Each year, artists from across the country take part in the annual Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. The winner doesn’t receive a big check from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. That said, the winner may sell prints of their design, which are highly sought after by hunters, conservationists, and art and stamp collectors. In other words, winning the contest can be a career-launching event, both in notoriety and income through print sales.

Hunters pursuing ducks, geese and other migratory birds are required to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp. Next season, they’ll purchase one featuring an oil painting of a northern pintail drake by Montana artist Chuck Black. This is his first Federal Duck Stamp Contest win. In a Facebook post, he wrote:

“I just found out I won the Federal Duck Stamp Contest today. Thank you to all who have supported my work over the years and who have been sending their congrats. Still doesn't feel real. Thank you to the people at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the judges who thought my painting was worthy of this stamp, and everyone who keeps this incredible program going. I feel so blessed. There was a lot of amazing work by many other artists, and I want to congratulate them as well. I'm just so grateful to be a part of this.”

In the 10-minute YouTube video below, Chuck Black documents his road to winning the Federal Duck Stamp Contest. FYI before watching the video: You should understand that it’s critically important for a top-notch artist to have outstanding reference material (typically color photos) to use as a guide as they design and produce their artwork. Of 199 entries judged in this year’s competition, 24 entries made it to the final round of judging. Eligible species for this year’s contest were the snow goose, American black duck, northern pintail, ring-necked duck and harlequin duck.

As you’ll see in the video, during his 2020 photography trip to Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in his home state of Montana, Chuck found one very special northern pintail drake. 

Congratulations, Chuck!

P.S. The Federal Duck Stamp was conceived in 1934; click here to read about its history. Since that year, $800 million dollars, which was raised from sales on the annual stamp, has gone into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to protect more than 5.7 million acres of habitat. Important note: Ninety-eight cents of every Duck Stamp dollar goes directly into this fund.