[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 42 (Friday, March 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10671-10672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3841]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


2005 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck 
Stamp) Contest

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the dates and 
locations of the 2005 Federal Duck Stamp contest; the public is invited 
to enter and to attend.

DATES: 1. The official date to begin the submission of entries to the 
2005 contest is June 1, 2005. All entries must be postmarked no later 
than midnight, Monday, August 15, 2005.
    2. The public may first view the 2005 Federal Duck Stamp Contest 
entries on Tuesday, September 13 and on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    3. Judging will be held on Thursday, September 15 and on Friday, 
September 16, 2005 beginning at 10 a.m.
    4. The contest will be held in Memphis, Tennessee at a location to 
be announced later.

ADDRESSES: Requests for complete copies of the contest rules, 
reproduction rights agreement, and display and participation agreement 
may be requested by calling 1-703-358-2000, or requests may be 
addressed to: Federal Duck Stamp Contest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Mail 
Stop MBSP-4070, Arlington, VA 22203-1622. You may also download the 
information from the Federal Duck Stamp Web site at http://duckstamps.fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ryan W. Booth, Federal Duck Stamp 
Office, (703) 358-2004, or by e-mail [email protected], or fax at 
(703) 358-2009.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 16, 1934, Congress passed and President Franklin Roosevelt 
signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. Popularly known as the 
Duck Stamp Act, it required all waterfowl hunters 16 years or older to 
buy a stamp annually. The revenue generated was originally earmarked 
for the Department of Agriculture, but 5 years later was transferred to 
the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
to buy or lease waterfowl sanctuaries.
    In the years since its enactment, the Federal Duck Stamp Program 
has become one of the most popular and successful conservation programs 
ever initiated. Today, some 1.8 million stamps are sold each year, and 
as of 2004, Federal Duck Stamps have generated more than $700 million 
for the preservation of more than 5.2 million acres of waterfowl 
habitat in the United States. Numerous other birds, mammals, fish, 
reptiles, and amphibians have similarly prospered because of habitat 
protection made possible by the program. An estimated one-third of the 
Nation's endangered and threatened species find food or shelter in 
refuges preserved by Duck Stamp funds. Moreover, the protected wetlands 
help dissipate storms, purify water supplies, store flood water, and 
nourish fish hatchlings important for sport and commercial fishermen.

The Contest

    The first Federal Duck Stamp was designed at President Franklin 
Roosevelt's request by Jay N. ``Ding'' Darling, a nationally known 
political cartoonist for the Des Moines Register and a noted hunter and 
wildlife conservationist. In subsequent years, noted wildlife artists 
were asked to submit designs. The first content was opened in 1949 to 
any U.S. artist who wished to enter, and 65 artists submitted a total 
of 88 design entries in the only art competition of its kind sponsored 
by the U.S. Government. To select each year's design, a panel of noted 
art, waterfowl, and philatelic authorities are appointed by the 
Secretary of the Interior. Winners receive no compensation for the 
work, except a pane of their stamps, but winners may sell prints of 
their designs, which are sought by hunters, conservationists, and art 
collectors.
    The public may view the 2005 Federal Duck Stamp entries on Tuesday, 
September 13 and Wednesday, September 14, 2005, at a time and location 
to be announced in the future. This year's judging will be held 
Thursday, September 15 and Friday, September 16, 2005.

Eligible Species

    Species eligible for the 2005 contest include brant, northern 
shoveler, Ross' goose, ruddy duck and Canada goose. Entries featuring a 
species other than the above listed species will be disqualified.


[[Page 10672]]


    Dated: February 14, 2005.
Marshall Jones, Jr.,
Deputy Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3841 Filed 3-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M