JACKSON, Wyo. — The National Elk Refuge (NER) will be hosting the 2025 Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp Competition this March, and is calling all students in grades K-12 enrolled in Wyoming public, private, tribal and homeschools to participate.
According to a NER press release, the Federal Duck Stamp Program was introduced in 1934 in response to loss of wetlands and declines in waterfowl populations in North America.
“The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act required that all waterfowl hunters purchase a conservation stamp along with their hunting license in order to raise funds for waterfowl and wetland conservation,” the NER writes.
By 2000, all 50 states, the District of Colombia and all U.S. Territories participated in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp competition.
To enter work in the 2025 competition, students should draw or paint a native North American waterfowl on a 9” x 12” sheet of paper and mail it no later than March 1 to 675 E. Broadway, PO Box 510, Jackson, Wyoming, 83001.
A full list of eligible species to draw and competition rules can be found here.
Those who need art supplies or reference materials to participate should email Raena_Parsons@fws.gov to reserve the Wyoming Junior Duck Traveling Trunk for up to one week. The Traveling Trunk requires pick up and drop off in Jackson at the NER’s Headquarters Office at 675 East Broadway, Jackson, Wyoming, 83001.
Artwork will be judged by local wildlife artists and outdoor professionals in mid-March, after which 36 winners and 64 honorable mentions will be awarded across four age groups, all of whom will receive prizes. The best-of-show winner in Wyoming will go on to compete in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competition.
The winning design will also be printed on the next year’s Junior Duck Stamp and sold for $5 each, the proceeds of which go towards wetland conservation and environmental education.
