State duck stamp contest deadline nears

Entries for the 2001 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp design competition will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. October 27.

The winning art will be printed on the 2001-02 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp, which is required of all waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older, with the exception of landowners hunting on their own land, lifetime hunting or combination license holders and senior citizen hunting or combination license holders. Duck stamp sales help finance many projects that benefit ducks and geese.

Since the duck stamp program began in 1980, thousands of acres of waterfowl habitat have been created through duck stamp revenues. The Canada goose is the waterfowl species selected for the 2001-02 stamp. All artists must depict this species, and any habitat appearing in the design must be typical for the Canada goose in Oklahoma. Artwork may be of acrylic, oil, watercolor, scratchboard, pencil, pen and ink, tempera or any other two-dimensional media. The illustration must be horizontal, 6 1/2 inches high and 9 inches wide. It must be matted with white mat board 9 inches high by 12 inches wide with the opening cut precisely 6 1/2-by-9. Artwork may not be framed or under glass, but an acetate covering should be used to protect the art. Entries will be judged on anatomical accuracy, artistic composition and suitability for printing. The winner and three honorable mentions will appear in a future issue of Outdoor Oklahoma magazine. A non-refundable entry fee of $20 (cash, money order or cashiers check) must accompany each entry. No entries will be accepted after 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 27. Judging will take place at 1:30 p.m., Dec. 7, at Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters in Oklahoma City.

The winning artist will receive a purchase award of $1,200 and 50 prints (special artist's proof editions) of the design once the Department makes such a reproduction. The winning entry will become the sole and exclusive property of the Wildlife Department. And the winning artist will be required to sign and number all prints of the winning design if the Department makes such a reproduction and remarque a minimum of 25 prints.

Anyone wanting more information about the contest should call (405) 521-3856. Entries should be sent to the Duck Stamp Competition Coordinator, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, 1801 N. Lincoln, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152.