April 27, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 131

For more information, contact Amanda Belford or Carla Cassell-Carter, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 302-739-9911, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902. PHOTOS AVAILABLE. Please contact Public Affairs.

2011 Delaware Duck Stamp, Trout Stamp winners chosen
Artists from Pennsylvania, Indiana take top spots on April 24

The results are in. Pennsylvania artist George LaVanish’s painting featuring a pair of hooded mergansers will become the 2011 Delaware Duck Stamp. A painting of rainbow trout by Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Indiana, will appear on the 2011 Delaware Trout Stamp.

The paintings won top honors in the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife’s annual stamp art competition, held Saturday, April 24 at the Ducks Unlimited Greenwings Event in Greenwood. This year’s event drew 41 entries for the 2011 Duck Stamp and 23 entries for the 2011 Trout Stamp. The 2011 Trout Stamp winner, Jeffrey Klinefelter, receives $250 and retains the rights to reproduce and sell prints of the stamp.

The 2011 Duck Stamp winner, George LaVanish, who resides in Tryone, Pa., will receive a $2,500 prize and 150 artist's proofs of the limited edition print series of his first place duck entry. LaVanish has illustrated covers for many national and regional magazines, including Pennsylvania Game News and Pennsylvania Angler and Boating News. He also has designed stamps for national and state organizations. This is LaVanish’s second entry to the Delaware Duck Stamp program and marks his first winning stamp for the state of Delaware.

Other winners included:

• 2011 Duck Stamp: Second place – George Lockwood of Santa Ynez, Calif., hooded merganser; Third place – Tom Morgan Cain of Branson, Mo., wigeon; Honorable mention: Richard Clifton of Milford, Del., Canada goose; Thomas Creaser of West Moreland, N.Y., Canada goose; and Wes Dewey of Chanute, Kan., pintail.

• 2011 Trout Stamp: Second place – Paul Thompson, of Marion, N.C., brook trout; Third place – Douglas Walpus of Hartsville, Tenn., rainbow trout; Honorable mention: Micah Hanson of Nodine, Minn., brown trout; Shari Erickson of Beavercreek, Ore., brown trout; and Douglas Walpus of Hartsville, Tenn., brown trout.

The Duck and Trout Stamp entries are on display now through Saturday, May 8 at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village, 866 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, just south of Delaware State University. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information about the museum, please call 302-734-1618.

The 2011 Duck Stamp judges were Ducks Unlimited Chairman Scott Crawford, artist and past Duck Stamp winner Steve Oliver of Pennsylvania, collector Dan Shevock, art professional Don Parks and biologist Michael Stroeh.  

The 2011 Trout Stamp judges were Delaware Trout Association member Noel Kuhrt, collector Dan Shevock, Delaware Trout Association and Trout Unlimited member Ed O’Donnell, Fisheries biologist Bill Jones and Trout Unlimited member Bill O’Connor.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, began the duck stamp and print program in 1980 to raise funds for waterfowl conservation, including acquiring and improving the wetland habitats that are vital for the survival of migratory waterfowl. To date, more than $2.5 million has been raised.

The Division began requiring trout stamps in the 1950s. Trout stamp art was first used in 1977. The fees paid for Trout Stamps are used to purchase rainbow and brown trout from commercial hatcheries. The purchased trout are stocked in two downstate ponds and selected streams in northern New Castle County for Delaware’s spring trout season.

Residents 16 to 64 years of age are required to have a Delaware Trout Stamp, which costs $4.20. Residents ages 12 through 15 years old are required to have a Young Angler Trout Stamp, which costs $2.10. Non-residents 12 years of age and older are required to have a Non-Resident Trout Stamp, which costs $6.20.

Duck Stamps go on sale July 1 for $9 and are required when hunting migratory waterfowl in Delaware.

Duck and Trout Stamps are available at the Division of Fish and Wildlife offices in the Richardson and Robbins Building at 89 Kings Highway in Dover, at license agents throughout the state or online at www.fw.delaware.gov, which also includes a list of license agents. Collector stamps and prints are sold only at the Division’s administrative offices.