Over the past several months, hunters across the state received their federal duck stamp in the mail, long after the 2025-2026 fall and winter waterfowl seasons came to an end.
With the digital age of E-licenses and E-stamps upon us, many still remember the days of looking forward to receiving a physical federal duck stamp in the mail, signing it, and placing it on the back of their license. As the implementation of the E-stamp and this new process has become the new norm, many waterfowlers have been wondering, “What’s up with the duck stamp?”
According to the Federal Duck Stamp Program Manager for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Valerie Fellows, the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 made E-Stamps valid for use throughout the entire waterfowl hunting season. The act was signed into law on December 19, 2023, and became operational for the 2024-2025 migratory bird hunting season.
“When hunters purchase the E-stamp version of the Federal Duck Stamp with their hunting license, the E-stamp certification is valid through June 30,” Fellows said. “The physical stamp is then mailed after March 10 of the purchase year by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s fulfillment center. The cost of a Federal Duck Stamp is $25, and the federal fulfillment fee, which is paid by the customer, is $4 per stamp.”
Fellows said hunters can avoid the $4 fulfillment fee by purchasing a physical Federal Duck Stamp directly from the U.S. Post Office, or other authorized in-person retailers, for the base price of $25. This would require hunters to carry the physical stamp, along with their license, at all times while hunting.
Prior to the implementation of the Duck Stamp Modernization Act, E-stamp purchases were only valid for 45 days, and physical stamps were mailed in a timely manner.
“While waterfowl hunters over 16 years of age are required to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp along with state licenses and permits to legally hunt, many customers purchase duck stamps for other reasons,” Fellows said. “Duck Stamp purchases support conservation, provide free entry to National Wildlife Refuges that charge entry fees, and are considered treasured collectors’ items by many.”
Fellows said more than 98% of the money raised from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly towards helping acquire wetlands and conservation easements for the National Wildlife Refuge System.
“These wetlands and conservation easements help purify water, aid in flood control, reduce soil erosion and sedimentation, and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities like hunting and fishing,” Fellows said. “Since the first duck stamp was sold in 1934, sales have raised more than $1.3 billion dollars towards conserving more than 6 million acres of wetlands habitat across the nation.”
