The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has announced the rules and timeframe for the 2020 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp or Louisiana Duck Stamp competition. Ring-necked duck will be the featured species in this year’s competition.
Also known as blackjacks or ringbills, ring-necked ducks are small to medium-sized diving ducks that are wintering in increasing numbers across Louisiana’s wetland habitats. Large numbers are seen in mostly freshwater coastal wetlands, Catahoula Lake and reservoirs and swamp habitat across north Louisiana.
Louisiana hunters harvested an average of 73,000 ring-necked ducks per season through the last 10 years, the seventh most abundant species in the state’s overall bag and often more than any other state in the Mississippi Flyway. The sound of wind rushing through the wings of a decoying flock of ring-necks is an exciting part of Louisiana’s duck hunting experience.
The 2019 contest was restricted to designs featuring northern shovelers. Winner Guy Crittenden’s striking painting of a late-season pair flying across a classic wetland scene continued a long tradition of excellent stamp designs. The Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp bearing that design will go on sale June 1.
The 2020 contest will be restricted to designs with ring-necked duck as the focal species. Artists are also reminded of the requirement for associated habitat.
“The primary objective of this program is to provide revenue to create, enhance and maintain habitat for waterfowl and associated wetland wildlife,” said LDWF Waterfowl Program Manager Larry Reynolds. “So a habitat component is required in each entry and 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To enter, an artist must submit an original, unpublished work of art, along with a signed and notarized artist's agreement and a $50 entry fee.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 shall 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 Oct. 14 through Oct. 22, 2019 with the contest to be held in the Louisiana Room at the LDWF Headquarters building in Baton Rouge starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 23, 2019. The public is invited to attend.
To fill out the 2020 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp competition artist agreement and see the full list of rules, go to http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/LADUCKSTAMP2020 .
Please note additional guidelines in the rules regarding shipping of paintings. Additional guidelines for shipping the artwork have been incorporated in the rules for the 2020 contest, as LDWF wants to minimize risk of damage during shipping.
The Louisiana Legislature authorized the Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp program in 1988. The program was created to generate revenue for conservation and enhancement of waterfowl populations and habitats in Louisiana. Since 1989, more than $14 million has been generated for wetland conservation with approximately $6 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:
- Accuracy of form, size, proportion, color and posture.
- Level and accuracy of detail in all aspects of the waterfowl.
- Appropriateness, accuracy and detail in depiction of the habitat.
- Attractiveness and creativity in composition, subject, background and lighting.
- 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.