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Outdoor Recreation

Archery & Primitive Firearms Stamp Information

Deadline to Submit Entries for 2010 stamp is May 15, 2009

Massachusetts Archery StampThe Archery & Primitive Arms Stamp Story

Archery stamps have been required of anyone hunting deer during the archery deer season since 1960.

In 1980, MassWildlife established a requirement for a similar stamp for the newly established primitive firearms deer hunting season during which sportsmen hunt with flintlocks and caplocks, and hunters in both seasons bought what was called an archery/primitive firearms stamp.

In 1996, two stamps were created; one stamp for archery and a separate stamp for the primitive firearms season. This allowed biologists to evaluate bowhunters and primitive firearms hunters activities. In 2006, MassWildlife opted to use separate artwork to alleviate any possible confusion between the stamps.

Not only are these stamps required of the sportsmen and women hunting during the special deer seasons, they are also being sought by philatelists and other collectors of wildlife art. The annual sale of archery stamps and primitive firearms stamps generates over $250,000 for wildlife research, management and restoration in the Commonwealth. The 2009 stamps will go on sale in early December at hunting and fishing license outlets throughout the state.

Archery and Primitive Arms Stamp Competition Information

As of 2007 there are now two separate competitions for the Massachusetts archery stamp and for the Massachusetts primitive firearms stamp. In each case the art must be the artist's original creation. There are no fees associated with this competition.

Rules & Regulations

Entries for the Archery Stamp must be appropriate to a stamp for bowhunting of white-tailed deer. The stamp design may include deer, hunting gear or any combination of the above.

Entries to the Primitive Firearms Stamp competition must be appropriate to a stamp for hunting white-tailed deer with a flintlock or caplock (primitive firearms). The stamp design may include deer, hunting gear or any combination of the above.

Each entry submitted must be clearly marked as A (Archery stamp); PF (Primitive Firearms stamp) or B (Both)

The artwork will be judged for the category (ies) for which it was entered. An entry can win only one competition. If it is selected as the winner in one competition it will not be entered in the second competition. Artwork selected in the competitions held in one year will appear on the archery and primitive firearms stamps for the following calendar year.

Subject and Format:

  1. The artist may draw or paint in oil, watercolor, or any other medium.
  2. The image must leave space for inscription, price and year.
    There should be no writing on the artwork.
  3. The overall picture should be horizontal, 8.5 x 12 in a mat 14 x 18.
  4. Images should avoid excessive fine detail which may not reproduce
    clearly when the image is reduced.
  5. The artist's name and address and telephone number should be
    lettered on the back in a space no larger than can be covered with a 3 x 5 card.
  6. If insurance is desired, it must be supplied by the artist. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife cannot insure entries nor be responsible for damage in the mails or loss by fire or theft.Primitive Firearms Stamp

 

Official Entry Submission Form PDF icon

This form must be filled out and accompany each piece of artwork submitted by the artist.

Entries should be sent to:

Archery / Primitive Stamp Contest
Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Field Headquarters
One Rabbit Hill Road
Westborough, MA 01581

For more information, contact Ellie Horwitz at 508/389-6305.

2009 ARCHERY AND PRIMITIVE FIREARMS STAMP WINNER SELECTED--July 2008
Massachusetts' annual art competitions for Archery and Primitive Firearms Stamps was held at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters and this year, one artist has won both contests. Barry Julius of Brockton was selected in independent blind judging contests. When the identity of the winning artist was revealed, judges were surprised that the two winning entries had been painted by the same artist.
They were no more surprised than the artist himself who was delighted to learn of his "sweep." An active sportsman since childhood, Barry Julius grew up in East Bridgewater. He studied graphics and design at Massasoit Community College and initially planned to pursue a career in advertising. In fact he taught art for many years and now serves as a recreation officer for the Mass. Department of Corrections. His art remains an active hobby. Julius had previously won the archery/primitive firearms competition in 1995, the archery stamp competition in 2002 and the Massachusetts waterfowl stamp competition in 2001. He has also placed high in wildlife art contests in other northeastern states.
The 2009 archery stamp portrays a watchful buck and two does feeding in a meadow. The primitive firearms stamp illustrates a buck picking its way through a snow-covered woodland. The pair of stamps highlights the differences between deer behaviors and habitat during different seasons.