National Art Contest For California Upland Game Bird Stamp

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is again holding a national contest to select the artwork for its 2011/2012 upland game bird stamp. The winning entry will be reproduced on the 2011 California Upland Game Bird Stamp, which is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California, and will be available to the public as collectible limited edition prints.

The contest is open to all U.S. residents age 18 and over. Original artwork will be accepted from October 25 until the November 19, 2010 contest deadline. Entries can be in any medium, but must feature the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo, Rio Grande sub-species) and must depict a pair (male and female). If background detail is included in the design, it must be accurate and representative of a natural habitat in California.

Upland game stamps, like hunting licenses, are valid from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. DFG sells about 200,000 upland game bird stamps annually. The money generated from stamp sales can only be spent on upland game bird-related conservation projects, the creation of hunting opportunities, and outreach and education. In addition to the stamps, DFG typically issues signed, limited edition prints that are valued by art collectors.

The upland game bird stamp contest will be judged by a panel of experts in the fields of ornithology, wildlife conservation, art and printing. The winning artist will be selected during a public judging event to be held in early December.

For contest information and entry forms, please visit the DFG website at www.dfg.ca.gov/upstamp.

*Photo is the winning entry for the 2010/2011 Upland Game Bird Stamp by artist Sherrie Russell-Meline of Mt. Shasta, CA.