I'm always in a good mood when I walk into my local sporting goods store in the fall to buy my state hunting license, because I know it won't be long before I'll be sitting in a duck blind with my whining, slobbering companion. Or maybe my dog. Of course, I'll also have to buy a federal duck stamp, which I am more than happy to do because I know the money goes for a good cause.

I like the fact the Feds give me an actual stamp, with a pretty picture of a duck on it, to stick on my hunting license. The folks at the capital in the state where I hunt figured out a long time ago it isn't necessary to actually give me a stamp. They call it a state duck stamp when it's really just a tax. But like the federal stamp, the money goes to a worthy cause, so I don't mind paying it.

In fact I'm happy to pay it. I'm so happy, I can think of several other worthy causes for more hunting-related stamps. But while the federal and state stamps provide money for ducks and geese, the stamps I propose would generate money we hunters could draw from in times of need.

For instance, I wouldn't mind paying a nominal sum for a stamp to provide attorney fees for guys who go duck hunting so often their wives are divorcing them. It could be called The Divorce Stamp, and would feature a picture of a hunter's belongings all piled in his front yard. You know, several shotguns, lots of camouflage clothing, maybe even a retriever or two.

Speaking of retrievers, another worthy cause would be a stamp to raise money for dog food and veterinary bills. It would of course be called The Dog Stamp, and would feature an artist's rendering of a hungry Lab eating from a bowl of expensive dog food. A 25-pound bag of it costs about $30, and my Lab goes through it like it was a bag of cats.

Toss in her yearly vaccinations and the odd time or two she gets sick from catching and eating a whole rabbit or squirrel, and I've got a substantial vet bill on my hands. A little help from my fellow duck hunters would be more than welcome.

What about clothing? Nowadays, if a hunter showed up in one of those retrograde coats with an old-fashioned military-type camo pattern, he'd be laughed out of the duck blind.

A new pattern that makes all of the others obsolete comes out almost every season, and of course, we've just got to have it. So I propose a Camouflage Stamp. Logic dictates its design would feature a camo pattern, so make sure you don't drop it on the ground or you'll never be able to find it.