The Duck (Stamp) Dynasty Continues

From our March/April 2026 Issue

Every year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hosts a contest to choose the artwork to appear on the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp—aka, the Federal Duck Stamp. Established in 1934, the stamp is required for all waterfowl hunters aged 16 and older. To date, the sale of duck stamps has raised $1.3 billion and supports wetland conservation across the National Wildlife Refuge System. The stamp also grants free entry to any National Wildlife Refuge.

This past year Chaska, Minnesota, artist James Hautman earned his record-breaking seventh Federal Duck Stamp contest win with his acrylic painting of three buffleheads in flight against a stormy, windswept Minnesota lake. To create the image, he placed bufflehead decoys on a lake and captured thousands of reference photos. In September his artwork was selected from 290 entries, and the announcement was made at an in-person event and via livestream at the Patuxent Research Refuge, in Laurel, Maryland. For the 2026–’27 Duck Stamp, artists could choose from five eligible species: wood duck, cinnamon teal, ruddy duck, gadwall and bufflehead.

James and his brother Joe had each claimed six titles, and their brother Bob had won four. With the recent result, the Hautman family has a collective 17 Federal Duck Stamp victories. Second place this year went to Thomas E. Miller of Kilkenny, Minnesota, for his acrylic painting of a cinnamon teal. Third place was awarded to Jeffrey Mobley of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for an acrylic painting of a bufflehead.

While hunters are required to purchase the $25 stamp (which will go on sale in June), many non-hunters and conservationists also buy it to support habitat conservation. Stamps are available at national wildlife refuges, US Post Offices, sporting-goods stores and other retailers, and online.