Mallards will grace the 2018-2019 Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp

Robert Hautman, of the talented trio of wildlife artist brothers from Minnesota, won the 2017 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest on Saturday.

Hautman’s acrylic painting of a pair of mallards flying over water will become the 2018-2019 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, a.k.a., the Duck Stamp. The $25 stamp, which is required of all migratory game bird hunters in the United States, will go on sale in June 2018. Sales of the stamp raise nearly $40 million annually to conserve wetland habitat in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

“Our nation’s waterfowl hunters and other sportsmen and women have a long tradition of leading the way in conserving wildlife and habitat,” said Ryan Zinke, U.S. Secretary of the Interior. “There is no better example of this than the Duck Stamp, one of the most successful conservation programs in U.S. history, through which hunters have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars since its inception eight decades ago.”

Robert Hautman, of Delano, Minnesota, now has three Federal Duck Stamp Contest triumphs to his credit. His art previously appeared on the 1997-1998 and 2001-2002 stamps.

His brothers, James and Joseph, have each won the contest five times. A trio of Canada geese painted by James Hautman appears on the 2017-2018 (current) Duck Stamp, while Joseph Hautman won the year prior with a pair of trumpeter swans.

Greg Alexander of Ashland, Wisconsin, placed second in the 2017 contest with an acrylic painting of a cinnamon teal. Christine Clayton of Sidney, Ohio, took third place with an oil painting of a blue-winged teal.

A total of 215 entries were judged at the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point. Eligible species this year included mallards, gadwalls, cinnamon teal, blue-winged teal and harlequin ducks.

A complete gallery of the 2017 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest entries can be found here.

-Paul Wait