2024 Northern Pintail federal duck stamp to be issued June 28 in Hanover, Md.

By Charles Snee

Montana artist Chuck Black’s oil painting of a northern pintail floating on the water in a marshland is featured on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s federal duck stamp that will be issued June 28 in Hanover, Md.

This is Black’s first win in the national annual contest. At the state level, Black won the contests for California’s 2015 state hunting permit stamp (Scott 46) and Colorado’s 2013 state hunting permit stamp (24).

A first-day ceremony for the federal stamp and the 2024 junior duck stamp is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Bass Pro Shops, 7000 Arundel Mills Circle, in Hanover. Doors for the store open at 9 a.m.

Of the 199 entries submitted to the 2023 federal duck stamp art contest held Sept. 15-16 in the Olmstead Center at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, 24 entries (including Black’s) made it to the final round of judging.

Eligible species for this year’s duck stamp contest were the snow goose, American black duck, northern pintail, ring-necked duck and harlequin duck.

Adam Grimm of Wallace, S.D., placed second with an acrylic painting of a northern pintail pair, and Gerald Mobley of Claremore, Okla., took third place with an acrylic painting of a northern pintail.

Serving as judges for the 2023 contest were Gail Anderson, MJ Davis, Rebecca Humphries, Rue Mapp and Karen Waldrop. The alternate judge was Jennifer Scully. This was the first time an all-female panel judged the federal duck stamp art contest.

Minnesota artist Joseph Hautman’s acrylic painting of a trio of tundra swans in flight over a wetland is featured on the 2023 $25 duck stamp (Scott RW90).

The Hautman brothers — James, Joseph and Robert — have collectively won the duck stamp art contest a record 15 times. James notched the most recent win; his painting of a pair of redheads floating on water appears on the 2022 $25 duck stamp (Scott RW89).

Robert’s painting of a pair of mallards in flight appears on the 2018 $25 duck stamp (Scott RW85). The 2017 $25 duck stamp features James’ painting of Canada geese (RW84).

Joseph last came out on top in the 2015 contest, when his painting of two trumpeter swans was selected to appear on the 2016 $25 duck stamp (Scott RW83).

The U.S. migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp, commonly known as the federal duck stamp, is issued annually by the Fish and Wildlife Service to serve as a permit for waterfowl hunting, and as a collectible for fans of wildlife art and conservation efforts.

Although not valid for postage, duck stamps are sold by the U.S. Postal Service at post offices (in single-stamp panes only) and through its Stamp Fulfillment Services division in Kansas City, Mo. They are also available at selected national wildlife refuges and sporting goods retailers and from Amplex Corp.

The new 2024 stamps are offset printed by Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. in two self-adhesive formats: a pane of one and a pane of 20.

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