GILLETTE, Wyo. — Wyoming students can participate in the statewide Junior Duck Stamp Contest for a shot at entering the national competition for 2024, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
This year, the competition begins in March and is hosted by the National Elk Refuge. It is open to all students in grades K–12 who are enrolled in Wyoming public, private, tribal and home schools, per Fish and Wildlife.
To enter, contestants must draw or paint a North American waterfowl — one of 48 different qualifying species listed on the competition website — on a 9-inch by 12-inch sheet of paper to be mailed to the National Elk Refuge — 675 E. Broadway, PO Box 510, Jackson WY, 83001 — by March 15, Fish and Wildlife says.
According to the release, participation packets will be available for pickup from the National Elk Refuge and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center starting in mid-January. The packets will include instructions, an entry form, paper, pieces of tagboard and a sheet of watercolor paper.
In April, all submissions will be judged by local wildlife artists and outdoor professionals, who will choose 36 winners and 64 honorable mentions across four age groups, all of whom will receive prizes, per Fish and Wildlife.
The best-of-show winner for Wyoming will go on to compete in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competition, where the winning design will be printed on next year’s Junior Duck Stamp for $5 each with all proceeds going toward wetland conservation and environmental education, Fish and Wildlife says.
According to the release, the Federal Duck Stamp Program began in 1934 in response to the loss of wetlands and declines in waterfowl populations across North America. All waterfowl hunters are required to purchase a conservation stamp along with their hunting license to raise funds for waterfowl and wetland conservation.
By 2000, all 50 states, the District of Colombia and all U.S. Territories participated in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp competition, per Fish and Wildlife, which says the program is a great way to practice wildlife watching, create art and learn about conservation.
For a full list of competition rules or to learn more, click here.
