Electronic duck stamps

Up to now hunters and stamp collectors could only purchase federal duck stamps at a U.S. Post Office or at a local sporting goods store.

This may be about to change according to Mike Rahn, a PineAndLakes.com columnist.

Rahn writes, "Thanks to recently passed legislation to create a pilot electronic duck stamp program. This three-year trial program, set to begin in 2007, will allow 15 states to apply for the right to participate. Hunters in the chosen states will be able to purchase Federal duck stamps by phone or by computer with a credit card number - presumably also at electronic license outlets. A paper stamp will then be sent by mail to the purchaser. In the meantime, the electronically-purchased validation, or "e-stamp," will be valid for 45 days."

He adds, "If you hunt ducks or geese, this stamp had better be on your license. It had better be signed across its face properly, too; no signatures in barely-visible ink, or tiny writing strategically placed to avoid covering the stamp's artwork, as I have been told directly by an examining federal warden."

Shown above is the 2005 - 2006 Hooded Mergansers - Federal Duck Stamp by Mark Anderson.

To read the entire article, click here.

To view the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Duck Stamp Collection, click here.