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Home > Wildlife > Groups & Programs > Migratory Waterfowl Stamp > Contest/Rules

Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Contest/Rules

Entry Requirements for the 2008 Maine Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest

2008 Rules and Entry Form PDF

To view the entry form, you will need the free Adobe Reader. If you need assistance, view our PDF Help page, e-mail or call us at (207) 287-8000.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is conducting a competition to select a design for the 2008 Maine Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Stamp.

  1. Contest is open to Maine residents 18 years of age or older who have been domiciled in this state during the three (3) months immediately preceding the entry deadline for the contest. Employees of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are ineligible.
  2. One entry per contestant. Any entry which fails to comply with any of the requirements of this competition will be disqualified.
  3. The primary subject of the 2008 Maine Waterfowl stamp design is the Hooded Merganser. One or more live waterfowl of this species must appear prominently in the design. If background detail is included in the design it must be accurate and representative of the State of Maine. Designs will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and print.
  4. 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.
  5. The painted image must be 13 inches vertically by 18 inches horizontally and centered on a surface no larger than 19 inches by 24 inches. The painting must be firmly (not permanently) attached to a single white mat 19 inches high by 24 inches wide, with a centered window of 13 inches by 18 inches.
  6. None of the information printed on a finished duck stamp may appear on the painting or mat.
  7. No scroll work, lettering, accent borders or signature may appear on the painting or mat.
  8. The painting must not be framed or under glass. Any acetate or other protective covering used must be lightly fastened to facilitate removal before the judging.
  9. Any winning design from another stamp contest (federal, state or private) is not eligible.
  10. The artist affirms that his/her creation of the original design is neither copied nor duplicated from previously published art, including paintings, drawings in any medium, or published photographs.
  11. 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 the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the first runner-up shall be declared the winning design, subject itself to a 15-day plagiarism claim period.
  12. The winning design, as prepared by the artist, may be retained by the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife & Wildlife until the engraving of the Waterfowl Hunting Stamp has been completed. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife shall retain exclusive copyright of said design for the purpose of stamps only. Copies and reproduction of said stamps may be published and distributed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to others for stamp reproduction, copying, and publishing for educational and informational purposes. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife shall also retain the right to use the winning image in their magazine, Maine Fish and Wildlife.
  13. All other Copyright, other than described in paragraph 12, of this agreement, shall be retained by the artist for his/her disposition.
  14. The winning artist will be ineligible to compete in the next consecutive Maine duck stamp contest.
  15. The winning artist may be required to make minor changes to his/her design.
  16. The winning artist will retain ownership of the winning entry and will receive a cash award of $1,000 and a sheet of 10 stamps of his or her design.
  17. If the winning artist decides to reproduce the original image in the form of prints, he/she agrees to provide, at no cost, twenty-five (25) signed and numbered prints to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Said prints may be numbered as Conservation Edition (C/E) #1/25 to 25/25. Numbered just below and to the left side of image / signed just below and to the right side of image. Signature and number to be done in pencil.
  18. All contestants are advised that it is their responsibility to obtain adequate property insurance for their contest submission. The Department will not insure any entry it receives, and assumes no liability for any damage, loss or theft of any entry.
  19. Entries may be mailed first class registered mail, shipped via U.P.S., or delivered in person to the Department's Augusta office. The painting should be protectively packaged in heavy corrugated cardboard, approximately 21 inches by 25 1/2 inches, sealed only with tape. The painting should not be taped to the inside of the package.
  20. Entries for the 2008 Maine Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Contest will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. March 3 through 4:00 p.m., March 21, 2008. All entries must be delivered to the Department's Augusta office or be received by the Department through the mail (or by U.P.S.) before 4:00 p.m., March 21, 2008.
  21. Judging will begin at 1 p.m., March 27 in the Somerset Room of the Augusta Civic Center. All entries will be on public display from 10:00 am. to 1:00 p.m. The winner, second place, third place, and two honorable mentions will be displayed at the State of Maine Sportsman's Show on March 28, 29, and 30, 2008.
  22. Non-winning entries may be claimed immediately after the judging by any artists in attendance. All other non-winning entries not picked up at the Department's Augusta headquarters will be returned to the artist after 30 days.
  23. The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will select the judging panel and establish the judging procedures. The judges will have expertise in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and/or printing, and will serve without compensation except reimbursement of expenses.

Questions on contest rules? Call (207) 287-5244

Please mail or deliver entries to:

Duck Stamp Contest
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State Street
41 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0041