Federal Duck Stamp: The Important conservation measures for wildlife

The 2022-23 Federal Duck Stamp was issued on Friday, June 24. When you first see beautiful stamps featuring various waterfowl, are you wondering what a duck stamp is?

What is a duck stamp and how much is it?

The official name of the duck stamp is the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. To protect migratory birds, Congress authorized the Postal Service to issue a “Duck Stamp” to licensed hunters in March 1934. 98% of the income from the sale of the Federal Duck Stamp goes to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. The first issue of the Duck Stamp sold for one dollar each. Over time, the face value of the Duck Stamp gradually increased to its current value of $15.

Where to buy a federal duck stamp?

I do not think anyone can resist the charm of the duck stamp. Ever since the famous J.N. cartoonist and artist Darling designed the first “duck stamp“, a $1.00 stamp showing two wild ducks landing. Its beauty and novelty immediately attracted stamp collectors, and the desire to own such a stamp became widespread.

Are you interested in buying or starting a collection of duck stamps? Actually, it is not difficult to acquire a duck stamp. It is different from the government insisting that it is only for hunters and not for collectors. With the exception of waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older, who are now required to purchase the duck stamp, anyone can help protect birds and other wildlife habitats by purchasing the stamp.

Federal Duck Stamps are sold at many sporting goods and other retail stores – both large and small – for sports and entertainment equipment. You can also buy them at many national wildlife refuges.
The current duck stamp is not only a hunting license and conservation tool but also a free pass to all national wildlife refuges that charge an entrance fee. This has led birders, nature photographers, and other nature lovers to also purchase duck stamps to ensure they can always see wildlife at their favorite wildlife spots.

Can I buy duck stamps at the post office?

Yes, you can. Duck Stamps are sold at many (but not all) post offices. A gentle reminder: Duck Stamps are only valid for the current hunting season (check with your local hunting authority for details, including valid dates and legal hunting areas).

How to buy a federal duck stamp online?

The first recommended place to buy is usps.com. Officially, this is the authoritative site for buying stamps. Or search for “Duck Stamp” on a shopping site like Amazon, eBay, and others, and you’ll find a wide selection of stamps and collectibles. Online stores such as Forever Stamp Store (swstamp.com) and Delivery Stamp (deliverystamp.com) have regular special sales where you can find some nice specimens at fair prices.
From my personal experience, I would recommend you to visit some niche websites with their own features to place orders compared to big shopping websites so that you can gain more knowledge about collecting, selling, transporting, or storing stamps.

What is a Junior Duck Stamp?

Each year, thousands of students spend their time researching wetlands and waterfowl, learning about the anatomy and ecological needs of their chosen waterfowl species, and sharing what they learn while painting or drawing. The best entries from each state are sent to the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest, where the final winner will be decided.

Therefore, to promote conservation education and raise funds, the state created and sells the $5 stamp. Junior Duck Stamps are sold to sustain this unique wetland conservation program that reaches more than 300,000 students, educators, families, and communities each year and serves as the only permanent funding source. Junior Duck stamps cannot be used as postage and are not a required purchase for young hunters.

What do you do with a duck stamp?

When you buy a duck stamp, you do not just have a hunting license. Rather, it’s about showing your love for the natural environment. As described in the previous section of the article, the Postal Service began issuing duck stamps as hunting license stamps for licensed hunters to protect migratory birds. A stamp on which the hunter must sign and affix his hunting license to certify to conservation authorities that his hunt was legal and in compliance with the law.
The reason for issuing such artistic stamps is to stop the reckless and crazy behavior of hunters such as uncontrolled hunting and occupation of wild bird habitats.

Millions of acres of wetlands are being drained and converted to farmland and developed for housing or other purposes. It became clear that bird populations could not withstand such an assault, so waterfowl numbers plummeted. The situation is not optimistic. Therefore, on March 16, 1934, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. It is reassuring that more than 8 The $100 million that went into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund (FWS) was used to acquire 5.3 million acres of wetlands for the National Wildlife Refuge.

The price of duck stamps has gradually increased over the years. In 2014, President Obama signed legislation that lowered the cost of duck stamps to $25. More than 46 million Americans consider themselves birders as the number of hunters nationwide declines and Americans become more environmentally conscious. Huge numbers of wildlife enthusiasts and stamp collectors are now buying duck stamps, an act of buying and protecting wetlands and associated habitats for ducks, geese, and other wildlife species.

Man’s protection of waterfowl and their habitat

At a time when environmental problems are becoming more serious, protection is always more important than killing. According to Adam Putnam, CEO of Ducks Unlimited, the Federal Duck Stamp is one of the most efficient and effective ways to support conservation worldwide. Buying Federal Duck Stamps is one of the easiest ways to support habitat conservation. The stamps are one of the most successful conservation tools ever created to provide a funding source for wildlife conservation. Of every dollar spent on a Federal Duck Stamp, 98 cents is used by our friends at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire and protect waterfowl habitats. The first day of sales is our opportunity to celebrate and support the waterfowl and wildlife we love so much.

Is the U.S. Duck Stamps collectible?

Several factors affect the prices of U.S. Duck Stamps. Older stamps are generally scarcer, and well-preserved stamps can command prices in hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Complete sheets, mint stamps, and unsigned stamps are among the rarest, and they command the highest prices.