The 2016-17 duck stamp was released June 24, and is available for purchase. The Trumpeter Swans pictured on the stamp were painted by Plymouth (MN) artist Joe Hautman, who has won the stamp art competition five times. Here is Hautman's winning painting. Stamps are available at your local post office.
I write now and again about my non-hunting status and my membership in three hunting organizations. I join because I believe in the conservation work done by these groups. As an example, Ducks Unlimited has 41,226 members in Minnesota. In 2015, these folks raised $3,252,995, an average of $79 per member. This money helped conserve more than 1,879,616 acres in the Mississippi flyway. The flyway covers several other states, so other DU members were involved. DU interest focuses on waterfowl, of course, but millions of songbirds, shorebirds, and raptors also use this flyway. They depend on suitable habitat for feeding and resting as they move north. Also doing work worth noting are Delta Waterfowl and Pheasants Forever. Many organizations do similar, important work. Hunters hardly are alone in this effort. But they make a big difference for birds of all kinds.
For the same reason, buy that duck stamp. Let the $25 investment in habitat preservation be part of your annual conservation contributions.
