Turkey stamp contest entries accepted Dec. 13-28

Artists wishing to enter the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 2013 wild turkey stamp contest must submit their entries beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13, and ending at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 28.

The eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) must be the primary focus of the design.

A panel consisting of members with expertise in art, ornithology, hunting, conservation and printing will judge all entries. Judging will take place on Friday, Jan. 11, at the Arrowwood Resort near Alexandria in conjunction with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s state banquet.

Revenue from stamp sales is dedicated to wild turkey habitat and management. Extirpated from Minnesota around 1900, wild turkey re-introduction and transplant efforts have been successful, resulting in a population that thrives throughout the nonboreal forest portion of the state.

The stamp art contest is open only to Minnesota residents and offers no prizes. Winning artists may issue limited edition prints of the artwork and retain the proceeds. A reproduction rights agreement, granting the DNR the right to use the design for the stamp image and other purposes, must be signed and submitted with the design to be considered eligible.

Complete contest rules are available online at www.mndnr.gov/contests/stamps.html.
Information also is available by contacting the DNR Information Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4040. People can also call 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646 6367.