By Trey Iles, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind artists interested in submitting pieces for the 2025 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp, or Louisiana Duck Stamp, of the approaching deadline for entry. Entries will be accepted from Oct. 14-Oct. 22.
The contest will be held Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. in the Joe L. Herring Louisiana Room at LDWF Headquarters in Baton Rouge. The public is invited to attend.
The feature species for the 2025 competition is the black-bellied whistling duck.
To enter, an artist must submit an original, unpublished work of art, along with a signed and notarized artist’s agreement and a $50 entry fee.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
To fill out the 2025 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp competition artist agreement and see the full list of rules, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/
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.
About the Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp):
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. During the last 25 years, more than $15 million has been generated for wetland conservation with approximately $6 million spent on land acquisition. In addition, revenue has 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.
The 2024 contest was restricted to designs featuring ruddy ducks. Anthony Padgett, of Noblesville, Indiana claimed top honor with last year’s rendition of a single ruddy duck drake in a calm backwater setting. The Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp bearing that design is now on sale. Stamps can be purchased at: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/