We have a winner!

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has announced this year's winner of the annual waterfowl contest, and the honor goes to Gary Winders of Stockton Springs. This year's winning stamp shown above features a wonderful depiction of the male and female long-tailed duck.

Judging for the contest takes place every spring at the State Of Maine Sportsman Show in Augusta.

Here are the top five winners:

  • 1st Place – Gary Winders, Stockton Springs, ME
  • 2nd Place – Nancy Culver, Bucksport, ME
  • 3rd Place – Michael Boardman, N. Yarmouth, ME
  • Honorable Mention – Brenda McGuinness, Sebago, ME
  • Honorable Mention – Carolyn Nichols, Brunswick, ME

Since 1984 the State has held a contest in which artists across Maine have submitted their drawings of waterfowl for competition. The program was instituted to resemble the Federal duck stamp, and brought in up to $16,000 annually that went towards the conservation and management of waterfowl across the state, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website.  All hunters 16 years and older were once required to carry the stamps.

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While hunters are no longer required to carry the duck stamp it is still available for sale to collectors and the money still goes towards waterfowl conservation programs across Maine. You can purchase this year's duck stamp in a variety of ways both signed or unsigned by Mr. Winders.

The 2022 contest will feature the Wood Duck and will begin on the 1st of April.  If you're an artist who may be interested in participating, then here is the PDF form to fill out.

The wood duck, photo DennisBuchner/Unsplash
The wood duck, photo DennisBuchner/Unsplash
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