Robert Steiner Pintail Duck Stamp

Outdoor Alabama

Alabama --(AmmoLand.com Firearms News)-Alabama artists can celebrate the New Year by entering the 2009 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp art contest, which opens January 1, 2010.

According to Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director M. N. Pugh, the winning artwork will be used as the design of the 2011-2012 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp.

The competition is open to resident Alabama artists only. Entries will be accepted from January 1 until the February 16 contest deadline.

Display of all entries, to which the public will be invited, will be held February 26, 2009, at the Richard Beard Building in Montgomery.

Following the showing, three judges from the fields of art, ornithology and wildlife conservation will select the winning waterfowl art.

Contest coordinator David C. Hayden, Assistant Chief of the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Wildlife Section, advises artists that entries must not exceed 9 by 12 inches (15 by 18 inches matted).

Only original horizontal artworks depicting a species of North American migratory duck or goose will be eligible. The Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck and Pintail—depicted in the winning artwork of three previous year’s contests—are not eligible as the subject for the 2011-2012 Waterfowl Stamp.

Hayden says judging criteria will emphasize uncluttered design suitable for printing as a stamp, anatomical accuracy of the illustrated species, and artistic rendering. Close attention must be given to tone and detail, since those aspects are prerequisites for printing artwork as a stamp. Wing and feather construction must be particularly well defined. Entrants may submit a painting or drawing; past contest entries have included works in oil, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media, all of which are eligible.

For contest information and entry forms, contact David Hayden, Alabama Wildlife and Fisheries Division, 64 North Union Street, Room 584, Montgomery, Alabama 36130 (334/242-3469).

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest Announced

Winter Wolf by Midwestern Artist Carla Kurt

Midwestern Artist Carla Kurt

Eastern Iowa --(AmmoLand.com)- Carla began developing her artistic abilities in high school, and has earned a Bachelor of Art Degree in Art and Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Graphics.

She earned recognition through a college internship in which she created computer graphics for a project exhibited at Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry in 1985.

Today, Carla is an internationally known artist, having sold her artwork all over the world, most recently to buyers in the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Scotland, Sweden, Spain, and Norway.

Carla resides on her family farm in the rolling hills of Eastern Iowa. Surrounded by cornfields and cattle, her love and respect for nature is reflected in her deeply realistic artwork.

You can buy your own Framed copy of this print at ImageKind.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Winter Wolf by Midwestern Artist Carla Kurt

American Paratroopers by James Dietz

Military Artist James Dietz

Staunton, VA --(AmmoLand.com)-A historical painting stands or falls on how well it depicts the story it is attempting to illustrate, and how convincingly it combines the people, their actions, costumes, surroundings and atmosphere in an appropriate composition. A good historical painting uses all of these elements to tell the major story and perhaps a second subtext. Both are driven by how interesting the situation is that the artist is attempting to render. How the viewer reacts to a great painting transcends its immediate story and strikes a deeper chord, one that hopefully evolves and changes as the viewer contemplates the art over time.

It is this last and most worthy goal that artists like James Dietz aspire to. In his portrait of events in the 20th and 21st Centuries, he labors to achieve that rare combination of historical fact and the romance, adventure and color of fiction.

Born in San Francisco, Jim graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1969. He had a successful illustration career in Los Angeles and New York, with a steady flow of work ranging from automobile ads, movie posters, and romantic and historical/action book covers.

By 1978, Jim and his wife had moved to Seattle, where Jim’s work gradually shifted away from commercial illustration to primarily historical aviation, automotive and military art. Today his work is internationally known and collected, and his style, with its emphasis on depth of story, is recognized by collectors of historical art. His list of clients includes Boeing, Bell Helicopter, Federal Express, Allison, Cessna, Flying Tigers, the Indianapolis 500, BMW, US Air Force Documentary Art Program, Wingnut Studios, Meadowbrook and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the National Guard and many U.S. Army organizations and associations to include: the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army Rangers, Special Forces, 1st Division, 2nd Division 3rd Division, 4th Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Regiment, the Command General Staff College, and the United States Army War College.

About:
Jim and his wife, Patti, live in Seattle with their dog, Sarah, who shares the distinction with previous Dietz pets, of being a regular in Jim’s paintings. Their son, Ian, is currently an officer serving in the U.S. Army. Jim works in a warm, pleasantly cluttered studio that resembles a WWI aviation bar, surrounded by uniforms, props and models that have made their way into paintings over the years.

You can buy your own Framed copy of this print at ImageKind.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

American Paratroopers by James Dietz

Whitetail Buck by Artist Carla Kurt

Midwestern Artist Carla Kurt

Eastern Iowa --(AmmoLand.com)- Carla began developing her artistic abilities in high school, and has earned a Bachelor of Art Degree in Art and Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Graphics. She earned recognition through a college internship in which she created computer graphics for a project exhibited at Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry in 1985.

Today, Carla is an internationally known artist, having sold her artwork all over the world, most recently to buyers in the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Scotland, Sweden, Spain, and Norway.

Carla resides on her family farm in the rolling hills of Eastern Iowa. Surrounded by cornfields and cattle, her love and respect for nature is reflected in her deeply realistic artwork.

You can buy your own Framed copy of this print at ImageKind.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Whitetail Buck by Midwestern Artist Carla Kurt

We Happy Few - 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, 29th Division, 2nd Armored Division, U.S. Army Rangers

Military Artist James Dietz

Staunton, VA --(AmmoLand.com)- General Omar Bradley, commanding the First U.S. Army, had waited anxiously for the linkup of Omaha and Utah beachheads before declaring success in the American sector following D-Day. He considered this final event critical before the Allied invasion of Europe could be put into full swing. His concern over the linkup delay was confirmed when he received an Ultra flash from British intelligence at Bletchley Park indicating the German high command was aware of a gap existing between the American V and VII Corps. They ordered the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division to counter attack and split the two forces. It is interesting to note that this was one of the few times that information obtained from the German Enigma Code breaking was deemed so critical it was passed to a tactical commander. Such intelligence had previously been withheld for fear of tipping the Germans to the fact their secret code system had been broken.

For days the American Parachute Infantry had been engaged in combat with the German Army’s 6th Parachute Regiment in the vicinity of Carentan. It was now D+7, June 13, 1944. “…what a wonderful sight it was to see those tanks pouring it to the Germans with those heavy 50-caliber machine-guns and just plowing straight from our lines into the German hedgerows with all those fresh infantry soldiers marching along beside the tanks,” remembers then LT Richard Winters who commanded Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, “the band of brothers.” The scene, which followed, has finally been captured by renowned military artist James Dietz in We Happy Few. Infantry from the National Guard’s famed 29th Division, supported by the 2nd Armored Division’s “Hell on Wheels,” had raced forward to relieve the airborne troops from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions seizing and holding ground since their historic jump on the eve of D-Day. What a joyous occasion it had to be as the American airborne, joined by the grateful French civilians, welcomed the arriving ground troops.

Clearly there was a difficult task ahead. Tragically many of the joyous American soldiers depicted in the print would not be there for another happy day, May 8, 1944, some eleven months later when Germany finally surrendered. But for a moment, they were “We few, we happy few.” The suffering and sacrifice of the past week was behind them, and they could briefly pause to enjoy a moment in time. This very historic moment, previously not depicted, is captured here in dramatic detail by the artist whose works continue to capture the American soldier in the best of times and the worst of times. The Band of Brothers is seen swapping tales with the Blue and Gray 29ers from Omaha Beach before heading to defensive positions in Carentan. The tankers of Hell on Wheels share smokes with the “All Americans” before beginning their difficult sweep across France. It is a scene which passed quickly, but is now reborn in the superb detail of this historic print.

Generals Eisenhower and Bradley were greatly relieved with the news of the successful linkup. At noon on the next day, July 14, 1944, XIX Corps, comprised of the 29th and 30th Divisions, was formed and ordered to attack south to St. Lo, while protecting the critical area between V and VII Corps. V Corps with the 1st and 2nd Divisions would link up with the British and continue attacking south, while VII Corps with the 4th and newly arrived 9th and 90th Divisions would continue west to capture Cherbourg. Any chance for the Germans to split the corps’ seam had been eliminated. The Allies were beyond the beachhead, and Germany’s fate had been sealed by American soldiers like those depicted in We Happy Few.

About:
Jim and his wife, Patti, live in Seattle with their dog, Sarah, who shares the distinction with previous Dietz pets, of being a regular in Jim’s paintings. Their son, Ian, is currently an officer serving in the U.S. Army. Jim works in a warm, pleasantly cluttered studio that resembles a WWI aviation bar, surrounded by uniforms, props and models that have made their way into paintings over the years.

You can buy your own Framed copy of this print at ImageKind.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

We Happy Few – 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, 29th Division, 2nd Armored Division, U.S. Army Rangers

Stopped Cold - 101st Airborne Division at the Battle of the Bulge

Military Artist James Dietz

Staunton, VA --(AmmoLand.com)- On 17 December 1944, the Artillery Battalions of the 101st Airborne Division were alerted and given 24-hour notice to move to positions in Belgium to assist in halting a massive German offensive through the rugged terrain of the Ardennes region. Hitler’s last western Offensive, with the final objective being to seize the port facilities at Antwerpt, would become known as the Battle of the Bulge.

The acting Division Commander of the 101st Airborne Division was the Division Artillery Commander, Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe. He would lead the division to Bastogne and earn the Screaming Eagles a place in American military lore.

Depicted in the work of James Dietz is the 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion firing from their positions near the town of Savy, approximately one kilometer northwest of Bastogne, in direct support of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment who were heavily engaged northeast of the Bastogne perimeter. Not fully refitted from the Holland Campaign which occurred just weeks before, the 321st conducted the 107 mile road march from Mourmelon, France to the small village of Savy, Belgium and reported laid and ready to fire by 1330, 19 December. The battalion would occupy this position for 25 days providing intense fire support to all areas of the encircled Division perimeter.

During the siege, the battalion endured constant enemy shellfire and was strafed and bombed by aircraft. Few casualties were sustained by the battle-hardened cannoneers due to excellent dispersal and well dug in howitzer positions. Fighting not only the Germans but severe cold, lack of protective clothing, food and constant ammunition shortages, the artillerymen waged a desperate struggle in providing a protective ring of steel around the besieged encirclement. Firing from the open field positions to gain 6400 mils capability the artillery battalions of the 101st fired countless thousands of rounds into the Nazi juggernaut.

On Christmas Day, three German tanks broke through the Western line of defense and reached the woods 500 meters from the firing batteries of the 321st. Bursting through the wood line and into the open fields the tanks came spraying a hail of tracers. In just seconds the enemy armor was put out of action by a combined effort of American tank destroyers and artillery.

In a Christmas greeting to the soldiers of his division, Brigadier General McAuliffe stated: “…We have stopped cold everything that has been thrown at us from the North, East, South and West. Enemy units, spearheading the last desperate German lunge, were headed straight west for key points when the Eagle Division was hurriedly ordered to stem the advance. How effectively this was done will be written in history, not alone in our Division’s glorious history but in world history…” The following day elements of the 4th Armored Division broke through from the South and broke the encirclement of Bastogne.

This print commemorates the valiant actions of all the artillerymen of the 101st Airborne Division Artillery during the battle of the Bulge – the 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion, the 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion and the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion.

About:
Jim and his wife, Patti, live in Seattle with their dog, Sarah, who shares the distinction with previous Dietz pets, of being a regular in Jim’s paintings. Their son, Ian, is currently an officer serving in the U.S. Army. Jim works in a warm, pleasantly cluttered studio that resembles a WWI aviation bar, surrounded by uniforms, props and models that have made their way into paintings over the years.

You can buy your own Framed copy of this print at ImageKind.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Stopped Cold – 101st Airborne Division at the Battle of the Bulge

Startled by Wildlife Artist Crista Forest

Wildlife Artist Crista Forest

Woodinville, WA - -(AmmoLand.com)- I’ve been drawing animals since I was old enough to hold a crayon. Much to my mother’s dismay, many of my earliest “masterpieces” were images of Bambi drawn on walls, table tops, and any other flat surface I could find. Bambi was my first love as a very young child and I spent a lot of time drawing Bambi and other deer.

Later I went through the typical horse lover phase. There were stacks of paper piled high all over my room with images of horses and related ungulates.

At the age of 13 my father bought me my own horse. This helped tremendously to improve my art. Working with the animals every day, watching their movements and learning about their behaviors, taught me a lot about horse anatomy and mannerisms. A lot of what I learned about horse anatomy and movement could be applied, with a little modification, to other ungulates such as deer, antelope, etc.

It was in my teens, while being around horses, that I first started experimenting with oil painting. At first my paitnings were fanciful such as flying horses and unicorns. But, although I grew up in the city, my father took me on frequent weekend Camping trips, so my interest in nature grew stronger and gradually my paintings moved more towards nature and realism.

It’s unfortunate that my parents discouraged the idea of art as a career path and, as I neared adulthood, I was strongly enouraged to seek a more “practical” subject to study in school. Art was put on the back burner as I spent many long years struggling through college, trying to find that “right” major. All my “somewhat practical” interests leaned towards natural sciences and biology, none of which was “practical” enough. I finally settled on Business Administration just to graduate and move on.

After just 6 months of working in accounting I knew it couldn’t last. But I didn’t know what else to do.

Then there came one of those moments where one event, one person, can change your life. My sister gave me a gift certificate to an art supply store as a birthday gift. In the card was a note saying now that I was done with college maybe I’d have more free time to get back to who I really was. I nearly broke down in tears. At that point, I knew I had to get back into art somehow, some way.

I started painting frantically and after a local gallery picked up my work and sold the originals as fast as I could paint them I was encouraged. Soon other opportunities came along, such as art publishing and book illustration deals, which encouraged me further. I eventually quit my accounting job and started painting full time.

We got our Framed Print at ImageKind.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Startled by Wildlife Artist Crista Forest

Guns, C 1981-82 (Believed to be a High Standard Sentinel Snub Noes Revolver) by Andy Warhol

Artist Andy Warhol

The Factory, Midtown Manhattan, NY - -(AmmoLand.com)- In the early 1980s Andy Warhol painted a variety of iconic objects, including guns, knives, and crosses.

Warhol rejected the idea that his work functioned as social criticism and instead described himself as an American artist who was merely depicting his environment.

This description suggests that his paintings of guns be read in the same way as his images of Campbell’s Soup, Marilyn Monroe, or Coca-Cola—as simply images of American icons.

Yet, as with many of Warhol’s statements and works, there is the surface of things and then the multiple meanings below it.

Gun ownership in America is hugely popular, in part, because it gives people a sense of security and because it is the right of all Americans to keep and bear arms.

Hollywood imagery and video games add to the allure of guns.

The gun is also, through its widespread use and availability in America, a tool of real and commonplace violence by criminals and law breakers.

This particular gun type a snub-nosed pistol, was of the type that Valerie Solanas used in her 1968 assassination attempt on Warhol.

In his choice of such richly associative iconic objects, Warhol becomes a truly artful social observer.

We purchased our framed reprint of this famous image at imagekind.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Guns, C 1981-82 by Andy Warhol

Irish Setter by Kathleen Sepulveda

Artist Kathleen Sepulveda

Southern California - -(AmmoLand.com)- Kathleen Sepulveda has been drawing and painting dogs since childhood. Her first awards were won before her teens, with many to follow.

Being a native of Southern California she had the good fortune to view some of the great dogs of our time.

Traveling throughout the United States, South America, Puerto Rico and parts of Europe, she has studied many examples of each breed.

Kathleen Sepulveda’s work is well known for capturing the true spirit of each breed. Her exquisite attention to detail is her trademark.

Kathleen Sepulveda brings a new approach to the art of dogs by incorporating graphic design to fine watercolor drawings and paintings as well as computer generated images.

Ms Sepulveda’s art is a part of private collections throughout the world.

We got our Sporting Dog print at ImageKind.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Irish Setter by Kathleen Sepulveda

AmmoLand.com Shooting Sports News for Aug 10th 2009

AmmoLand - Shooting Sports News

Manasquan, NJ - -(AmmoLand.com)- Get all the Gun News that was fit to print in our new .PDF Tabbliod.

Click Here to down load.PDF

This includes all yesterdays gun and shooting sports news in an easy to read tabbliod style digital magazine that you can print and take with you when your away from your computer and want to keep up on the latest Firearms, Guns, Shooting Sports, Gun Rights, Conservation News and Events.

Want to be seen in AmmoLand’s Daily Tabbloid of Gun Sports News. Then contact us to find out how you can reach 100,000+ gun nuts a month and be seen by millions on internet readers on sites like Google News, Twitter or Topix and more..

http://www.ammoland.com/contact-ammolandcom

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

AmmoLand.com Gun Sports News for August 12th 2009

Eanger Irving Couse's Hunting for Deer

Indian Artist Eanger Irving Couse

Taos, New Mexico - -(AmmoLand.com)-E. I. Couse was, perhaps, the most famous of the members of the Taos Society of Artists during the period of active production from the group. A highly specialized artist with a rigorous academic background, Couse painted serious figurative scenes of the Indians of Taos Pueblo, usually crouching and often fire-lit.

Born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1866, Couse studied briefly at the Chicago Art Institute, spending hard-earned house painting money on his courses. After three months, (the most he could afford) Couse returned to Saginaw to earn enough money to enroll in the National Academy of Design in New York City. He received an award from the Academy in every one of the three years he studied there and, in 1887, spurred on by his success at student exhibitions, he enrolled in the Academie Julien in Paris.

In Paris, Couse studied under Adolphe Bouguereau and Robert Fleury, and the work he produced garnered awards in every student exhibition he entered. It was in Paris that Couse first connected with two individuals who would be central to his life and development; the first was his future wife, Virginia Walker, and the second his mentor and the man who first brought Taos to his attention, Joseph Henry Sharp. Sharp was the central figure in organizing the Taos Society of Artists. It was from Sharp that Couse, Ernest Blumenschein and Bert Geer Phillips first learned about Taos, and he is widely considered the spiritual leader of the Taos Founders.

After studying at L’Ecole Des Beaux Arts, Couse continued to live and work in France, painting French countryside scenes that proved eminently saleable in Europe and the United States. He and Alice had their first son, Kibbey, in the coastal village of Etaples in 1894. Couse also began painting portraits, which married his established academic style to the study and documentation of the human form. He kept a studio in New York that he occupied only during the winter exhibition season, and successfully sold a great number of paintings.

In 1897, the Couse family moved to Oregon, just south of Alice’s childhood home, onto a ranch owned by her family. Couse built a studio and painted the Klikitat Indians of the area. Four years later, he moved to New York City permanently, drawing upon his sketches and paintings of the Northwest Indians to create Native American-themed works that proved quite popular with New York buyers. After the exhibition season, without any pressing engagements, Couse allowed himself to be persuaded to travel to Taos to visit Phillips and Blumenschein. He rented a house next door to Phillips’ studio and began painted the people of the Taos Pueblo. He would spend every summer between 1902 and 1926 there, eventually establishing permanent residence there in 1927.

Couse used the same two individuals, Ben Lujan and Geronimo Gomez, as the subjects for the majority of his paintings. Though the lines and colors of Couse’s work are quite smooth, it is possible to see Lujan and Gomez age over time. Usually they are kneeling or squatting, engaged in a quotidian task such as preparing food or crafts, and are often lit by firelight. In the daylight scenes, Couse used a soothing palette and a softness of tone and detail to create peaceful scenes of the natives’ relationship with nature. Though Couse’s pieces are less ethnographically accurate than some of his contemporaries, his handling of his subjects is enormously generous and unforced, with a relaxed quality that impresses in its ability to convey concentration or rest with very little facial or muscular detail.

In 1914, Couse painted his first piece for the Santa Fe Railway. Over the rest of his life, he would paint twenty-two canvases for the railway, usually included in their yearly calendar. Only two of the pieces were commissioned; the rest were chosen by the railway out of Couse’s stock of existing work.

E. I. Couse died in 1936 a successful and famous painter, whose gift to western art was significant and who is still recognized today as a major figure in the development of a significant school of American peinture.

You can buy your own Framed copy of this print at ImageKind.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Eanger Irving Couse’s Hunting for Deer

Ohio Department Natural Resources

COLUMBUS, OH --(AmmoLand.com)- Ohio shutterbugs are encouraged to enter their best Baltimore oriole photos in the first Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp photo contest. The winning photograph of this colorful orange-and-black bird will be featured on the inaugural Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp to be issued March 1, 2010.

The contest is open to all Ohio residents, ages 18 years and older; one cash award will be given to the winning photographer. Photographers under the age of 17 are encouraged to submit their Baltimore oriole photos for Web and print recognition. Only photos received via U.S. mail between August 3 and 14 are eligible for consideration.

“This stamp was developed because we know that there are Ohioans who want to help in our wildlife-conservation efforts,” said David M. Graham, chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The $15 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp will be available for purchase online in March at wildohio.com. By purchasing the stamp, you will be supporting vital habitat restoration and research projects, land purchases and conservation easements and educational products for students and wildlife enthusiasts.

A new, collectible stamp depicting a different animal will be issued each year to highlight the diversity of Ohio’s natural world.

“Purchasing this stamp will help provide much-needed funding for habitat and wildlife projects,” said Graham. “It’s a way for those who care about wildlife to invest today for tomorrow’s wild Ohio.”

Discover more about the stamp by visiting wildohiostamp.com or calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

Contest Details
Open to Ohio residents, ages 18 years and older.*
First place winner will receive a cash award.
Photographers 17 and younger may enter photos for Web and magazine recognition.
Only photos submitted by mail are eligible for consideration.
Photo submissions will be accepted between August 3 and August 14, 2009.
Each photo must be accompanied by a completed entry form and $12 entry fee. Photographers 17 and under are exempt from the entry fee.
Entry fees may be paid by check or money order made out to the Wildlife Diversity Fund.
Mail entries to: Tim Daniel, ODNR Division of Wildlife, 2045 Morse Road, G-1, Columbus, OH 43229.
*Employees of the ODNR and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.

Complete contest rules, including photo size and mounting, are available at wildohiostamp.com or by emailing wildohiostamp@dnr.state.oh.us and requesting a copy of the rules.

About:
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Photo Contest will Determine Image on New Wildlife Stamp

Pair Of Hooded Mergansers By The 2006-07 Federal Duck Stamp Winner Sherrie Russell Meline

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(AmmoLand.com)- There are three great reasons to pick up a 2009-2010 Arizona Waterfowl Stamp from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The reasons start with the beautifully detailed and life-like rendition of a pair of hooded mergansers by the 2006-07 Federal Duck Stamp winner Sherrie Russell Meline.

Meline is well known for her impeccably textured feather work, using an acrylic wash, delicately applying layer by layer from a self-mixed color palette. Meline’s artwork has graced the face of more than 30 other state and Canadian province duck stamps.

Secondly, for the first time ever, an alternative stamp is available – unofficially deemed the state’s junior art duck stamp.

Junior Duck Stamp of American widgeon by Olivia Raiff

“We created it in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recognize young inspiring artists who are learning about the importance of wetlands and waterfowl conservation through the Federal Junior Duck Stamp program,” said Mike Rabe, duck stamp administrator and migratory bird biologist for the department. “It’s really a neat thing and I’m glad we are able to do it.”

“To be able to recognize the contribution of our Arizona kids in this state category is truly heartwarming and inspiring,” said Margot Bissell former Arizona Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator with the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. “Now our young artists have the excitement of a second opportunity to display their conservation and artistic learning’s.”

Ten-year-old Olivia Raiff, of Scottsdale, has the honors of being the first young amateur artist from the competition to have their artwork featured on the state’s annual waterfowl stamp.

“When I got the phone call, it took me awhile to process that I won,” said Raiff. “Then I was in shock for a minute. I couldn’t think straight when the judges asked me questions. It still seems crazy now.”

Raiff, a fifth-grader from Pinnacle Peak Elementary, created an inspiring piece of art of an American widgeon taking flight out of the cattails titled “take-off” using watercolor pencils under the passionate guidance of art teacher, Gay Kohl. Her composition captured the realism of the duck’s wings direction at first flight, identified accurate habitat, and incorporated a flock of ducks in the sky off in the distance.

When asked what she liked best about the art program, Raiff added, “I like it all, but my favorite part would be the competition. I always try to add details that would make my picture stand out.”

A limited run of 500 of the alternate stamps are available for purchase, but only from the department’s headquarters office in Phoenix. Hunters and collectors can chose to purchase one or both of the stamps. Either stamp will validate a general hunting license (along with a federal duck stamp) for the legal take of waterfowl, ducks, and geese during the 2009-10 season.

Lastly, the good news is the money generated from the sale of the state’s waterfowl stamp is used to for the conservation of wetlands to benefit Arizona’s waterfowl species. When buying either stamp, you are supporting waterfowl conservation. Now in its 22nd year, some of the investments from the program have resulted in amazing resting grounds for wintering sandhill cranes, geese, waterfowl and many other birds and wildlife.

So, if you enjoy wildlife watching, birding or just beautiful wetland landscapes, show your support for wildlife and artists and buy an Arizona Waterfowl Stamp – the cost is only $8.75. They can be purchased at any Game and Fish office or license dealer around the state.

For a list of where to find ducks in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov/h_f/waterfowl_habitat.shtml.

To learn more about the Federal Junior Duck Stamp art contest, visit www.fws.gov/juniorduck.

Note to media: High-resolution photos of the 2009 Arizona Waterfowl Stamps are available by contacting Public Information Officer Doug Burt at dburt@azgfd.gov or (623) 236-7215.

About:
The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Arizona Waterfowl Stamp Program Breaks New Ground With Two Stamps

Quality Deer Management Association

BOGART, GEORGIA - -(AmmoLand.com)- Quality Deer Management Association’s National Convention and Whitetail Expo will feature talented artists throughout the four-day event in Louisville, Kentucky, July 23-26.

Kicking off the festivities, the Welcome Reception will feature the Joe Freeman Bluegrass Band from Crown City, Ohio. The band will perform their one-of-a-kind show, a combination of celebrated music and comedy while the guests enjoy hors d’ oeuvres and bourbon tasting in a casual meet-and-greet environment.

Gina West, along with guitarist Bobbie Stacks, will open the stage during Friday’s REACH Celebration Party. West, a Nashville resident, was a top-20 contestant on Nashville Star. She is also a songwriter and, appropriate for this event, an avid hunter. Bobbie Stacks, also a songwriter, has been performing on stage since age ten and has collaborated on a number of original projects for other artists. West and Stacks have opened for Daryle Singletary, Montgomery Gentry, and Shenandoah, among others. Paul Bogart, a rising star in Nashville, will follow the ladies with his traditional country sound. Bogart has a passion for rodeo that is expressed in his music. Not only does Bogart have a voice, but he is a talented song writer and performer with down-to-earth sensibility and a crowd-pleasing presentation.

Saturday night, following the Grand Banquet, the late-crowd will head to the Second Annual Firepot Gathering at Champion’s Bar in the Downtown Marriott, the host hotel for the Convention. Longtime QDMA supporter Rans Thomas of Tecomate Wildlife Systems will perform his music, traditional country with a twist of southern rock, while guests relax and wind down.

QDMA’s National Convention will include two days of seminars and research sessions from the nation’s noted deer experts and researchers, a two-day Expo featuring over 100 exhibitors and celebrity presentations, plus banquets featuring the aforementioned entertainment as well as auctions and raffles. For more information, and to register for QDMA’s 9th Annual National Convention and Whitetail Expo, visit www.QDMA.com.

About QDMA
Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization with more than 50,000 members in all 50 states and Canada, and several foreign countries. Membership in QDMA is open to anyone interested in better deer and better deer hunting, and committed to ethical hunting, sound deer management and the preservation of the deer-hunting heritage. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call (800) 209-3337 or visit www.QDMA.com.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Talented Artists to Perform at QDMA’s National Convention and Expo

Pennsylvania Game Commission

Kleinfeltersville, PA - -(AmmoLand.com)- The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area visitor center will feature hundreds of original paintings and fine-art prints from some of the best-known wildlife artists in the state during its annual Wildlife Art Show from Aug. 7-9. The show is free, and the hours are: Friday, 1-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

In addition to the artists’ sales, the show will offer tickets for $2 each or three for $5 to win a selection of artwork in a drawing that will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9. Proceeds from the drawing will benefit The Wildlands Preservation Fund land acquisition program.

“Buying chances in the drawing provides you with a chance to win something really special for your home or business, and you don’t have to be present to win,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Just as important is that contribution you’ll be making to help buy important wildlife habitat through the Wildlands Preservation Fund. It’s a great opportunity for any wildlife enthusiast who appreciates art.”

The Game Commission’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center is along Hopeland Road, two miles south of Kleinfeltersville, Lebanon County.

The Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is a special tract owned and set aside by the Game Commission for the protection, propagation, management, preservation and controlled harvest of wildlife. This area of more than 5,000 acres provides habitat for waterfowl, forest wildlife and farmland wildlife and includes a 400-acre shallow water lake and a 70-acre impoundment.

Visitors to the wildlife area can see a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, and from late February to late March can be fortunate to witness and photograph the flocks of beautiful snow geese and tundra swans that stop in Pennsylvania during migration. Contact the Middle Creek Visitor’s Center at 717-733-1512 for more information.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

24th Annual Pennsylvania Wildlife Art Show Set For Aug. 7-9

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ — -(AmmoLand.com)- People who enjoy taking photos of Arizona wildlife may win cash for showing off their skills. This year’s Arizona wildlife calendar photo contest is offering a top prize of $400 to the photographer whose work is selected as “best in show.” Twelve more first-place winners (one for each month of the year) will win $250. Entries must be received by July 6.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department hosts the annual photo contest to showcase the state’s diverse wildlife. Contest entry is free, and all winners will see their work published in the 2010 Arizona Wildlife Calendar. Winning photos and those receiving honorable mention also will be published in a slide show on the contest’s Web site.

The calendar will be available for sale for $3 this fall at all Arizona Game and Fish Department offices or by downloading an order form that will be available this fall at www.azgfd.gov/publications. Proceeds raised from calendar sales fund the contest and production of the calendar.

People who think great wildlife photographs can be taken only in wild and remote areas should think again. Botanical gardens, state parks, arboreta and wildlife areas are located in or near some of the state’s largest urban centers. Many birds visit urban backyards, and just about any body of water can yield up a sighting of a great blue heron or a flock of waterfowl. By being ready and alert for that wildlife encounter, anybody can capture an image that may be worth $400 in prize money.

Still, amateurs and professional photographers alike find photographing wild animals to be a good test of skill.

“It’s not always easy to catch that image of a wild animal,” says Arizona Game and Fish Photographer George Andrejko. He should know: Andrejko has been taking photos for the department for 20 years, winning many national awards in the process.

“To get that ideal shot requires knowledge of animal behavior, technical skill, and an idea about how to tell a story through a camera lens, as well as lots of patience and now and then a little luck,” he says.

Those patient and lucky enough to catch a winning image still have time to turn their photograph into cash. The deadline for entering the 2010 Arizona wildlife calendar photo contest is July 6 at 5 p.m. MST. Entries must be received by that time; postmarks don’t count. Contest rules and an entry form are posted at www.azgfd.gov/photocontest.

About:
The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Director’s Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director’s Office as listed above.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Arizona Wildlife Calendar Photo Contest Offers Cash Prizes

Robert Steiner Pintail Duck Stamp

California Fish & Game Logo

Sacramento, California - -(TheOutdoorWire.com)- The winning design for California’s 2009 Duck Stamp will be selected at a judging event on May 27 at The California Museum in Sacramento. Eighteen artists from around the nation submitted original designs that they hope will be chosen to adorn next year’s stamp, which is required for hunting waterfowl in California.

The contest, sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), was open to the public. Entries could be produced in any artistic medium, as long as the piece depicted an image of a northern shoveler, the waterfowl species chosen by the Fish and Game Commission for the 2009 duck stamp.

In addition to having his or her design featured the stamp itself, the winning artist will be able to produce signed limited edition prints valued by art collectors.

DFG sells about 70,000 duck stamps annually. Since the California duck stamp program began in 1971, it has raised more than $22 million in revenue for waterfowl-related conservation projects.

California has the oldest state duck stamp program in the country; however, this will be the first time since 1994 that the image on the Duck Stamp has been selected by a public competition. For the last 15 years, stamp art was either commissioned or selected through a competitive bid process.

The duck stamp entries will be judged by a panel of citizens selected for their expertise in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. The judging, which is open to the public, will include first, second, third, and honorable mention placement. The top five entries will be displayed in July at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association’s art show in Sacramento.

The event is free and open to the public but space is limited, so those interested in attending are asked to call Lorna Bernard at (916) 322-8937 to secure a place on the guest list.
For more information about the California Duck Stamp program, please visit the DFG Web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/about/duckstamp/.

The California Museum opens at 10 a.m. The duck stamp judging event will be held in the Museum’s large classroom beginning at 10:30 a.m. A continental breakfast and refreshments will be served.

Judging is expected to take approximately one hour. A few of the California resident artists have indicated they will attend the event. If the winning artist is not present, he or she will be immediately contacted via telephone.

About:
The Mission of the Department of Fish and Game is to manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

2009 California Duck Stamp Judges to Pick Winning Artist

John Parsons Girls' Day Out

Wichita, Kansas - -(TheOutdoorWire.com)- Pass It On-Outdoor Mentors announces the second sculpture in the Outdoor Mentor Series, a series of sculptures by noted wildlife artist John Parsons which feature a mentor and child enjoying various outdoor activities. “Girls’ Day Out” will only be available through Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever banquets in the fall of ‘09 and the spring of ‘10 and will raise funds that help Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors find mentors for children who want to experience the great outdoors. The Outdoor Mentors Series is being underwritten by Federal Ammunition for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.

“Thanks to John’s generous contribution to the Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors program, we have been able to spread the word about the need to get more kids outdoors and raise the financial resources we need to help make that happen,” stated Mike Christensen, President of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc. “The first sculpture in the series did real well and we’re excited about “Girls’ Day Out” too!” The first sculpture in the series, “Who’s Huntin’ Who” was featured at Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever and Whitetails Unlimited banquets across the country last year.

“Girls’ Day Out” showcases the excitement of a young girl with her first pheasant and the satisfaction of the mentor who helped make it happen. “Our mentors tell us they get just as much or more out of the mentoring relationship as the child does,” said Christensen, “This sculpture really brings that point across.” Christensen added that with the current economic situation, putting together the resources we need to expand the program is a challenge. “With Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever and Federal Ammunition all stepping up to support the Outdoor Mentors Series for the coming year, we’ll be able to continue to give kids a chance to experience the great outdoors we all know and love,” he said.

“Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are dedicated to working with our local chapters, member and conservation partners to provide opportunities for youth to be involved in outdoor activities,” said Cheryl Riley, Vice President of Education and Outreach for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, “We’re proud to again team with Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors to offer a great piece of artwork for a great cause – connecting youth to the outdoors.”

Parsons’ work is now featured in the John Parsons Signature Series in the Cabela’s catalogs and stores. He was selected as Artist of the Year for the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep after only one year of sculpting. John was asked to produce artwork for the WaterWalk in Wichita, which now features his River Run, a sculpture of four white-tailed deer and Fighting Bucks, a deer trio locked in combat.

In November of 2008, Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors was endorsed by the National Forum on Children and Nature as one of 30 projects nationwide that creatively reconnect kids with nature, benefiting their overall health and appreciation for the great outdoors. Recognizing an urgent need to reconnect kids with nature, the Forum sought proposals from projects seeking endorsement-receiving 560 proposals. In a year-long process, advisory panels culled the best ideas for investment in children’s health through nature, tapping the tools of education, technology and a community’s built environment. As a demonstration project, Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc. serves as an innovative model for community leaders, planners, educators and others who understand the importance of reconnecting children and nature and want to take concrete steps locally. To find out how you can help, please visit the Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors website (http://www.outdoormentors.org) for more information.

About:
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are non-profit conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. PF/QF has more than 130,000 members in 700 local chapters across the continent.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Parsons Sculpture at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Banquets

2009-2010 Winning Maryland Duck Stamp Art, by Wally Makukal, Jr.

Annapolis, Md. – -(AmmoLand.com)- A painting by Wally Makuchal Jr. entitled “Icy Refuge” will become the 2009-2010 Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp. The entry shows a pair of blue-winged teal resting on the water. It was judged as the best of 35 entries from 18 Maryland artists.

“This was one of the more exciting contests in recent history as the panel of expert judges remained deadlocked after the final round,” said Doug Wigfield, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Stamp Contest Coordinator.

Mr. Makuchal has taken part in Maryland’s “Duck Stamp” competition since the early ‘80s and was the winner in 1999. He also took top honors in the 1996 Maryland Trout Stamp Contest. He owns and operates Makuchal Signs out of Girdletree, MD.

The small Eastern Shore town of Girdletree has produced three Maryland Duck Stamp winners: Wally, his brother Paul and Roger Lent. All three are also two-time winners of Maryland’s contest.

You can order a print of this years winning entry visiting his website at www.makuchalsigns.com or by calling 410-632-2825.

The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest showcases the talents of the gifted artists that reside near Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The stamps produced are a required purchase by all who hunt migratory game birds. The proceeds from the $9.00 stamps are used to fund migratory game bird research and habitat enhancement on the state’s public lands. More than $4 ½ million in stamp sales have been spent on migratory game projects since the stamps inception in 1974.

The contest is limited to Maryland residents. The 2009 event took place at the 20th Patuxent Wildlife Art Show held in March at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Maryland Artist Wins 35th Annual Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest

John A. Ruthven's Heading South - Original Framed Acrylic

GEORGETOWN, OHIO - -(TheOutdoorWire.com)-  Wildlife artist John Ruthven received the League of Ohio Sportsmen’s State Conservationist of the year award today at his Brown County studio according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Founded in 1908, the League of Ohio Sportsmen is the oldest conservation organization in the state and represents over 200,000 Ohioans who hunt, fish, camp, boat, hike, nature watch and enjoy the outdoors. Any Ohioan can be nominated for the State Conservation Awards. Nominations are considered in all areas of conservation, including water, forest, soil, recycling, habitat, education legislation, communication and youth conservation efforts.

OHIODNR Director Logan and John Ruthven

League of Ohio Sportsmen President, Larry Mitchell Sr. said that Ruthven was one of three nominated for the state conservationist category. Mitchell was on hand for the awards ceremony and along with the Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief, David Graham, presented Mr. Ruthven with the prestigious award.

Ruthven gave a tour of the studio and highlighted some of his past work as well as some of the artwork he is currently working on. Many of the paintings recount memorable moments in the artist’s life as well as pieces commissioned for conservation and community organizations.

As a young boy growing up in Cincinnati, John Ruthven often visited the banks of the Ohio River with a sketchpad in hand, dreaming of preserving wildlife through art. In 1960 he won the Federal Duck Stamp contest with his painting of redhead ducks. He is known for his accuracy and attention to detail in his artwork, accomplished by in-depth observation and research of the subjects he paints. Ruthven was awarded the 2004 national Medal of Arts by the President of the United States which recognized his contributions as an artist and naturalist to conserving our natural treasures. He is known locally and worldwide for his artistic and financial contributions to conservation. Ruthven created the art for the very first Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp in 1982. He generously donated his artwork in 1997 for Ohio’s Cardinal License Plate, which adorns the bumpers of nearly 35,000 vehicles and has generated millions of dollars for wildlife conservation throughout the state. His artwork has been used in a variety of Division of Wildlife publications.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Wildlife Artist Awarded State Conservationist Of The Year

DU Waterfowl Screensaver: Our Gift to You

DU Waterfowl Screensaver: Our Gift to You

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited - -(AmmoLand.com)- Your support of Ducks Unlimited is critical to conserving North America’s wetlands and waterfowl.

With your help, we’re preserving our hunting traditions and ensuring healthy wildlife habitats for years to come.

As a special thank-you for your kind support, we’ve created a beautiful new Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl Screensaver featuring photos from the DU Member Photo Gallery. This breathtaking photography comes straight from the blinds and boats of your fellow waterfowl hunters and DU supporters across America.

We hope you enjoy your free screensaver and continue to support our vision of keeping ducks in the skies today, tomorrow and forever.

Thank you from your friends at Ducks Unlimited!

P.S. Share your special DU Screensaver with your hunting buddies and others who appreciate America’s waterfowl. Send this message to a friend today!

About:
Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

DU Waterfowl Screensaver: Our Gift to You

Mohicans by Newell Convers Wyet

Mohicans by Newell Convers Wyet

Born In 1882 - -(BPIB.com)- Newell Convers Wyeth is the head of several generations of important American artists. He was the father of Andrew, Henriette and Carolyn Wyeth, the grandfather of Jamie Wyeth, the father-in-law of Peter Hurd, and the list goes on.

He was born in 1882 – the same year as Bauer, Dulac and Pogany. An inveterate “drawer” as a child, Wyeth began his formal art training very sporadically, jumping from school to school (including a short stay at the Eric Pape School) and instructor to instructor until, at age 20, he was accepted into the Howard Pyle School for the 1902 sessions.

David Michaelis, in his excellent N.C. Wyeth : A Biography, charts Wyeth’s life, including his complex relationship with Pyle, through letters, interviews and a bit of speculative history. If you’re a Wyeth fan and have resisted reading the book for any reason, I found it most fascinating and learned much about Pyle as well as Wyeth.

N.C. Wyeth – Scribners 1904Under Pyle’s tutelage, Wyeth’s innate talent blossomed. Within a year he had his first illustration published and it was a cover for a 1903 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Another early market was Success Magazine. Soon he was a regular contributor to Harpers, McClures, Scribners and others, and a steady feature at the Post.The image at right is from the December 1904 issue of Scribners.

N.C. Wyeth – Arizona NightsWyeth was graduated from the Pyle School of Art in 1904 – which simply meant that he no longer had to attend classes. He continued to paint in a studio at the school for several years. He took two trips ‘Out West’ to soak up the ambiance in 1904 and 1906. By the time the March 1906 issue of McClures (frontispiece at left) appeared, Wyeth was established as a Western Adventure illustrator. He was much more, but a goodly portion of his early commissions were for paintings to accompany classics like Arizona Nights by Stewart Edward White and the original Hopalong Cassidy yarns by Clarence Mulford.

Source BPIB.com

You can find this print for sale at the FulcrumGallery.com

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Mohicans by Newell Convers Wyet

Inncus Slays the Deer by Newell Convers Wyet

Born In 1882 - -(BPIB.com)- Newell Convers Wyeth is the head of several generations of important American artists. He was the father of Andrew, Henriette and Carolyn Wyeth, the grandfather of Jamie Wyeth, the father-in-law of Peter Hurd, and the list goes on.

He was born in 1882 – the same year as Bauer, Dulac and Pogany. An inveterate “drawer” as a child, Wyeth began his formal art training very sporadically, jumping from school to school (including a short stay at the Eric Pape School) and instructor to instructor until, at age 20, he was accepted into the Howard Pyle School for the 1902 sessions.

David Michaelis, in his excellent N.C. Wyeth : A Biography, charts Wyeth’s life, including his complex relationship with Pyle, through letters, interviews and a bit of speculative history. If you’re a Wyeth fan and have resisted reading the book for any reason, I found it most fascinating and learned much about Pyle as well as Wyeth.

N.C. Wyeth – Scribners 1904Under Pyle’s tutelage, Wyeth’s innate talent blossomed. Within a year he had his first illustration published and it was a cover for a 1903 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Another early market was Success Magazine. Soon he was a regular contributor to Harpers, McClures, Scribners and others, and a steady feature at the Post.The image at right is from the December 1904 issue of Scribners.

N.C. Wyeth – Arizona NightsWyeth was graduated from the Pyle School of Art in 1904 – which simply meant that he no longer had to attend classes. He continued to paint in a studio at the school for several years. He took two trips ‘Out West’ to soak up the ambiance in 1904 and 1906. By the time the March 1906 issue of McClures (frontispiece at left) appeared, Wyeth was established as a Western Adventure illustrator. He was much more, but a goodly portion of his early commissions were for paintings to accompany classics like Arizona Nights by Stewart Edward White and the original Hopalong Cassidy yarns by Clarence Mulford.

Source BPIB.com

You can find this print for sale at the FulcrumGallery.com

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Inncus Slays the Deer by Newell Convers Wyet

Banner Peak by Jeffrey Watts • Oil

Banner Peak by Jeffrey Watts • Oil

San Diego, CA - -(AmmoLand.com)- Jeffrey R. Watts is a southern California native. Growing up in rural San Diego county with an artist father, Watts demonstrated an early aptitude for the visual arts. But it was competitive sports that held his interest as a teenager.

After an injury cut short his budding career in professional cycling, Jeff turned his focus back to art, enrolling at the California Art Institute in Calabasas. Watts was soon asked to teach at the institute and began to work as an illustrator in the movie industry.

However, Jeff’s goal to become an easel painter would draw him back to San Diego where he started a small life drawing and painting studio known as Watts Atelier of the Arts. ( www.wattsatelier.com ) Jeff’s aesthetic sensibilities have long drawn him to the figurative art of nineteenth century Europe and Russia. His Atelier allows him to work regularly from the live model, grounding his work in traditional principles. Recently, Jeff’s work has been compared to that of Nicolai Fechin, an influence he is quick to acknowledge.

“I never tire of looking at the work of Nicolai Fechin” Watts says, “his work is the perfect combination of control and chaos.”

In 2008 The Taos Art Museum and Fechin House honored Watts with a Solo Exhibition in the original Taos home and studio of Mr. Nicolai Fechin.

Jeff’s oil paintings have won numerous awards including First Place Portrait category and Second Place Landscape category from the Artist’s Magazine, two consecutive Second Place Awards at the Salon International Exhibition, an Honor Award and an Award of Exceptional Merit from the Portrait Society of America, 3 Awards of Excellence from Oil Painters of America and 3 Top 100 Awards from Arts for the Parks among others. Watts is a regualr participant in the prestigious Prix de West Invitational held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Watts’s work has been featured in Southwest Art , American Artist, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, American Art Collector, Drawing and Workshop magazines. Jeffrey R. Watts is a Master Signature member of Oil Painters of America, a Signature Member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, an Artist Member of California Art Club, and holds membership in the Portrait Society of America.

Watts is represented by:

Trailside Galleries in Scottsdale, AZ and Jacksonhole, WY www.trailsidegalleries.com
Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art in San Antonio, Texas. www.greenhousegallery.com

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Banner Peak by Jeffrey Watts • Oil

Bear Ambush Newell Convers Wyeth

Born In 1882 - -(BPIB.com)- Newell Convers Wyeth is the head of several generations of important American artists. He was the father of Andrew, Henriette and Carolyn Wyeth, the grandfather of Jamie Wyeth, the father-in-law of Peter Hurd, and the list goes on.

He was born in 1882 – the same year as Bauer, Dulac and Pogany. An inveterate “drawer” as a child, Wyeth began his formal art training very sporadically, jumping from school to school (including a short stay at the Eric Pape School) and instructor to instructor until, at age 20, he was accepted into the Howard Pyle School for the 1902 sessions.

David Michaelis, in his excellent N.C. Wyeth : A Biography, charts Wyeth’s life, including his complex relationship with Pyle, through letters, interviews and a bit of speculative history. If you’re a Wyeth fan and have resisted reading the book for any reason, I found it most fascinating and learned much about Pyle as well as Wyeth.

N.C. Wyeth – Scribners 1904Under Pyle’s tutelage, Wyeth’s innate talent blossomed. Within a year he had his first illustration published and it was a cover for a 1903 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Another early market was Success Magazine. Soon he was a regular contributor to Harpers, McClures, Scribners and others, and a steady feature at the Post.The image at right is from the December 1904 issue of Scribners.

N.C. Wyeth – Arizona NightsWyeth was graduated from the Pyle School of Art in 1904 – which simply meant that he no longer had to attend classes. He continued to paint in a studio at the school for several years. He took two trips ‘Out West’ to soak up the ambiance in 1904 and 1906. By the time the March 1906 issue of McClures (frontispiece at left) appeared, Wyeth was established as a Western Adventure illustrator. He was much more, but a goodly portion of his early commissions were for paintings to accompany classics like Arizona Nights by Stewart Edward White and the original Hopalong Cassidy yarns by Clarence Mulford.

Source BPIB.com

You can find this print for sale at the FulcrumGallery.com

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Bear Ambush by Newell Convers Wyeth

The most compelling video on being a wildlife artist, historian, hunter and conservationist ever produced . . .

"An American Historian" and "Twilight Of A Continent" DVD

Gunnison, Colorado  - -(AmmoLand.com)- For over 30 years, world-renowned wildlife artist–Gary R. Swanson’s films-An American Historian and Twilight of a Continent, were almost lost to history forever!

Teaming with Rocky Mountain Television, these never before seen or released historical films have been totally remastered, digitally enhanced and converted to DVD, and include new historic footage, as well as exclusive “behind the scenes” interviews with Gary R. Swanson and his family.

Originally produced in 1978 with the remarkable team talents of cinematographer/Editor of Petersen’s Hunting Magazine-Basil Bradbury; the editing talents of Joe Morrisey-producer of The Love Boat and Charlie’s Angels; and the dynamic voice of Rick Jason-Lt. Hanley from the TV show-COMBAT… An American Historian and Twilight of a Continent, chronicle the life and artistic wildlife painting career of Gary R. Swanson.

“Both films feature some of the most exciting, up-close and in-your-face” wildlife video from both North America and Africa that you will ever see,” says Andy Lightbody of Rocky Mountain Television/Productions. “The DVD runs a full 90-minutes with non-stop action, adventure and danger that Swanson went through to be one of the world’s truly GREATEST wildlife artists of all times. Swanson is to wildlife painting today, as Fredric Remington was to painting and capturing the moments of the Old West.”

The DVD also announces to art collectors, historians and sportsmen who have collected and cherished Swanson’s art work over his 40-year career, that he also came out of retirement to produce one additional painting/limited edition print-MOMENTS CAPTURED.

“Rediscovering An American Historian and Twilight of a Continent films, was truly the inspiration for me to decide to do one more painting in my career,” says Gary R. Swanson. “I retired from painting, over 5 years ago and said to my family, my friends and the collectors of my paintings, there would probably not be another one.

However, I felt that with these films finally being made available to the public, there was something I had to say on canvas to truly make this something extremely special. MOMENTS CAPTURED, is indeed that special offering that I hope will be my legacy and my thank you to everyone.”

An American Historian and Twilight of a Continent will go on sale nationally in the spring of 2009 at museums, art galleries, and sporting goods stores across the nation. RMTV has teamed with the Hi Def Media Group (HDMG), for national distribution of the DVD. HDMG is a leading DVD replicator and national distributor for other DVDs and award winning programs from NASCAR racer-Jeff Gordon; World renown wrester-Hulk Hogan; and the famous Tae Bo personal workout series.

Copies are available now, for $9.95, plus $4.95 S&H.

ORDER BY CREDIT CARD-800-759-1841 or online at www.swansonpainting.net

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

‘An American Historian’ and ‘Twilight Of A Continent’ DVD

"Tipping Point" - Walter Matia - Bronze

a

Curlew Castings - Walter Matia

Dickerson, Maryland  --(AmmoLand.com)- Walter Matia was educated at Williams College in Massachusetts, where he earned degrees in Biology and Art Design. Much of his training was attained during a long apprenticeship in the Exhibits Department of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

After leaving the Cleveland Museum, Walter worked for eleven years with the Nature Conservancy, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of endangered species and unique habitats. He served as the organization’s vice president in charge of land management.

He began casting bronze sculptures in 1980. Initially, he concentrated on bird life, over the years he has worked on sporting dogs and other mammals. In 1987 he began a series of large fountain and garden pieces. In 1989 the Blair House Restoration Committee placed one of his fountains in the formal garden of the United States President’s Guest House. To complement the fountain, Walter produced a bronze wall frieze for the Blair House in 1992.

His works have been exhibited in one man shows at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art. Walter is a regular participant in the Society of Animal Artists shows, National Sculpture Society, Easton Waterfowl Festival, Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival and the Prix de West Invitational Exhibition. Walter is a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society. He received the National Sculpture Society’s 2003 Gold Medal Award for “Large Great Blue Heron Pair”; the 2005 Bronze Medal Award Pietro & Alfriedo Montana Memorial Prize for “A Fool for Love”; the 2006 Society of Animal Artists Leo J. Meiselman Award for “Molly is a Working Girl”; the 2006 Prix de West James Earl Fraser Award for “Promise of Spring” and the 2007 Masters of the American West, Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation Award for Sculpture. Walter Matia was named Master Wildlife Artist at the 2008 Birds In Art Exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Waussau, WI. In recognition of the Society of Animal Artists Annual Award of Excellence and outstanding artistic talent Walter recieved the honor of Master Signature Member.

Walter’s sculptures have been selected for the prestigious Leigh Yawkey Woodson, “Birds in Art” exhibitions and have toured with various shows to dozens of museums both in the States and abroad. Outdoor commissions include: the Wichita Kansas Botanical Gardens; the Benson Park Sculpture Gardens in Loveland, Colorado; American University in Washington D.C., Deerwood Office Park in Jacksonville, Florida, the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Cleveland Zoological Society and Heidleberg College, Tiffin, OH. In 1988 Walter was commissioned to produce the Merrill Lynch Bull at a scale of 1.5 times life-size, when completed they were installed at the corporate regional offices in Florida, New Jersey and Colorado. Fall 2001 Walter accepted a commission from the Houston Texans NFL team to sculpt six monument Spanish Fighting Bulls as team icons for the entrances of their new stadium in Houston, Texas. Six 1 1/2 times life size bulls were completed and installed August 2003. In 2004 Walter completed a twelve foot diameter sundial commissioned by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History which depicts the Evolution of Life. The ESSFTA, English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association has commissioned a life size English Springer Spaniel which will be installed early 2007 at the Bird Dog Hall of Fame in Grand Junction,TN.

Walter Matia sculptures are currently shown by The Audubon Gallery, Charleston, SC; J.N. Bartfield Galleries, New York, NY; Collectors Covey, Dallas, TX; Russell A. Fink Gallery, Lorton, VA; Gerald Peters Galleries, Santa Fe, NM; Meredith Long & Company, Houston, TX; Simpson Gallagher Gallery, Cody, WY; The Red Piano Art Gallery, Hilton Head Island, SC; The Sportsman’s Gallery, Atlanta, GA and Valley Bronze Galleries, Joseph, OR.

Visit Matia.com

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Tipping Point – Walter Matia – Bronze

Race Across the Lake by Newell Convers Wyet

Born In 1882 - -(BPIB.com)- Newell Convers Wyeth is the head of several generations of important American artists. He was the father of Andrew, Henriette and Carolyn Wyeth, the grandfather of Jamie Wyeth, the father-in-law of Peter Hurd, and the list goes on.

He was born in 1882 – the same year as Bauer, Dulac and Pogany. An inveterate “drawer” as a child, Wyeth began his formal art training very sporadically, jumping from school to school (including a short stay at the Eric Pape School) and instructor to instructor until, at age 20, he was accepted into the Howard Pyle School for the 1902 sessions.

David Michaelis, in his excellent N.C. Wyeth : A Biography, charts Wyeth’s life, including his complex relationship with Pyle, through letters, interviews and a bit of speculative history. If you’re a Wyeth fan and have resisted reading the book for any reason, I found it most fascinating and learned much about Pyle as well as Wyeth.

N.C. Wyeth – Scribners 1904Under Pyle’s tutelage, Wyeth’s innate talent blossomed. Within a year he had his first illustration published and it was a cover for a 1903 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Another early market was Success Magazine. Soon he was a regular contributor to Harpers, McClures, Scribners and others, and a steady feature at the Post.The image at right is from the December 1904 issue of Scribners.

N.C. Wyeth – Arizona NightsWyeth was graduated from the Pyle School of Art in 1904 – which simply meant that he no longer had to attend classes. He continued to paint in a studio at the school for several years. He took two trips ‘Out West’ to soak up the ambiance in 1904 and 1906. By the time the March 1906 issue of McClures (frontispiece at left) appeared, Wyeth was established as a Western Adventure illustrator. He was much more, but a goodly portion of his early commissions were for paintings to accompany classics like Arizona Nights by Stewart Edward White and the original Hopalong Cassidy yarns by Clarence Mulford.

Source BPIB.com

You can find this print for sale at the FulcrumGallery.com

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Race Across the Lake by Newell Convers Wyet

Ruddy Duck Decoy by John Nelson

John Nelson Wood Carving

Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - -(AmmoLand.com)- My name is John Nelson. Carving is my full-time occupation and passion, and has been since about 1980.

I make my home on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, a beautiful and rugged land. Each of my carvings is a one-of-a-kind, hand carved and individually painted work of love.

All creations are carved of native Alaska Spruce, cut here on the Kenai Peninsula by small, privately owned sawmills. Each finished work is signed and dated, and carries the “Made In Alaska” logo of authenticity. No two pieces are alike, each an individual creation reflecting the spirit and wonder of the North Land. Unlike mass-produced carvings currently being marketed, my shop houses no duplicating machines, no airbrushes, no imported wood. All my work is done by hand, one-at-a-time.

Please browse through the photos of my creations. It is my pleasure to share with you carvings of some of the Arctic wildlife that graces the mountains and woodlands of my homeland. From the little Chickadee to the lordly Brown Bear, each specie finds a home in this wild part of the world, and can now live in your home.

All my carvings are sold with a guarantee of your satisfaction and the understanding that you may return anything for a refund if you aren’t completely pleased.

Note: You can buy the above duck at Collectorscovey.com

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Ruddy Duck Decoy by John Nelson

The Island by John P. Cowan

Bristol, Tennessee - -(AmmoLand.com)- Born in in 1920, Cowan studied art at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where Norman Rockwell was one of his instructors. Cowan’s favorite subjects as well as his favorite sports are quail hunting and fishing for redfish.

All classic Cowan scenes are instantly recognizable as “real” by sportmen who have waded the flats and hunted the brush. His paintings have appeared as cover art and illustrations in such magazines as Fortune, Life, Look, Esquire, Sports Afield, Outdoor Life, and other national publications.

John was selected as one of the top 12 contemporary outdoor artists in America in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Sports Afield magazine.

His impressive portfolio of over 80 limited edition prints contains some of the most collectible prints ever published. You can buy prints by John at the following sites.

Collectorscovey.com

Greenhousegallery.com

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

The Island by Wildlife Artist John P. Cowan

Grand Ol' Gang by Andy Thomas

Carthage, Missouri – -(AmmoLand.com)-  Many call Andy Thomas the ‘Storyteller’ and if you have ever had a chance to view his work you might just agree.

Currently he is telling many stories with his action filled western art. These pieces are bringing the cowboys back to life as well as the American West history.

In the past, Andy has painting many subjects from a picnic by the river, kids playing sports to a brutal bear fight. All of his paintings end up telling you, the viewer some kind of story of our lives.

Grand ol’ Gang is truly the most exciting project that A)ndy has worked on. It took weeks and piles of research material just to begin the painting.

Countless sketches of presidents and layouts were done to come up with the originals. With this painting Andy has captured the spirit and likeness of some of our nations greatest presidents.

You can just hear the muttering between them as they play a friendly game of poker. Again, the creative side put them in the back ground of the convention centers of years ago and if you look closely you will find various items that were related to them, each in their own way.

Reproductions are available through this web-site. Please contact GreenhouseGallery.com

Note: In our coverage of all things shooting related we will be adding news and promotions from famous Shooting Sports Artists. — AmmoLand.com

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Grand Ol’ Gang by Andy Thomas

Outdoor Alabama

Alabama - -(AmmoLand.com)- A northern pintail drake painted in acrylic by Clarence Stewart of Brewton, Alabama, is the winner of the 2009 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest. The winning artwork will adorn the 2010-2011 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp. Mr. Stewart, a repeat participant in the contest, faced competition from 15 other artists.

The annual contest, sponsored by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division, is open to resident Alabama artists only. Mr. Stewart also won the 2005 contest with a painting of a canvasback duck.

“Representing my home state on its waterfowl stamp is the highest honor I can ask for as an artist,” Mr. Stewart said. “I feel very fortunate to win based on how great the other artists are.”

First runner-up was a pair of buffleheads by Beverly Basham of Vinemont . Second runner-up was of a pair of redheads by Steve Burney of Town Creek. Third runner-up was by Ainsley McNeely of Mobile, who also painted a pair of redheads. Fourth runner-up was a pair of northern shovelers painted by Everett Hatcher of Birmingham.

Entries were judged on suitability for reproduction as a stamp, originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and general rendering. The designs were limited to living species of North American migratory ducks or geese, and winning species from the past three years – blue-winged teal, hooded merganser and wood duck – were not eligible subjects for the 2009 contest.

The artwork was publicly displayed and judged by a panel of experts in the fields of art, ornithology, and conservation. Representing the field of art was Donnave Lindsey, a Society of Arts and Crafts member since 1940. Representing the field of ornithology was Dr. Allen Tubbs, associate professor of Biology at Huntington College. Representing the field of conservation was Ducks Unlimited regional director for Alabama, Shawn Battison.

“Mr. Stewart did an excellent job capturing the details of this very elegant duck,” Dr. Tubbs said. “The northern pintail is the Audrey Hepburn of the duck world.”

Judges Judie Hooks, Dr. Barry Grand and Quincey Banks surround contest winner John Denney who is holding his winning entry.

The funds from stamp sales are used to procure and manage wetland habitats for waterfowl. All licensed waterfowl hunters are required to be in possession of state and federal migratory waterfowl stamps signed in ink across the face. Like the federal stamps, state issued stamps are popular with collectors. The artwork competition for the Alabama Migratory Waterfowl Stamp design is held each year in February and is open to Alabama residents only.

About:
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR and the waterfowl stamp design competition visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Winner of the 2009 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest Announced

Maryland 35th Game Bird Stamp Design Contest

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Annapolis, Md. -(AmmoLand.com)- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites Maryland waterfowl artists to enter the 35th Annual Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest.

“Proceeds from the sale of these stamps help fund waterfowl and migratory game bird projects as well as much needed research,” said Jonathan McKnight, acting director of DNR’s Wildlife & Heritage Service.

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. The entry fee, signed “Agreement to Enter the Contest” form, and entries with completed “Entry Identification Forms” attached to the back must be received via mail by 4:00 p.m. on March 20, 2009 at 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.

Entries will be judged at noon on Saturday, March 28, 2009 in conjunction with the 20th Annual Patuxent Wildlife Art Show at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel. Contestants and the public are invited to attend the contest judging process. Admission is free.

The stamp can be purchased by any citizen for $9 and is required for all migratory game bird hunters in Maryland. For a list of species eligible for depiction and full contest rules visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/duckstamp or contact Doug Wigfield, Contest Coordinator, at 410-713-3852 or dwigfield2@dnr.state.md.us.

About:
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland’s forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland’s effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state’s number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov.

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM – The Free Press Release Service for the Shooting Industry! www.AmmoLand.com .

Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com .

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Maryland DNR Invites Waterfowl Artists to Enter 35th Game Bird Stamp Design Contest

California Department of Fish and Game

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced today an art contest for the 2009 design for the state’s duck stamp. This is the first time since 1994 a contest will decide the stamp’s art.

The contest is open to all U.S. residents aged 18 and over. Entries will be accepted from March 1 until the April 30 contest deadline. The species selected by the Fish and Game Commission to appear on the 2009 duck stamp is the northern shoveler.

A duck stamp is required for hunting waterfowl in California. The money generated from stamp sales can only be spent on waterfowl-related conservation projects. Since it began in 1971, the California duck stamp program has raised more than $22 million. It is also the first, and oldest, state duck stamp program in the country.

DFG sells about 70,000 duck stamps annually, which includes sales to collectors who value them for their artist depiction of native ducks and geese. In addition to duck stamps, DFG typically issues signed, limited edition prints that are valued by art collectors.

The duck stamp contest will be judged by a panel of citizens with expertise in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. The winning artist will be selected during a public judging event to be held in May. A date has not yet been set for the judging.

The top entries will then be displayed in July at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association’s art show in Sacramento. The winning entry will be reproduced on the 2009 California Duck Stamp and will be available as collectible limited edition prints.

For contest information and entry forms, please visit the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/about/duckstamp.

Media Contact: Lorna Bernard, DFG Office of Education and Outreach, (916) 322-8932

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM – The Free Press Release Service for the Shooting Industry! www.AmmoLand.com

Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land .com .

Brought to you by - AMMO LAND.COM - Firearms & Shooting Sports News Ammo Land.com Submit Gun, Ammo and Shooting Related News at Ammo Land.com

Wanted: Talented Artists to Design 2009 California Duck Stamp