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Outdoor Recreation

Waterfowl Stamp Competition

Art for Conservation; The Waterfowl Stamp Story

Deadline for 2011 Waterfowl Stamp Competition is June 1, 2010

Massachusetts Waterfowl StampThe Massachusetts Waterfowl stamp was created to support the acquisition and protection of wetlands areas essential to migratory waterfowl for breeding, resting and feeding. Most of Massachusetts' migratory waterfowl are produced on the breeding grounds of the Maritime Provinces of Canada. In order to support such conservation efforts in Canada, MassWildlife has an agreement with Ducks Unlimited, Inc (DU), an international non-profit conservation organization which, in cooperation with various governmental and other non-governmental organizations, develops and manages waterfowl habitat projects in both the United States and Canada. $1.00 of the Waterfowl stamp goes to DU for habitat management and waterfowl conservation projects in the Maritime Provinces in Canada. $3.00 goes to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan for similar efforts in the United States.

Waterfowl hunters are required to purchase a stamp in order to hunt waterfowl, thus providing the majority of funding. Collectors also purchase stamps. Other conservationists purchase stamps, and the resulting prints which are produced, as a way to contribute to waterfowl and wetland conservation. Since the stamp's inception in 1974, over $1 million in stamp sales has been generated.

The Massachusetts Waterfowl stamp is unique in that it is the only waterfowl stamp series in the country that uses decoys as the annual stamp design. Stamp designs must be of working decoys - ducks, geese or shorebirds - created by known or unknown deceased Massachusetts decoy makers. This requirement celebrates both the art of decoy creation - an integral part of Massachusetts' migratory bird hunting heritage -- as well as the artwork of the contestant!


Waterfowl Stamp Competition

RULES AND REGULATIONS

This stamp will commemorate the art of decoy making in Massachusetts. The drawing or painting must be of a decoy by a known or unknown, deceased Massachusetts maker and will be judged on attractiveness, faithfulness to the original and suitability for reproduction in color on a small stamp.

The following rules apply to this contest:

SUBJECT

  1. Models are to be of a WORKING (not decorative) decoy of a duck, goose, or shorebird made by a known or unknown deceased, Massachusetts decoy maker
  2. Decoy(s) should be free of any repainting or restoration which alters sex or species.
  3. Artists are urged to research the history of the decoy they plan to use, carefully, and to document the origins of the bird as best as possible to confirm that the decoys are of Massachusetts origins.
  4. The painting or graphic must be the creation of the artist taken from a decoy, neither copied nor duplicated from previously published art nor drawings in any medium. An entry submitted in a prior contest which was not selected may be resubmitted at the artist's discretion.
  5. There shall be no scroll work or lettering on the picture; no anchors, lines or other background materials. The name of the decoy maker and a brief typed history should be attached on a separate sheet of paper containing NO REFERENCE TO THE ARTIST'S NAME or to the COLLECTION housing the decoy as this could lead to identification of the artist during the judging.

PRESENTATION

  1. Drawings or paintings may be in oil, watercolor or any other medium or combination on a white background. Colors and highlights may be modified at the artist's discretion to provide better contrast or a more attractive design.
  2. The painting must be on a white background. If the artist desires, he or she may include a swatch of a preferred background color for the stamp in the event the picture is selected. The Division will consider, but not be bound by, the artist's background color selection.
  3. The overall picture shall be horizontal, 8½" x 12", in a mat 14" x 18" and no thicker than ½". The artwork should be protected by a removable covering of acetate or cellophane.
  4. The artist's name, plus his title for the decoy drawing should be lettered on the back along with his return address and telephone number in a space no larger than may be covered with a 3 x 5 card. This information will be covered and will not be available to verifiers or judges during their examination of the artwork.
  5. The artist must provide a color photograph of the decoy to assist judges in determining the accuracy of the reproduction. The photograph shall include a twelve-inch ruler as a size indicator.

PROCESS

  1. No artist may submit more than two designs.
  2. Entries must be mailed or delivered to: Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Field Headquarters, One Rabbit Hill Road Westborough, Massachusetts 01581 Attn: Waterfowl Stamp Contest No later than June 1, 2010.
  3. All entries will be reviewed by a panel of verifiers prior to the contest date. They will be examined to determine that the subject is truly a Massachusetts-made working decoy of a species which has not been depicted on a waterfowl stamp in the past five years. Artists will be notified in advance of the judging if there is any question about the validity of their entry. Artists will have the opportunity to submit to the verification panel additional information about the decoy. Following review, the decision of the verifiers is final.
  4. The judges will strive to obtain variety in the series and for what is in their estimation the best renditions of working decoys.
  5. Once an artist has won the competition, he/she will not be eligible to enter for the next three (3) years.

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2011 Competition Information

Entries for the 2010 Waterfowl Stamp Competition MUST BE RECEIVED in the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Westborough Office by JUNE 1, 2010.

Official Entry Submission Form PDF icon -- This form must be filled out and accompany each piece of artwork submitted by the artist.

  • Artwork remains the property of the artist.
  • The winning artist will be notified by telephone. Runners-up will be notified by mail.
  • All qualifying entries will be inlcuded in an exhibit for 2-3 weeks at a cooperating museum open to the public.
  • Artwork must be properly protected for mailing as the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife cannot take responsibility for any damage incurred in the return mailing.
  • Contestants should obtain adequate insurance coverage for their entry. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will not so insure the entries it receives.
  • Species are not eligible for entry in the contest for 5 years after being chosen as a winning entry.
  • Artists are not eligible for entering the competition for 3 years after being chosen as the winning artist. (See list below)

SPECIES NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE 2011 WATERFOWL STAMP CONTEST

  • 2010 Canada Goose
  • 2009 White-winged Scoter Drake
  • 2008 Black Duck Hen
  • 2007 Long billed Curlew
  • 2006 American Goldeneye Drake

ARTISTS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE 2010 WATERFOWL STAMP CONTEST

Other Important 2011 Competition Information

Date and location of the judging have yet to be determined

The winning artist will be notified by telephone on the date of judging. Runners-up will be notified by mail.

All qualifying entries will be held for display to the public through the end of September unless otherwise arranged with the artists and will be returned as soon as possible thereafter.

Please be sure that your artwork is properly protected for mailing as the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will not be held responsible for any damage incurred in the return mailing. Also contestants are hereby notified of the advisability of obtaining adequate property insurance coverage for their respective entry. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will not so insure the entries it receives. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is not responsible for damage in the mails or loss by fire or theft.

If you wish to pick up your entry, please notify the Westborough Office of MassWildlife at (508) 389-6300.

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