The Duck Stamp Story

"There are some who can live without wild things and some who
cannot. Like winds and sunset, wild things were taken for granted until
progress began to do away with them."

Aldo Leopold

When the explorers first set foot upon the continent of North
America, the skies, marshes and lands teemed with an astonishing variety
of wildlife. Native Americans had been wise stewards of these precious
natural resources. Unfortunately, it took the explorers and the settlers
who followed only a few decades to decimate these resources. Millions of
waterfowl were destroyed, some species to the point of extinction, at
the hands of market hunters and overly ambitious sportsmen. Millions of
acres of wetlands were drained to feed and house the ever-increasing
populations, greatly reducing waterfowl breeding and nesting habitat.

Not to be outdone by man, Mother Nature periodically takes her toll
with devastating droughts and floods. During these periods, migration
rest areas and wintering grounds are severely impacted. As recent as
1993, record-breaking floods ravaged the fertile midwest, leaving more
devastation in their wake. A large part of this catastrophe could have
been avoided had many of the natural wetlands of that area not been
drained and filled in for farming and housing and industrial
development. Many people do not realize that wetlands help to maintain
ground water supplies, act as a filtration system for pollutants, store
floodwaters, protect shorelines from erosion, and modify climatic
changes.

In 1934, with the passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act
(Act), an increasingly concerned Nation took firm action to stop the
destruction of migratory waterfowl and the wetlands so vital to their
survival. Under this Act, all waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and over
must annually purchase and carry a Federal Duck Stamp. Most hunters
willingly pay the stamp price to insure the survival of our natural
resources.

"We have not inherited the land from our forefathers, we have
borrowed it from our children." Kashmiri Proverb

Approximately 98 cents of every duck stamp dollar goes directly
into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to purchase wetlands and
wildlife habitat for inclusion into the National Wildlife Refuge System
a fact that ensures this land will be protected and available for all
generations to come. Since 1934, better than $500 million has gone into
that Fund to purchase more than 4.5 million acres of habitat. Little
wonder the Federal Duck Stamp Program has been called one of the most
successful conservation programs ever initiated.

In recent years, with the hunter population dwindling, three groups
of Americans have had an increasing role in filling the gap in the
purchase of Federal Duck Stamps-collectors, art enthusiasts and other
conservationists. Collectors and art enthusiasts consider these stamps
"miniature pieces of art."

The collection of duck stamps is a growing and constantly evolving
phenomenon. A collector who had purchased each of the current stamps, at
issue price, would have spent around $300. This investment today would
be worth well over $4000. Other conservationists buy the stamps as a way
of ensuring that these wild places will be around for all generations.
And, possession of the most recent Federal Duck Stamp provides free
admission into all National Wildlife Refuges.

"Conservation is intelligent cooperation with nature." Anonymous

The purchase of a Federal Duck Stamp provides an opportunity for
every United States citizen to take a stand in the preservation of our
natural heritage. All of us, working together, can and have made a
difference.

Each year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sponsors the only
Federally-mandated art competition at its headquarters in Washington,
D.C. Wildlife artists, both professional and amateur, all across the
United States vie for the coveted title of Federal Duck Stamp Artist.
The wildlife artist who wins this competition knows that his or her
career and fortunes will take wing! This winning design graces the next
annual Federal Duck Stamp. The Top 20 scored entries from each
competition are enthusiastically exhibited around the country at various
museums, festivals and expositions during the next year.

In 1984 Congress granted an amendment to the 1934 Act authorizing
the Secretary of the Interior to license reproductions of the Federal
Duck Stamp on products manufactured and sold by private sector
enterprises. Royalties from the sale of these products are also
deposited into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund for wetlands
acquisition.

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program,
begun in 1989, encourages conservation through the arts. Congress passed
The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Act of 1994 to
authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to use revenues from the
sale of Junior Duck Stamps to promote conservation education in the form
of awards and scholarships to the students, teachers and schools that
participate in the program. This Act further allows for corporate and
individual contributions to the awards and scholarship program, and it
encourages partnerships with state agencies, conservation groups, and
local communities.

Students in kindergarten through high school are involved in this
innovative, curriculum based, program through an annual art competition
in their state. The Best of Show winning design from each state is
entered into an annual National competition in Washington, D.C. The Best
of Show selected at the National competition becomes the image for the
next year's Junior Duck Stamp.

Following the National competition, the Best of Show designs from
each participating state are exhibited nationwide to encourage young
artists to learn about wildlife and to help raise the visibility of
waterfowl conservation.

Order Your Duck Stamps Today
Please send me the following Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamps (Duck Stamp):

Qty.                      Total

Federal Duck Stamps

____  1995-96   Mallards @ $15.00 each                 ______
____  1996-97   Surf Scoters @ $15.00 each             ______
____  1997-98   Canada Gooses @ $15.00 each            ______
____  1998-99   (Do not order before July '98,         ______
                 call DSO for exact price).

Federal Duck Stamp Products  (Duck Stamps included)

____  1995-96   Souvenir Card Mint Set @$20.00 each    ______
____  1996-97   Souvenir Card Mint Set @$20.00 each    ______
____  1994-95   Canceled Souvenir Card @$25.00 each    ______
____  1995-96   Canceled Souvenir Card @$25.00 each    ______
____  1996-97   Canceled Souvenir Card @$25.00 each    ______

Junior Duck Stamps

____  1995-96   Pintail @$5.00 each                    ______
____  1996-97   Canvasbacks @ $5.00 each               ______
____  1997-98   (Do not order before July '97          ______

Shipping and Handling (Certified Mail)                 ______

*All 1995-96 stamps not sold by 6/30/98 will be destroyed.
*All 1996-97 stamps not sold by 6/30/99 will be destroyed.

____ Quantity Total                     Total Amount $ ______

Enclosed is my remittance for $_________. All checks and money orders
should be made payable to U.S.F.W.S.
Visa and Mastercard accepted.

Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone (   )

Please charge to: ___ VISA  ___ Mastercard

Card No.
Exp. Date
Signature

Mail to: Federal Duck Stamp Office
         1849 C Street, N.W.
         Washington, D.C. 20240
         (202) 208-4354 Fax: (202) 208-6296
         Website:  http:\\www.fws.gov/~r9dso/homedk.html