James Hautman of Chaska, Minn., is the winner of the 2025 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with an acrylic painting of three buffleheads, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Sept. 19 in a news release. Hautman emerged as the winner after two days of competition, and the announcement was made at an in-person event and via livestream at Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, Md.
This Jim Hautman painting of mallards was used on the 1995-96 duck stamp.
Hautman’s artwork will be made into the 2026-2027 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or Duck Stamp, which will go on sale in late June 2026. This is Hautman’s seventh time winning the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. The FWS produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which raises approximately $40 million in sales each year. The funds support conservation of wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System for the benefit of wildlife and the enjoyment of people, the agency said.
“The stamp created using James’ art will serve as a lasting reminder of our rich waterfowl hunting heritage,” FWS Director Brian Nesvik said in a statement. “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.”
Thomas E. Miller of Kilkenny, Minn., placed second with an acrylic painting of a cinnamon teal, and Jeffrey Mobley of Tulsa, Okla., took third place with an acrylic painting of a bufflehead, the FWS said.
Since it was established in 1934, the Federal Duck Stamp has raised more than $1.3 billion to conserve over 6 million acres of habitat for birds and other wildlife and provide countless opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation on our public lands.
Montana artist Chuck Black holds his oil painting of a northern pintail on Aug. 13, 2023. On Sept. 16, 2023, Black was named the winner of the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. Black’s oil painting will be made into the 2024-2025 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck Stamp” which will go on sale in late June 2024. (Courtesy of Chuck Black)
Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry the current Federal Duck Stamp. Many non-hunters, including birdwatchers, conservationists and stamp collectors, also purchase the stamp in support of habitat conservation. Additionally, a current Federal Duck Stamp can be used for free admission to any national wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee.
Funds raised from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps go toward the acquisition or lease of habitat for the Refuge System. The new areas provide additional public access to some of the most spectacular places available for hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking and other outdoor activities, the FWS said.
Of 290 entries judged in this year’s competition, 83 entries made it to the final round of judging. Eligible species for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were wood duck, gadwall, cinnamon teal, bufflehead and ruddy duck.
The judges for this year’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest were Judy Camuso, Gene Clater, Margie Crisp, Tom Landwehr (a former Minnesota Department of Natural Resources commissioner), Paul Padding and the alternate judge was David Turner.
Chuck Black, a Stillwater, Minn., native and University of North Dakota graduate, won the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest with a painting of a northern pintail. He now lives in Montana.
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