MEMPHIS, Tennessee - June 27, 2017 - The new 2017-2018 federal duck stamp is on sale now. The stamps, which cost $25, are valid from July 1 through June 30, 2018. Purchased by millions of waterfowl hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and collectors every year, duck stamps help raise money to purchase and protect wetlands for ducks, geese and other wildlife species.

"Duck stamps are one of the traditional ways hunters and others invest in wetland and waterfowl conservation," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "We encourage everyone, whether they hunt waterfowl or not, to buy one or more duck stamps to help conserve our precious wetland resources. The federal duck stamp is a powerful tool for conservation in the United States. Every year the program raises more than $25 million used to purchase wetlands in the National Wildlife Refuge System. These habitats benefit waterfowl and countless other species of wildlife. It's an incredibly successful program and one we should be very proud of."

The artwork for the 2017-2018 stamp was created by James Hautman, an artist from Chaska, Minnesota. His painting of Canada geese is the artist's fifth win in the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. His previous works were featured on the 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2011 stamps.

This year's junior duck stamp features a pair of trumpeter swans, painted by 12-year-old Isaac Schreiber of Duffield, Virginia. More than 3,000 junior duck stamps are sold annually for $5 each to help promote conservation education through art.

The duck stamp, also known as the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, dates back to 1934. Since then, the program has raised more than $950 million to help acquire and protect more than 5.7 million acres of habitat in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry a duck stamp while hunting. A duck stamp also provides free admission to national wildlife refuges (NWRs) that are open to the public. Duck stamps are sold at post offices nationwide and at many NWRs and sporting goods stores. Electronic versions of the duck stamp can also be purchased online - visit www.fws.gov/duckstamps for more information.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 14 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:
Gregg Powers
901-758-3774
gpowers@ducks.org