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Duck Stamps |
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P223 Duck Stamps
These stamps are commonly referred to as “duck
stamps,” but their correct name is “U.S. Migratory Bird
Hunting and Conservation Stamps,” as shown on the
poster. The migratory birds include not only ducks, but
also swans, geese, and other waterfowl. The stamps
represent an extremely successful United States Government
program.
President Herbert Hoover signed the Migratory Bird
Conservation Act in 1929 to authorize the acquisition
and preservation of wetlands as waterfowl habitat.
The law failed to provide funding, so five years later
Congress passed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act
to fill this need. The stamp is required to hunt waterfowl
in the fall and winter. The stamps are valid from
July 1st of one year until June 30th of the next, thus the
two-year date.
Over 98% of the income from the stamps is actually
used for wetland acquisition and preservation. The fees
have paid for 580 national wildlife refuges containing
more than 150 million acres. The program proved
so successful that all fifty states now issue their own
stamps. Similar programs have been adopted by other
countries, including Canada, Australia, Mexico, Russia,
and the United Kingdom.
This subject has very broad appeal. The stamps are
purchased not only by hunters, but by stamp collectors,
those who support conservation efforts, and people
who really enjoy the magnificent engravings. Each
stamp is a work of art in its own right.
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