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• Waterfowl Management Program
• CA Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest

California Duck Stamp Program

2012-2013 Contest Rules and Entry Form

DFG is conducting a competition to select a design for the 2012-2013 California Duck Stamp. To enter, please read the rules below and mail the completed entry form and participation agreement with your entry.

Download printable rules and ENTRY FORM (PDF)

1. The Open Edition division is open to U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older by April 30, 2012. DFG employees are ineligible. The winning entry in the “Open Edition” division will be reproduced on the 2012-13 California Duck Stamp.
2. The Youth division of the contest is open to U.S. residents who are under the age of 18 as of April 30, 2012.  DFG employees and children of DFG employees are ineligible.
3. Each contestant in either division may submit only one entry. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed and signed entry form and participation agreement.
4. Entries for the 2012/2013 California Duck Stamp Open Edition division and Youth division will be accepted from 9 a.m. April 30, 2012 through 4 p.m., May 30, 2012.
5. Entries may be mailed, shipped or delivered in person to: California Department of Fish and Game, 1807 13th St., Suite 104, Sacramento CA 95811. The art should be protectively packaged, and the exterior of the package and all protective materials should be labeled with the artist’s name.
6. The primary subject of the 2012/2013 California Duck Stamp will be the Aleutian Canada Goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia). All contest entries for both the Open Edition and the Youth division must include a prominent rendering of this species in the design. If background detail is included in the design, it must be accurate and representative of a natural habitat in California.
7. The design is to be in full color and in the medium (or combination) of the artist’s choosing, except that no photographic process, digital art, metallic paints or fluorescent paints may be used in the finished design. Photographs, computer-generated art, art produced from a computer printer or other computer/mechanical output device (air brush method excepted) are not eligible to be entered into the contest and will be disqualified.
8. The design must be the contestant’s original “hand drawn” creation. The entry design may not be copied or duplicated from previously published art, including photographs, or from images in any format published on the Internet.
9. No writing or other information printed on a finished duck stamp may appear on the painting or mat. No scroll work, lettering or accent borders may appear on the painting or mat.
10. The overall dimensions of the entry, including mat, cannot exceed 20 inches by 15 inches. Any mat used must be white. The image size cannot exceed 18 inches by 13 inches and must be horizontal.
11. The painting must not be framed or under glass. Any acetate or other protective covering used must be lightly fastened to facilitate removal before judging.
12. DFG’s Office of Communications, Education and Outreach will select the judging panel, which will choose the winners in both the Open Edition and Youth divisions. The judges will have expertise in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. The members of the judging panel will be announced on the date that the judging takes place.
13. All designs will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and print.
14. There shall be a period of 15 days immediately following the contest judging during which any artist or photographer may make a plagiarism claim against the winning design. In the event any such claim is upheld by DFG, the first runner-up shall be declared the winning design, subject to the same 15-day plagiarism claim period.
15. The winning artist in the Open Edition division may be required to make minor changes to his/her design in order to ensure that the artwork is suitable for reproduction as a stamp.
16. The winning entries (first through third place and honorable mention) in both divisions will be retained by DFG for display purposes through August 31, 2012.
17. All artwork will be returned to the artists by August 31, 2012.
18. Non-placing entries may be claimed immediately after the judging by any artists in attendance. All other non-placing entries not picked up at DFG’s Sacramento office will be returned to the artists by July 31, 2012.
19. It is the responsibility of each entrant to obtain adequate property insurance for their contest submission. DFG will not insure any contest entry and DFG assumes no liability for any damage, loss or theft of any entry, before, during or after the judging event.
20. Any entry that fails to comply with any of the requirements of this competition may be disqualified.

Download printable rules and ENTRY FORM (PDF)