The Federal Duck Stamp Office administers the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, popularly known as the "Duck Stamp Act." We print, distribute and market the Federal Duck Stamp to enable the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire important migratory bird habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The Duck Stamp Office hosts the annual Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest in September and First Day of Sale Event in June, and attends various art and outdoor recreation events across the country to promote the sale of Duck Stamps. The Duck Stamp Office also administers the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program, a conservation education program through which children in K-12th grade learn about wetlands and waterfowl conservation, then draw or paint waterfowl and compete to win scholarship funds at the national contest. The first place national art entry is made into the Federal Junior Duck Stamp, which the Service sells for $5 to support conservation education.

While every waterfowl hunter age 16 and older must buy a duck stamp, more and more bird watchers and other outdoor recreationists and people interested in wildlife are buying the stamps as an investment in conservation. In its nearly 80-year history, the Duck Stamp has helped acquire more than 6 million acres for the National Wildlife Refuge System, acreage that also benefits hundreds of non-game birds and other wildlife, including dozens of threatened and endangered species.

Laurie Shaffer, Chief, Federal Duck Stamp Office

Suzanne Fellows, Program Coordinator

Rachel Levin, Communication Coordinator

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