The $25 stamp has raised more than $1.2 billion for habitat conservation
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Bass Pro Shops hosted a live event Friday, June 28, at Bass Pro Shops in Hanover, Maryland, celebrating the first day of sale for the 2024-25 Federal Duck Stamp.
The stamps, which cost $25 and raise about $40 million for conservation yearly, are valid from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Purchased by millions of waterfowl hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and stamp collectors every year, duck stamps provide critical funding to purchase and protect wetlands and associated habitat for ducks, geese and other wildlife species.
The Federal Duck Stamp program raises millions of dollars to purchase and protect wetland habitat in the National Wildlife Refuge System, benefiting waterfowl and hundreds of additional wildlife species. Of every dollar spent on a duck stamp, 98 cents of each purchase goes directly to acquiring and protecting waterfowl habitat.
DU Senior Waterfowl Scientist Dr. Mike Brasher and DU Regional Vice President John Notarangelo spoke at Friday’s event.
“Duck stamps are a great way for hunters, birders, photographers or anybody who loves the outdoors to invest in wetland and waterfowl conservation,” said Brasher. “Whether you hunt or not, buy one or more duck stamps yearly to help conserve our wetlands. The First Day of Sale is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the season and say thank you to artists and everyone who supports and delivers wildlife conservation.”
The 2024-2025 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the duck stamp, features Montana artist Chuck Black’s winning oil painting of a northern pintail.
The 2024-2025 Junior Duck Stamp features the image of a king eider created by 17-year-old Emily Lian of Oregon. More than 3,000 junior duck stamps are sold annually for $5 each to help promote conservation education through art.
“Here in Maryland, historic refuges like Blackwater and Eastern Neck have greatly benefitted from duck stamp sales,” said Notarangelo. “The Chesapeake has a long-standing waterfowling heritage, nearly brought to its knees due to the dark days of market gunning. The stamp and the refuges it funds helped bring waterfowl back from the brink, and today, ducks and geese are thriving here.”
Since the Federal Duck Stamp was created in 1934, sales have raised more than $1.2 billion, conserving more than 6 million acres of habitat for birds and wildlife and providing hunting and other recreational opportunities at national wildlife refuges.
“I am honored to be among the first people to buy the 2024-2025 Federal and Junior Duck Stamps,” said USFWS Director Martha Williams. “I hope everyone across the country will join me in putting their stamp on wetland conservation and celebrating the artists who have dedicated their passion towards wildlife and the great outdoors.”
Ducks Unlimited has conserved, protected and restored 18 million acres since its founding in 1937. For the first time in its 87-year history, Ducks Unlimited delivered 1 million acres of conservation across North America in Fiscal Year 2024 thanks to more than a million supporters and partners including private landowners, hunters, corporations, major donors, state and federal agencies.
Those acres of conservation – about the area of Rhode Island – include long-term and permanent projects, such as conservation restorations and easements, and short-term or annual efforts, such as agricultural cover crop programs, as well as new and revisited project sites.
Waterfowl hunters 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) open to the public. Duck stamps are sold nationwide at post offices, NWRs, and sporting goods stores. You can also purchase electronic versions of the duck stamp online. Click here for more information.
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing wetlands and grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 18 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
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