Rule that U.S. 'duck stamp' must include hunting image misses the mark, says artist
Rebekah Knight says including things like shotgun shells paints hunting in a bad light
Missouri wildlife artist and hunter Rebekah Knight painted a Gladwall for her submission to this year's U.S. duck stamp contest, including the intricate designs and patterns on its wings.
Then, hidden in the grass, she painted an old duck decoy.
But that part wasn't her choice. She did it because of recent changes to the contest by U.S. President Trump's administration which made it essential to include some kind of nod to hunting.
"It seems a little bit confusing," Knight told As It Happens host Carol Off.
Meant to celebrate 'waterfowl hunting heritage'
The annual Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest, known as the "duck stamp," is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and is separate from the Postal Service. The winning painting is made into a stamp for a federal permit to hunt waterfowl.
Every year, the rules for submitting a painting were pretty straightforward: it had to include a duck.
The winner of this year's contest was announced on Sept. 26. The Service also released entries for people to see, and included paintings that included wooden duck calls — used to attract birds — floating in the water, as well as empty shotgun shells, and other hunting paraphernalia.
In May, the Trump administration permanently changed the theme to "celebrating our waterfowl hunting heritage," by making it mandatory to "include an appropriate waterfowl hunting scene and/or accessory."
In theory, Knight says the federal government was trying to celebrate hunters. And as a hunter herself, she appreciates the sentiment. But as an artist, she says they missed the mark.
The new rules added a level of difficulty to the work. The stamps are small, and she had to take care to make every detail clear.
"I don't know that anybody, you know, who proposed this rule thought through the limitations that would be placed onto the artists," she said.
She also worries that the new stamps will portray hunters in a bad light, since it looks like they are littering and not picking up their shell casings.
"Responsible hunters usually try to pick their stuff up, so I don't really see how that gets the message across as far as celebrating our hunting heritage," Knight said.
She says she's already read comments on social media from hunters who were confused by the new rules.
"Some of the hunters were even wondering, like, 'Why are there a bunch of calls floating in all these paintings?' And, 'What's with all the shotgun shells? Like, what's the deal?'" she said.
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If the administration's goal was to sell more stamps, Knight's not sure how this will accomplish that either.
She points out that hunters are already required to buy the stamp in order to hunt, and this move could deter collectors.
"So somebody who is maybe not a hunter or just a bird watcher, you know, it very well could alienate some people from buying the stamp," she said.
In a press release, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that the stamps sell for $25 US and raised approximately $40 million US dollars last year. The proceeds go toward protecting wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Knight's painting of the Gladwall wasn't chosen as this year's winner, but the artist who did win was also unimpressed with the new rules.
Delaware artist Richard Clifton painted a Lesser Scaup with a duck call caught in the reeds — something he said happens sometimes, but doesn't belong in a wildlife scene.
"I'm a pretty big-time waterfowl hunter, and I don't feel like it's necessary," he told Audubon. "I'd much rather see a straight-up duck painting."
Knight agrees.
"I really don't find it to be necessary because … it's called the duck stamp and they feature ducks that are legally hunted in the U.S.," she said.
"And to me, that alone is enough to, you know, recognize the hunters."
Written by Sarah Jackson. Produced by Chris Harbord.
