The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest

2008-2009 winning entry
Artist- Robert Bealle

Sponsored by the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
and the Friends of Patuxent

Contest Closes: Friday, March 20, 2009 at 4 pm
Judging: Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 12 Noon

Location: Patuxent National Wildlife Visitors Center, Laurel, Maryland

Species eligible for depiction in the
2009-2010 Maryland Migratory Game Bird
Stamp Design Contest

This list is representative of waterfowl species common to the Atlantic Flyway.

American Widgeon	Greater Scaup	Red-breasted merganser
Black Duck	Green-winged Teal	Redhead
Black Scoter	Greater Snow Goose	Ring-necked Duck
Blue-winged Teal	Hooded Merganser	Ruddy Duck
Atlantic Brant	Lesser Scaup	Shoveler
Bufflehead	Lesser Snow Goose*	Surf Scoter
Common Goldeneye	Mallard	Tundra Swan
Common Merganser	Old Squaw	White-winged Scoter
Gadwall	Pintail	White-winged Scoter
*(white and blue color phase)

Eligible for 2010-2011: Canada Goose
Eligible for 2011-2012: Wood Duck
Eligible for 2012-2013: Canvasback

Official Contest Rules

Eligibility Requirements: Artists entering the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest must be residents of the State of Maryland. Winners from the past three years are not eligible to enter.

Requirements to enter: All entered designs must be the artist's original work, neither copied nor duplicated from any previously published paintings, drawings, prints, or photographs of the contestant, or any other artist. Each contestant may submit up to three entries. Entries must be accompanied by the fee to $15 for one entry; $20 for two entries; $30 for three entries. Fees are to be made payable to "Friends of Patuxent".

For the 2009-2010 contest, species depicted on stamps may not be Canada Goose, Wood Duck, or Canvasback. An Entry Identification Form must be completed and attached to the back of each entry.

Designs must have a horizontal orientation and be 7 inches in height by 10 inches in width. Each en-try must be matted, with the exterior mat dimensions not to exceed 9 inches in height and 12 inches in width. Mats must be white. Designs on paper should be mounted between the front mat and a back mat. The entire entry must not exceed three eighths (3/8) of an inch in total thickness. All materials must be affixed so as to remain together for the duration of the contest.

Entries in frames or under glass or Plexiglas will not be accepted. Acetate and shrink wrap used during shipping over the surface of a design will be removed for judging.

Designs may be titled as long as the name of the depicted species is not part of the title. Titles may be included on the mat. Neither the name of the species nor the name of the artist may appear on the front.

Delivery: The entry fee, signed "Agreement to Enter the Contest" form, and entries with completed "Entry Identification Forms" attached to the back must be mailed (by mail, UPS or Federal Express only- no walk-ins) by 4:00 pm March 20, 2009 at the following address only:

The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest
Friends of Patuxent
Patuxent Research Refuge/National Wildlife Visitor Center
10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop
Laurel, MD 20708-4027

Mailed entries should be appropriately packaged for shipping. Contestants are advised to obtain adequate insurance coverage for entries. A postcard will be sent to each entrant upon receipt of entry.

Return of Entries:
Entries will be returned to the contestants either by UPS or Federal Express. Entries will be returned within two weeks following the contest.

Terms of Agreement:
All entries are subject to the official contest rules. The agreement to enter the contest must be signed by each submitting artist and must accompany submission of entered design for DNR/Friends of Patuxent.

Guidelines for Judging

1. Five judges and one alternate will be selected annually. Any of the following circumstances would disqualify a potential judge: having an entry of his/her own entered; having a relative with an entry; having seen an entry; having or planning any kind of financial interest in the work of any entering artist; having or planning any financial interest in the printing, distribution, or sale of the waterfowl prints; having close personal or social connections with an entering artist or having enough familiarity with an entering artist's work that there would be a high probability of recognizing those entries.

2. The judging will be open to the public, but the contest director may close the contest to the public if there is any sign of communication between the audience and the judges.

3. Entries will be given randomly selected numbers so that multiple submissions by the same artist will not appear in sequence.

4. There will be no communication among the judges during the judging of the entries.

5. For the first round of judging, each entry will or will not receive a checkmark from each judge. Entries receiving two or more checkmarks will advance to the second round.

6. For the second round, judges will conduct a silent vote by holding up a card numbered from one to six. Judges will not consult each others' cards. The highest point and lowest point will be dropped, with the remaining points totaled for the score. The total will not be announced. Entries having 12 or more points will advance to the third round.

7. For the third (final) round, judges will again conduct a silent vote by holding up a score card indicating how many of one to six points they are giving each entry. In the third round, all points will be counted and the artwork receiving the highest number of points will be the winner.

8. In the case of a tie for first, the judges will choose a winner.

9. The winner will be announced immediately following the final round of competition. There will be no official second or third place or honorable mention. The names of the 20 artists receiving the highest total points will be made available to the public upon request.

10. Protests, by contestants only, may be registered with the contest director and should be submitted, clearly stated and in writing, within five (5) working days after the judging. In the event the winning entry is disqualified, the entry receiving the second highest score shall be declared the winner.

Stamp Design Submission Format
Designs must have a horizontal orientation and be 7 inches in height by 10 inches in width. Each en-try must be matted, with the exterior mat dimensions not to exceed 9 inches in height and 12 inches in width. Mats must be white. Designs on paper should be mounted between the front mat and a back mat. The entire entry must not exceed three eighths (3/8) of an inch in total thickness. All materials must be affixed so as to remain together for the duration of the contest.