Starting on May 6, artists can submit their original artwork for the 2024/25 California Duck Stamp Art Contest, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced this week.
Officials said the artwork, which must be submitted by June 14, should focus on the mallard – a duck species selected by the California Fish and Game Commission for the 2024/25 hunting season.
“One of the most abundant ducks in the world, and the most abundant duck in North America, these familiar foragers can be seen in practically any environment with fresh water,” the CDFW said. “The males are easily recognized by their iridescent green head and yellow bill, while both males and females have a patch of bright blue on their wings. They are swift and agile in the air, cruising at speeds of around 50 miles per hour and having the ability to take off almost vertically from water.”
Officials said the winning artwork will be reproduced on the 2024/25 California Duck Stamp and the top submissions will most likely be showcased at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association’s art show, which is scheduled for July.
The 2024/25 California Duck Stamp Art Contest is open to all U.S. residents 18 years of age or older as of March 20, 2024. Officials said current and former CDFW employees are ineligible from participating and all entries must be accompanied by a completed participation agreement and entry form. Forms and official rules are available at wildlife.ca.gov/duck-stamp/contest.
“The design is to be in full color and in the medium (or combination of mediums) of the artist’s choosing, except that no photographic process, digital art, metallic paints or fluorescent paints may be used in the finished design,” the CDFW said. “Photographs, computer-generated art, art produced from a computer printer or other computer/mechanical output device (air brush method excepted) are not eligible for entry and will be disqualified. The design must be the contestant’s original hand-drawn creation. The entry design may not be copied or duplicated from previously published art, including photographs, or from images in any format published on the Internet.”
Officials said entries will be judged in June with a judges panel that includes experts in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing.
“Since 1971, CDFW’s annual contest has attracted top wildlife artists from around the country. All proceeds generated from stamp sales go directly to waterfowl conservation projects throughout California,” the CDFW said. “In past years, hunters were required to purchase and affix the stamp to their hunting license. Now California has moved to an automated licensing system and hunters are no longer required to carry the physical stamp in the field (proof of purchase prints directly onto the license). However, CDFW still produces the stamp, which can be requested by interested individuals at wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/collector-stamps.”
