal also graced the first Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation stamp back in 1989.

“Hunters anticipate their arrival in time for the September teal season, and enough bluewings stick around to become an important part of the regular duck season as well,” said LDWF Waterfowl Study Leader Larry Reynolds.

During the past five years of open Duck Stamp contests, artists could submit paintings of a species of their choice, except for previous winners. This rule generated outstanding participation and high-quality entrants, and winners including Tony Bernard’s white-fronted geese on the 2014 stamp.

Artists are reminded of the requirement for associated habitat in each entry since the primary objective of this program is to provide revenue to create, enhance, and maintain habitat for waterfowl and associated wetland wildlife. The habitat component is one of the five judging criteria. 

To enter, an artist must submit an original, unpublished work of art, along with a signed and notarized artist's agreement and a $50 entry fee.  Entries should be addressed to:

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Attn: Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Program 
2000 Quail Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Entries will be accepted from Monday, October 13 through Tuesday, October 21, 2014 with the contest to be held in the Louisiana Room at the LDWF Headquarters building starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22, 2014.  The public is invited to attend.

Please visit this link to obtain the 2015 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp competition artist agreement and see the full list of rules:

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/2015-louisiana-duck-stamp-contest

The Louisiana Legislature authorized the Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp program in 1988.  The program was created to generate revenues for conservation and enhancement of waterfowl populations and habitats in Louisiana.  During the last 23 years, over $11 million has been generated for wetland conservation with approximately $5 million spent on land acquisition.  In addition, revenues have supported wetland development projects on Wildlife Management Areas and the Louisiana Waterfowl Project, a cooperative endeavor between LDWF, Ducks Unlimited, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide habitat for waterfowl and other wetland birds on private lands.

Judging for the art competition will be based on the following criteria:

1. Accuracy of form, size, proportion, color and posture.
2. Level and accuracy of detail in all aspects of the waterfowl.
3. Appropriateness, accuracy and detail in depiction of the habitat.
4. Attractiveness and creativity in composition, subject, background and lighting.
5. Suitability for reproduction as stamps and prints.

A panel of judges with experience in waterfowl biology and/or artistic method will select the winning design. The competition is open to all artists 18 years of age and older.  Employees of LDWF and members of their immediate families are ineligible.

For more information, contact Larry Reynolds at 225-765-0456 or lreynolds@wlf.la.gov.