Calling All San Carlos Artists! State to Accept Stamp Contest Entries

By Bay City News Service:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will be accepting submissions starting May 1 for the 2015-2016 California Duck Stamp Art Contest, wildlife officials said.

Artists will have until June 3 to submit entries.

U.S. residents 18 years of age and older as of March 4 are eligible to enter the contest and entrants do not need to reside in California.

The winning artwork will appear on the 2015-2016 California Duck Stamp. The Department of Fish and Wildlife once required hunters to buy a stamp and affix it to their hunting license, but now the stamps are collectors’ items.

Besides the winner, other top submissions will be displayed at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association’s art show in July.

Wildlife officials said the artwork must depict an American green-winged teal, the species selected for the competition by the California Fish and Game Commission.

A panel consisting of experts in the fields of ornithology, art, printing and conservation will pick first, second and third place winners and an honorable mention at a public event in June.

Since 1971, top wildlife artists from around the nation have entered the contest. The proceeds from the sale of stamps will go toward waterfowl conservation projects in California.

Official rules can be found at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Duck-Stamp/Contest.