Submitted Photo This year’s Federal Duck Stamp is a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks painted by Alabama artist Eddie LeRoy.

The new 2020-2021 federal duck stamp goes went on sale Friday, June 26. Duck stamps are purchased by millions of waterfowl hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and stamp collectors every year. Duck stamps purchases provide critical funding to purchase and protect wetlands and associated habitat for ducks, geese and other wildlife species.

“Since Ding Darling quickly sketched the first duck stamp in 1934, art and conservation have been connected and the world is better for it. Whether you’re an avid waterfowl hunter, a birder, conservation enthusiast, or a collector, every American has a good reason to buy a duck stamp, perhaps even two or three,” said Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam.

The theme of this year’s annual federal duck stamp is “celebrating our waterfowl hunting heritage” and features a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks painted by Eddie LeRoy of Eufaula, Ala.

This year’s junior duck stamp features a wood duck painted by Madison Grimm, a 13-year-old from South Dakota. Her artwork will graces the 2020-2021 Junior Duck Stamp, which supports conservation education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. More than 3,000 junior duck stamps are sold annually for $5 each to help promote conservation education through art.

The duck stamp, more formally known as the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, dates back to 1934. Since then, the program has raised more than $1 billion to help acquire and protect more than 6 million acres of habitat in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry a duck stamp while hunting. Duck stamps are sold at post offices nationwide and at many National Wildlife Refuges and sporting goods stores. Electronic versions of the duck stamp can also be purchased online – visit https://www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp/e-stamp.php for more information.