Federal_duck_stamp

The Federal Duck Stamp is a United States program to generate revenue to protect wetlands. In 1934, the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, popularly known as the Duck Stamp Act, was passed by Congress. The Act requires the purchase of a stamp by waterfowl hunters for each bird that they kill. Revenue generated by the stamp is used to acquire important wetlands. Since its inception, the program has resulted in the protection of approximately 4.5 million acres (18,000 km²) of waterfowl habitat. While the primary purpose of the duck stamp is to provide proof of the requisite fee paid to the FWS for a waterfowl kill, hunters are not the only purchasers of duck stamps. They are also bought by collectors and visitors to federal wildlife refuges, since displaying a current duck stamp provides free admission.

The first duck stamp was designed by artist, editorial cartoonist, and conservationist Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, who was also appointed Chief of the Bureau of Biological Survey (later expanded into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) that same year by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Each year a contest is held, in which thousands of wildlife artists compete to design the new duck stamp.

In 2000, over $25 million of revenue was generated by duck stamps alone.What Hunters\' Dollars Buy

See also

• Stamp collecting
• Hunting
• Conservationist

References

• Much of this information copied from USFWS web site.

External links

• Official website
  • Collection of Federal Duck Stamp art

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