Call for Student Artists to Participate in Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp Contest

The National Elk Refuge will be hosting the 2024 Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp Competition in March. This art competition is open to all students in grades K-12 enrolled in Wyoming public, private, tribal, and homeschools. To enter your work in the 2024 competition, draw or paint a native North American waterfowl (full list of eligible species can be found on the website below) on a 9”x12” sheet of paper and mail it to the National Elk Refuge, 675 E. Broadway, PO Box 510, Jackson WY 83001 by March 15, 2024.

Participation packets will be available for pick up from the National Elk Refuge and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center (532 N. Cache St.) mid-January thru early March. Participation packets will include instructions, entry form, and 9x12 paper, 2 pieces of 9x12 tagboard, and 1 sheet of 9x12 watercolor paper. Need art supplies or reference materials to participate? Email Raena_Parsons@fws.gov to reserve the Wyoming Junior Duck Traveling Trunk for up to one week. The Traveling Trunk requires pick up and drop off in Jackson, WY at the National Elk Refuge’s Headquarters Office at 675 East Broadway, Jackson, WY.

Artwork will be judged by local wildlife artists and outdoor professionals in early April. 36 winners and 64 honorable mentions will be awarded across 4 age groups, all of whom will receive prizes. New this year, the Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp Program will have two “Best of Jackson Hole” winners for Teton County, WY (1 for K-6 grade & 1 for 7-12 grade) in addition to the state best-of-show winner.

The best-of-show winner in Wyoming will go on to compete in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competition. The winning design is printed on the next year’s Junior Duck Stamp and sold for $5 each - the proceeds of which go towards wetland conservation and environmental education.

The Federal Duck Stamp Program was introduced in 1934 in response to loss of wetlands and declines in waterfowl populations in North America. The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act required that all waterfowl hunters purchase a conservation stamp along with their hunting license in order to raise funds for waterfowl and wetland conservation. By 2000, all 50 states, the District of Colombia, and all U.S. Territories participated in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp competition. Today, the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program is not limited to waterfowl hunting enthusiasts; the Program is also a great way to practice wildlife watching, create art, and learn about conservation.

To participate in the Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp Competition, please review the competition rules, which can be found at Junior Duck Stamp Contest Information and submit entries to the National Elk Refuge postmarked by March 15^th, 2024. For more information, please contact the Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator, Raena Parsons, at raena_parsons@fws.gov.