The 2011-2012 Federal Duck Stamp features two white-fronted geese painted by artist James Hautman of Chaska, Minn. Last October, five judges chose his art to grace the new Duck Stamp from among 235 paintings at the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest, held in Berkeley, Calif.
All waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry a current Federal Duck Stamp, but conservationists, birders, stamp collectors and others also buy the stamp as an investment in conservation. Ninety-eight percent of the proceeds from the $15 Duck Stamp go to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which supports wetlands acquisition for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1934, Federal Duck Stamp sales have raised more than $750 million to protect more than 5.3 million acres of wetlands on hundreds of the 551 national wildlife refuges spread across all 50 states and U. S. territories.
The 2011-2012 Junior Duck Stamp was created by Abraham Hunter, 17, of Vienna, Ill. In April, Hunter



