Afield: Worthy stamp of approval

Minnesotans with an eye and ear toward the outdoors should take pause to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Federal Duck Stamp.

Those of us who in the past have purchased the Federal Duck Stamp (a requirement for waterfowl hunters) deserve a congratulatory pat on the back, because our financial contributions and conservation efforts are responsible for protecting nearly a half-million acres in this state alone. Since 1934 Minnesotans have purchased more than 9 million duck stamps, and dollars generated from those sales have been used to safeguard critical habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

The price of a duck stamp is $15. Anti-government types (who isn't these days?) will be astounded to know 98 cents of each dollar goes toward the purchase or lease of wetland habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

We all know our efforts have not been enough. Less than 1 percent of Minnesota's prairie habitat remains, and more that 90 percent of our prairie wetlands have been drained. An atrocity? Yes. Should we be completely embarrassed by our greed? Absolutely. It's no wonder 100-year floods occur, its seems, every year or so.

But this week is a time to celebrate, however briefly, the success of the Federal Duck Stamp program.

According to Ashely Spratt, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are numerous duck stamp goings-on being held all week at the Bloomington Art Center (see details on this page) culminating with the selection of the 2009-10 Federal Duck Stamp print winner about 1 p.m. Saturday. More than 700 prints have been entered, including 40 from Minnesota, more than any other state.

It is difficult for me to express the gratitude I feel when I set foot on a Waterfowl Production Area or a National Wildlife Refuge that I know was acquired with my more than 30 years of duck stamp purchases.

Whether I have firearm in hand in the pursuit of pheasants, ducks or other game, camera and tripod slung over my shoulder or binoculars hanging from my neck, I realize that at least a portion of the marsh, field or forest-- however small-- is mine.

Indeed, I'm deeply grateful.

Saturday, a friend and I followed our dogs in pursuit of pheasants across a WPA somewhere in western Minnesota, a wildlife oasis surrounded by a sea of corn, soybeans, drain tiles and ditches.

A few weeks ago I watched through a telephoto lens as blue-winged teal, wood ducks and other wildlife cavorted over the wild rice-strewn waters of Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge near Little Falls.

A few years back I photographed a short-eared owl perched atop a WPA sign somewhere south of Morris. Printed on the sign below the owl's needle sharp talons were the words "Purchased With Duck Stamp Dollars." The short-eared owl is a ground-nesting bird of prey virtually dependant on undisturbed grasslands for survival. Without WPAs the owl's future would be bleak.

And there is good news from the prairie pothole region of northwest Minnesota. Recently, $4 million of duck stamp money was allocated to purchase 18,000 acres as part of the newly developed Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge. In addition Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge near Audubon just west of Detroit Lakes is another refuge that is expanding in Minnesota's pothole region.

It's important to note that many National Wildlife Refuges offer opportunities for the hunting public.

If you have never visited one of Minnesota's National Wildlife Refuges, or have yet to tromp a WPA in search of ducks, pheasants, deer, whatever, make it point to do so. Be sure to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp so you'll feel, like I do, that your contribution is meaningful.

So that you, too, will feel proud, and that you belong there.

Bill Marchel, an outdoors columnist and wildlife photographer, lives near Brainerd.