Deadline for artwork submissions is Oct. 20, Reynolds says
The most abundant duck in Louisiana’s coastal marshes will be the featured species in the 2016 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp competition, according to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
“With high populations of gadwalls and fewer mallards migrating into Louisiana than 20 years ago, ‘grays’ have become the favorite of coastal duck hunters, but are quite common in hunter’s bags across the state,” Larry Reynolds, LDWF Waterfowl Study Leader said. “No species has been more important for Louisiana duck hunters than gadwalls.”
The 2016 contest will be restricted to designs with grays, or gadwall, as the focal species, and artists are reminded to include associated habitat.
“The primary objective of this program is to provide revenue to create, enhance, and maintain habitat for waterfowl and associated wetland wildlife,” Reynolds said. “So a habitat component is required in each entry and is one of the five judging criteria.”
Since the stamp program started in 1988, more than $12 million has been generated for wetland conservation, with about $5 million going to land acquisition, according to a press release.
To enter, an artist must submit an original, unpublished work of art, along with a signed and notarized artist’s agreement and a $50 entry fee.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
Entries will be accepted from Monday, October 12 through Tuesday, October 20, 2015, with the contest to be held in the Louisiana Room at the LDWF Headquarters building starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2015. The public is invited to attend.
The contest is open to all artists 18 years of age and older. For complete rules , a list of all judging criteria and a copy of the artist agreement form, click here.
