Quack, Quack, Lick

August 20, 2008 8:25 AM

It's the law: "No person who has attained the age of sixteen years shall take any migratory waterfowl unless at the time of such taking he carries on his person an unexpired Federal migratory-bird hunting and conservation stamp". The Federal Duck Stamp turned 75 this year.

What to do after the season is over? Well, there are collectors.

More history on the duck stamp.

Wanna hunt ducks? Buy this stamp. Wanna collect duck stamps? This commemorative pane may be more to your liking.

No, I do not work for the US Postal Service

posted by Deathalicious (12 comments total)

it's a rip-off - not only don't the damn ducks stay still, but just try fitting one into a mailbox!
posted by pyramid termite at 8:41 AM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

I have never heard of these. Neat!
posted by gubo at 8:49 AM on August 20, 2008

Having a current duck stamp will gain you free entry into any National Wildlife Refuge.

I consider my annual duck stamp purchase to be money very well spent.
posted by Patapsco Mike at 8:56 AM on August 20, 2008

I thought it was wabbit season...
posted by DreamerFi at 9:05 AM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Interesting. I wonder what other hunting licenses are Federal. I guess they all should be, or the bucks would know to head for the state line.
posted by StickyCarpet at 9:14 AM on August 20, 2008

The duck stamp is a monster big deal for wildlife artists. Having your painting chosen for the stamp will do for your career pretty much exactly the same thing that having a #1 hit does for a rock group.
posted by jfuller at 9:18 AM on August 20, 2008

... is stamped duck like pressed duck, at all?
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 9:24 AM on August 20, 2008

I think a duck stamp is more like a goose step.
posted by binturong at 9:58 AM on August 20, 2008

Great post! Really took me back. Getting a duck stamp every year was a big deal in my youth. And don't forget your membership to Ducks Unlimited! Money well spent indeed.
posted by MarshallPoe at 10:11 AM on August 20, 2008

Interesting. I wonder what other hunting licenses are Federal. I guess they all should be, or the bucks would know to head for the state line.

Well ducks are migratory, which is exactly why this is Federal. In fact, it's international regulated by an agreement with Canada.
posted by atrazine at 10:24 AM on August 20, 2008

One of the neat character details in the movie Fargo is the quest by Norm Gunderson (Marge, the sheriff's husband) to have one of his paintings chosen for the duck stamp. Norm frequently mentions the Hautman Brothers as his competition. The Hautmans are real and have won several duck stamp competitions.
posted by jamaro at 11:39 AM on August 20, 2008 [2 favorites]

I participated in the Junior Duck Stamp contest when I was in middle school. Took third in my state, which earned me a nice ribbon and a certificate.
posted by emmling at 6:50 AM on August 24, 2008