Division of Fish & Wildlife

The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife retains the right to administratively change any of the rules contained in this document if a demonstrated need can be shown.

Submission Procedures for Entry
Contestants may submit only one entry per contest. Each entry must be accompanied with a non-returnable entry fee and completed Artist and Exhibition Agreement forms. The outside packaging must be date-stamped. Each contestant must sign and clearly print his/her name, address, email address and phone number on the forms.

Each entry should be protectively wrapped and delivered or mailed to: Amanda Belford, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE  19901. Entries will be promptly processed when received. Once your entry is submitted, it may not be exchanged for another. Identity of artists' submissions will be kept confidential and not disclosed during the judging process.

Contest Eligibility
All persons who are citizens of the United States are eligible to participate in the contest. However, any person who has won the contest the preceding year will be ineligible to submit an entry in the current year's contest. Members of the contest judging panel and their relatives are also ineligible. To be eligible, all contestants must submit a non-returnable entry fee of $10. The $10 entry fee will be waived for those contestants who hand deliver and pick up their paintings at the Dover office. Checks and money orders should be made payable to: "Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife."

Technical Requirements for Design and Submission of Entry
The name of the species depicted shall be printed on the back of the entry. The design must be a horizontal drawing or painting 8-3/4" X 12" on an archival surface. Entries must be matted with a single white or off-white matte 12" X 15" with a white or off-white core and protected by a removable covering of acetate or cellophane. All acetate/cellophane will be removed for display and judging.

When ready for display (i.e. matted and protective covering removed)m entries must be no more than 7/16 inches in thickness, and weigh no more than 20 ounces (1-1/4 pounds). Entries must not be framed or under glass. No scroll work, lettering, initials or signatures may appear on the design itself. The designated waterfowl species depiction must be the contestant's own original creation and may not be copied or duplicated from previously published art.

All entries must be accompanied by signed Artist and Exhibition Agreement forms. The signed agreements must not be attached to the entry or to the packaging.

2009 Subject Matter
One or more Delaware native species must be the dominant feature of any design submitted. New for this year's contest is that an artist's 2009 submission may also include any other related subjects (duck boats, blinds, dogs, decoys etc.).

Delaware Native Species:

Contest Deadline
The contest to select the design for the 2009 -2010 Delaware Duck Stamp will officially open on November 1, 2007. Each entry, accompanied by the non-returnable entry fee and signed artist and exhibition agreement may be received any time beginning November 1, 2007 and must be postmarked no later than midnight, March 10, 2008.

Property Insurance for Entries
All contestants are hereby notified of the advisability of obtaining adequate property insurance coverage for their respective entry. The Division of Fish and Wildlife will not insure the entries it receives. The Division of Fish and Wildlife is not responsible for damage in the mail or loss by fire or theft.

Selection and Qualification of Contest Judges
A total of five judges will judge and select the 2009 Duck Stamp. The categories consist of artist, art teacher, waterfowl collector, biologist and Ducks Unlimited representative. The first judge will be the current Ducks Unlimited chairman or his designee.  The remaining four judges will be selected by the Governor’s Office from a pool of categories by a random lottery. The winning artist from the prior year will be offered the opportunity to judge the current contest. If the winning artist accepts, that category will be removed from the lottery selected by the Governor’s Office. The Division of Fish and Wildlife shall maintain pools of names of qualified judges in the aforementioned categories.

Display of Entries for Contest Selection
All entries will be assigned a number based on the date of the entry. The only visible identification mark on each entry will be the assigned number. All entries will remain on public display at the Delaware Agricultural Museum pursuant to the terms of the Exhibition Agreement.

Date and Location of Contest
The 2009 Delaware Duck Stamp Contest will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Owens Station in Greenwood, Del. beginning at 10 a.m. For directions click here. This event will be held in conjunction with Delaware’s Art Contest for the 2009 Trout Stamp, which begins an hour earlier (9 a.m.).

Return of Entries after Contest:
All entries will be returned UPS to the participating artists within 90 days of completion of the contest. Providing your email address will allow the Division to give notice of delivery and tracking number. Artists are advised not to use post office box addresses for returning purposes. Entries returned to the Division of Fish and Wildlife for any reason will be held for 90 days, after which time the Division will not be responsible for their disposition.

Failure to Comply with Contest Regulations
Any entry which fails to comply with any of the requirements of this contest shall be disqualified from the contest and will not be considered by the judging panel.

Disclaimer
All artists submitting an entry must sign the Exhibition Agreement disclaimer. The Division of Fish and Wildlife advises all artists that every effort will be made to protect entries from damage or theft; however, the Division of Fish and Wildlife assumes no responsibility should a loss be uncovered.