2023-24 Duck Stamp (U.S. FWS 2023)

Technically, the “Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.”

The earlier Fish & Wildlife Service press release follows this information from the Postal Service. The Scott catalogue numbers are
RW90 $25 Tundra Swans Hunting Permit Stamp, self-adhesive
RW90A souvenir sheet of 1

From the Postal Bulletin:
On June 23, 2023, in Memphis, TN, the U.S. Department of the Interior will issue the $25 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp for the 2023–2024 waterfowl hunting season. The pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) stamp will go on sale nationwide June 23, 2023, and is valid through June 30, 2024.

No automatic distribution for the pane of one (336900)

The pane of 20 (337000) will only be sold by Stamp Fulfillment Services and by consignment by Amplex Corp.

Technical Specifications (Single-Stamp Pane):

Issue:-Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number:-336900
Denomination & Type of Issue:-$25.00, Special
Format:-Pane of 1 (1 design)
Series:-Federal Duck
Issue Date & City:-June 23, 2023, Memphis, TN 38105
Art Director:-Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist:-James Hautman
Modeler:-Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process:-Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer:-Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type:-Muller A76
Stamps per Pane:-1
Print Quantity:-2,468,185 stamps
Paper Type:-Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type:-Pressure-sensitive
Processed at:-Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors:-Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation:-Horizontal
Image Area (w x h):-1.7188 x 1.2656 in. / 43.658 x 32.146 mm
Overall Size (w x h):-1.89 x 1.417 in. / 48.006 x 35.992 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h):-6.125 x 2.625 in. / 155.575 x 66.675 mm
Plate Size:-36 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers:-N/A
Marginal Markings:
Front:-Selvage Text: 2023–2024 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp • U.S Fish and Wildlife Service • 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act • Informative text • Artist: James Hautman, Tundra Swans© • If applicable, sign your stamp.
Back:-Verso text • Ordering information • Barcode • U.S. Department of the Interior logo • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service logo

Technical Specifications (Pane of 20):

Issue:-Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Item Number:-337000
Denomination & Type of Issue:-$25.00, Special
Format:-Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series:-Federal Duck
Issue Date & City:-June 23, 2023, Memphis, TN 38105
Art Director:-Suzanne Fellows, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Artist:-James Hautman
Modeler:-Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process:-Offset, Flexographic, Microprint
Printer:-Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd (APU)
Press Type:-Muller A76
Stamps per Pane:-20
Print Quantity:-53,600 stamps
Paper Type:-Nonphosphored Type III
Adhesive Type:-Pressure-sensitive
Processed at:-Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Colors:-Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent
Stamp Orientation:-Horizontal
Image Area (w x h):-1.7188 x 1.2656 in. / 43.658 x 32.146 mm
Overall Size (w x h):-1.89 x 1.417 in. / 48.006 x 35.992 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h):-8.25 x 8.25 in. / 209.55 x 209.55 mm
Plate Size:-180 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers:-“P” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front:-Selvage Text: “Artist: James Hautman” (4 locations) • “Department of the Interior 20 x $25.00” (2 locations) • Image of Swans printed in Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent • Plate number (4 corners)
Back:-Verso text behind each stamp • Four barcodes • Plate position (9)

[FWS press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Minnesota Artist Joseph Hautman Wins 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest
Federal Duck Stamp Supports Wildlife ConservationJudges and Department of the Interior representatives show off the winner of this year’s duck stamp competition. Pictured are: (top row) Walter Rhodes, Suzanne Fellows, Jerome Ford, Jen Chin, Larry Mellinger; (bottom row) Sean Murtha, Marshall Johnson, Paul Schmidt, Richard Houk, Chris Nicolai

[from September 2022]

After two days of competition, Joseph Hautman of Plymouth, Minnesota, emerged as the winner of the 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with his painting of three tundra swans flying over a wetland. The announcement was made via live stream at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. This is his sixth win of the prestigious contest.

Hautman’s acrylic painting [on the right] will be made into the 2023-2024 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck Stamp”, which will go on sale in late June 2023. 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.

Just this past week, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, approved the allocation of nearly $105 million with 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.

“The Duck Stamp Contest is one of my very favorite events every year!” said Service Director Martha Williams. “I am always impressed with the caliber of the art submitted, and each and every entry reminds us of the beauty of the natural world the Duck Stamp is designed to protect. I encourage everyone to buy a Duck Stamp as it makes a real impact in conserving wetlands habitats for waterfowl and many other wildlife species.”

Since it was first established in 1934, sales of the Federal Duck Stamp to hunters, bird watchers, outdoor enthusiasts, and collectors have raised more than $1.1 billion to conserve over 6 million acres of habitat for birds and other wildlife and provide countless opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation on our 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 Joseph Hautman, Frank Mittelstadt of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, placed second with his acrylic painting of tundra swans, and Robert Hautman of Delano, Minnesota, took third place with his acrylic painting of an American wigeon.

Of 187 entries judged in this year’s competition, 54 entries made it to the final round of judging. Eligible species for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were the tundra (whistling) swan, mottled duck, American green-winged teal, American wigeon, and Barrow’s goldeneye. View the online gallery of the 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest entries.

The judges for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were: Sean Murtha, artist; Richard Houk, philatelist; Marshall Johnson, conservation partner; Paul Schmidt, conservation partner; and Christopher Nicolai, waterfowl biologist and conservation partner.

You can contribute to conservation and America’s great outdoors tradition by buying Federal Duck Stamps at many national wildlife refuges, sporting goods stores, and other retailers, through the U.S. Postal Service, or purchase online.

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