Fish & Wildlife Service Announces Federal Duck Stamp Winner

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced the winner of its 2012 Federal Duck Stamp Contest.

San Francisco artist Robert Steiner was named the winner of the FWS contest in late September by  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Director Rowan Gould at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Steiner's acrylic painting of a common goldeneye will be used on the 2013-2014 Federal Duck Stamps, which go on sale in June.

Paul Bridgford of Des Moines, Iowa, and Gerald Mobley of Claremore, Okla., took second and third place, respectively.

Besides serving as a hunting license, according to the FWS, 98 cents from every dollar generated by the sale of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly toward the purchase or lease of wetlands for protection by the National Wildlife Refuge System, making the program a key force in conservation efforts.

For more information, and for a complete gallery of 2012 entries, visit the Fish & Wildlife Service.