California DFG to Accept Upland Game Bird Stamp Artwork Contest Entries Until Feb. 29

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has extended the deadline to submit entries for the state’s 2012 upland game bird stamp contest. Artists can submit their contest entries up until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 29.

The contest is open to all U.S. residents who are age 18 or older. The species selected to appear on the 2012 upland game bird stamp is the Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata). The design must include at least one adult Band-tailed Pigeon. Designs will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and print.

This is the fourth design that will be featured in the “Encore Edition” since returning to the use of original artwork for the stamp’s image in 2009.

An upland game bird stamp validation is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California. The money generated from stamp sales is used to fund upland game bird related conservation projects, education, public hunting opportunities and outreach. Hunters are no longer required to physically attach the stamp to their license, but the stamps are still produced and mailed to purchasers upon request.

DFG sells almost 200,000 upland game bird stamps annually, which includes sales to collectors who value them for their artist depiction of upland game birds.

The upland game bird stamp contest will be judged by a panel of experts in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. The winning artist will be selected during a public judging event to be held in the spring of 2012. A date has not yet been set for the judging.

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