The Winner Of The 2025 Federal Duck Contest Has Been Revealed
Every year, the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest takes place, in which people submit their paintings of ducks (among the selected species for that year) with the hopes that their image will be the winner. Once chosen, the judge-decided best painting will become the following year's Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.
This year's contest just took place, so let's see who won.
The Contest's History
The Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest is a big deal. Though a rather niche-sounding competition, it is a federally awarded contest, and it's for a good cause. As mentioned, the winning painting becomes the next year's Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or Duck Stamp, which all waterfowl hunters must buy as a permit. Non-duck-hunters who want one can purchase one as well, as 98% of the purchase price goes toward bird habitat conservation.
It's an annual, country-wide fundraiser to help protect ducks everywhere, raising approximately $40 million in sales every year.
This Year's Winner
This year's winner is Jim Hautman of Chaska, Minnesota, perhaps the most prolific duck painter there is. This is his seventh time winning the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest, and is widely regarded as the best there is.
Just behind him though are his two brothers, Joe and Bob Hautman. They're also duck painters, and skilled ones at that. Joe has won the Duck Stamp contest five times, and Bob has won three times.
The Winning Painting
This year, Jim won with a painting of three Buffleheads, one of the chosen species for this year's contest. The other species allowed were Wood Duck, Gadwall, Cinnamon Teal, and Ruddy Duck.
In second place was Thomas E. Miller of Kilkenny, Minnesota who painted a Cinnamon Teal, and in third was Jeffrey Mobley of Tulsa, Oklahoma who also painted a Bufflehead. This year's contest had 290 entries, with 83 of them making it to the final round of judging.
Artists For Conservation
"I am so proud to be a part of this annual tradition that combines the best of talented artwork from around the country with habitat conservation," said Jerome Ford, Assistant Director, Migratory Bird Program in a press release. “And a huge thank-you goes to the staff at Patuxent Research Refuge for hosting the contest this year. By welcoming us for the annual event, we were able to invite the public, conservation partners and many others to be a part of this very special tradition.”
A Historic Legacy
The Federal Duck Stamp has been for sale since 1934, and over the course of its existence, being sold to hunters, birders, and collectors alike, it's raised more than $1.3 billion to help the conservation of American wetlands.
"The stamp created using James' art will serve as a lasting reminder of our rich waterfowl hunting heritage," said Service Director Brian Nesvik. “I encourage everyone, including those who do not hunt, to buy a Duck Stamp, which raises millions of dollars to conserve wildlife and healthy wetland habitats for waterfowl and numerous other species.”
Another Year of Duck Stamps
Here's the gallery of all the entries, each painting anonymized just as they are in the contest itself. Seeing how many people care about this contest, how many incredible artists are inspired by such a beautiful species of bird, it's incredible!
If you haven't before, maybe consider picking up a Duck Stamp this year, even if you're not a hunter. If you have purchased the Duck Stamp before now, may this year's make an excellent addition to your collection.