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State Wetlands Habitat Stamp Reaches Milestone
Daughter, father place 1st and 2nd in competition
Ohio -(Ammoland.com)- In 2015, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will commemorate the sale of the 1 millionth state wetland habitat stamp by awarding a signed print of this year’s winning entry.
The stamp and print have been donated by Ducks Unlimited to help celebrate the milestone. Approximately 25,000 Ohio Wetland Habitat Stamps were purchased last year.
Gunner Hilliard’s painting of northern shovelers appears on the 2015 Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp available now at www.oh.wildlifelicense.com. Proceeds from sales of the stamp help fund vital wetland habitat restoration projects in Ohio. Since 1982, more than $10.4 million dollars have been raised to help restore and protect 40,000 plus acres of wetlands. Wetland habitats are important for many resident wildlife species, including several that are state-endangered.
For 50 years, the ODNR Division of Wildlife has partnered with Ducks Unlimited to protect and restore critical habitat for migratory birds. In 1965, the ODNR Division of Wildlife became one of the three charter members to donate money through the state grant program. In 1982, the Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp was created to help fund the program. These conservation projects are essential to protect migratory bird habitats.
Additionally, the artwork of Sidney, Ohio native wildlife artist Christine Clayton won first place in the 2015 Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp Design Competition and Clayton’s painting of wood ducks will appear on the Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp issued in 2016.
At 20 years of age, Clayton is the youngest Ohio winner in the 35-year history of the competition. She has previously placed first in the 2012 Federal Jr. Duck Stamp competition. This year, second place honors in the Ohio competition went to Matt Clayton (Christine’s father) for his painting of a bufflehead. The third place entry was by Stephen Hamrick of Minnesota for his painting of a pair of American widgeons.
The competition was held Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Ohio Ducks Unlimited annual banquet in Licking County. The winning entry was selected from a field of 18 original paintings submitted by artists from nine states, including nine entries from Ohio. The judges for this year’s event included Sean Curran, US Sportsmen’s Alliance; Matthew Masicka, director of the biology department at The Ohio State University; Tim Mason, biologist and hunter education instructor, Janet Stearns, Ducks Unlimited; and Liborio Padula, Ducks Unlimited.
Ohio artists are encouraged to participate in next year’s competition. For complete contest entry information, contact Tim Daniel at [email protected].
Source: http://www.ammoland.com/2015/04/state-wetlands-habitat-stamp-reaches-milestone/
