Audubon Duck Stamp Article

K

Kris Winiarski

Member
https://www.audubon.org/news/hunting-imagery-may-soon-be-mandatory-federal-duck-stamp-contest

Folks are worried that changes like this further divide hunters and non-hunters which would be unfortunate given the predicted declines in the future number of hunters. Out of curiosity I went back and looked at all the federal stamps since the beginning and was surprised to see evidence of hunting/hunters in only a handful of stamps over the years. Lots of stamps I saw as a hunter being paintings of birds dropping into the spread. Lots of stamps with an emphasis on habitat which is the purpose of the stamp.
 
Classic case of fixing something that is not broken, for no apparent purpose.

It does help beat the "hunters" vs. "antis" drum.
 
I'm honestly not sure how to feel about this. I'm a hunter and I feel that hunting is being marginalized in a lot of our country. However, "forcing" something is usually not a positive.
 
I thought that back in the 50s or 60s they went to a waterfowl only in the painting rule.
Am I wrong???
 

Waterfowl hunters have always footed the bills, and paid their way again, and again, and again. And will until the last ones are alive. It IS what we do.

Free Loaders that TALK about conservation, but do not do near as much. I have NO use for.

Having seen and experiencing much, in over 50 years of waterfowling, and supporting my lifestyle in many ways, my BS meter works very well.


The hunting theme is something that was always taken for granted, unfortunately (so need not portrayed on the stamp), and fell out of style to be politically correct.

Trying to save a lifestyle that is now in steep decline with new rules, is paying homage to the past, and ignoring the present.

It is a very poor way to educate the public, if that is the reason. The education begins at home with family and friends, in the schools, and clubs.

Like many things, the more legislation applied, the more things suffer until snuffed out.

I pray to GOD that the North American Waterfowling lifestyle will not be allowed to be snuffed out.

It's up to us.


my 2 cents
 

When I lived in PA, I had the King Buck duck stamp license plate on the front of my 1988 Toyota 4-Runner.

Still have the plate, but now I live in NY a two plate state.

When we go to Decoy shows I see that some vendors are still selling the King Buck license plate.



As a side note.

When PA began selling their voluntary state Duck Stamp. The rules for the contest stated ONLY WATERFOWL (no decoys, hunters, hunting related items, etc.)

That made absolutely NO sense to me. I wrote them a couple times, saying they were excluding PA waterfowl history, and included a list of PA related waterfowl subjects.

Their reply was the rule is steadfast NO exceptions.
.
 
Kris Winiarski said:
This is what I recorded looking through the stamps:

1960 retrievers save game

1975 canvasback decoy

2000 hunting boat in background

2005 could be decoys in background

2010 decoy

Side note: The junior stamp this year is awesome https://www.fws.gov/birds/education/junior-duck-stamp-conservation-program.php
Click to expand...

That is gorgeous.

I thought I saw one of the early stamps with what might have been a boat or blind in the background--but it was fuzzy and back then the print quality was pretty low, and I couldn't really tell.
 
Good morning, Kris et al~


Interesting thread about a poor proposal. I am envisioning future stamps featuring....robo ducks? tailgate shots?



Art is, of course, a personal matter. I am decidedly Old School and have not enjoyed many duck stamps in recent decades. I lean toward the earlier stamps that displayed both elegant design and an understanding of the birds and their haunts. The recent trend toward photorealism sees the trees and not the forest, in my opinion. Many show technical proficiency but do not rise to the level of art.


My ideal judging team would include one waterfowl expert to ensure accuracy (or at least absence of errors) but would include others with formal artistic backgrounds, familiar with the works of Homer, Eakins, Frost, Pleissner, for example, as well as the great birds artists, such as Fuertes, Eckleberry and Bateman.


Most important, though, is that 98% of the fee goes to its noble purpose.



All the best,


SJS

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top