From the Postal Bulletin May 16th:
On June 28, 2024, in Hanover, MD, the U.S. Department of the Interior will issue the $25 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp for the 2024–2025 waterfowl hunting season. The pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) stamp will go on sale nationwide June 28, 2024, and is valid through June 30, 2025.
Item 337100, Pane of One: No automatic distribution but post offices may order it.
Item 337200, Pane of 20: No automatic distribution, and only sold by the USPS through Stamp Fulfillment Services.
Technical Specifications — Pane of 1:
Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 337100
Denomination & Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 1 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 28, 2024, Hanover, MD 21076
Art Director: Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist: Chuck Black
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 1
Print Quantity: 1,282,180 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.7190 x 1.2660 in. / 43.6630 x
32.1560 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.8900 x 1.4170 in. / 48.0060 x
35.9920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 6.1250 x 2.6250 in. / 155.5800 x
66.6750 mm
Plate Size: 36 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: N/A
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage Text: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • 2024–2025 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp • Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Harvest Information Program • Informative text • Artist: Chuck Black, Northern Pintail © • If applicable, sign your stamp.
Back: Verso-text • Ordering information • Barcode • U.S. Department of the Interior logo • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service logo
Technical Specifications — Pane of 20:
Issue: Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number: 337200
Denomination & Type of Issue: $25.00, Special
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Federal Duck
Issue Date & City: June 28, 2024, Hanover, MD 21076
Art Director: Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist: Chuck Black
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 43,600 stamps
Paper Type: Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.7190 x 1.2660 in. / 43.6630 x
32.1560 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 1.8900 x 1.4170 in. / 48.0060 x
35.9920 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.2500 x 8.2500 in. / 209.5500 x
209.5500 mm
Plate Size: 180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Selvage Text: • Department of the Interior 20 x $25.00 (2 locations) • Artist: Chuck Black (4 locations) • Plate number (4 corners)
Back: Verso-text behind each stamp • Four barcodes • Plate position diagram (9)
Earlier press release from the Fish & Wildlife Service:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Montana Artist Chuck Black Wins 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest
Federal Duck Stamp Supports Wildlife Conservation
(Sep 16, 2023) — After two days of competition, Chuck Black of Belgrade, Montana, emerged as the winner of the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with an oil painting of a northern pintail. The announcement was made at an event and via live stream at the Olmstead Center at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Black’s oil painting will be made into the 2024-2025 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck Stamp” which will go on sale in late June 2024. The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $25 and raises approximately $40 million in sales each year. These funds support critical conservation to protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System for the benefit of wildlife and the enjoyment of people.
Earlier this week, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, approved the allocation of more than $50.6 million in grants through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and funds from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. The fund is made up partly of Duck Stamp dollars, to support the acquisition of lands from willing sellers for the Refuge System. The new areas provide additional access to the public to some of the most spectacular places available for hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking and other outdoor activities.
“I encourage everyone to buy a Duck Stamp as they have such a significant impact in conserving wetlands for waterfowl and so many other species,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “The art entries for this contest are impressive, and they serve as an important reminder of the wildlife and habitats the Duck Stamp is designed to protect.”
Since it was first established in 1934, Federal Duck Stamp sales to hunters, bird watchers, outdoor enthusiasts and collectors have raised more than $1.2 billion to conserve over 6 million acres of habitat for birds and other wildlife and provide countless opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation on public lands.
Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry the current Federal Duck Stamp. Many non-hunters, including birdwatchers, conservationists, stamp collectors and others, also purchase the stamp in support of habitat conservation. Additionally, a current Federal Duck Stamp can be used for free admission to any national wildlife refuge that charges an entry fee.
In addition to Chuck Black, Adam Grimm of Wallace, South Dakota, placed second with an acrylic painting of a northern pintail pair, and Gerald Mobley of Claremore, Oklahoma, took third place with an acrylic painting of a northern pintail.
Des Moines, Iowa, was chosen as the site of this year’s contest because of its importance in the conservation history of the Federal Duck Stamp. The Jay N. Darling Legacy Institute, located at Drake University, houses artifacts and other memorabilia used in the creation of the first Duck Stamp and interprets this important tie between art and conservation.
Of 199 entries judged in this year’s competition, 24 entries made it to the final round of judging. Eligible species for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were the snow goose, American black duck, northern pintail, ring-necked duck and harlequin duck. View the online gallery of the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest entries.
For the first time in Federal Duck Stamp Contest history, the judging panel was comprised completely of females. The judges for this year’s Contest were Gail Anderson, MJ Davis, Rebecca Humphries, Rue Mapp, Dr. Karen Waldrop, and the alternate judge was Jennifer Scully.
