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TPWD News Release — June 9, 2011

Duck Stamp ceremony to be held in Katy

The 78th Federal Duck Stamp goes on sale June 24 with an official ceremony held at 9 a.m. at Bass Pro’s Outdoor World located in the Katy Mills Shopping Center in Katy. Artists of this year’s stamps will be on hand to sign copies of their work. Texas Parks and Wildlife Director Carter Smith will also attend the event.

Speakers at the event include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials and the Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp artists. Affiliated vendors will have items for sale before and after the ceremony.

Commonly referred to as a ‘duck stamp’ the stamp is actually a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation product originally used to denote those with a federal license to hunt migratory waterfowl. Today ninety-eight cents of every dollar raised by the stamps go to the purchase or lease of wetlands around the country. It is estimated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that one third of the nation’s threatened species live in these environments. Since 1934 over $500 million has gone to over 5 million acres of habitat.

The stamp also allows holders to gain access to National Wildlife Refuges free of charge. Collectors and hunters may purchase stamps and other items such as signed panes online at www.duckstamp.com . Receipts from the online store are not a valid proof of purchase as are receipts from stamps purchased through state electronic licensing systems and are therefore not legal to use as a hunting license.

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