Anyone who has paddled the backwaters south of US 41 in the cooler months has probably watched ducks drop into the shallows. When the weather turns cold up north, blue-winged teal, mottled ducks, ring-necked ducks, and other species settle into the Ten Thousand Islands each fall. Those birds, and the marshes that feed them, are tied to a small federal stamp that went on sale this week.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unveiled the 2026-2027 Federal Duck Stamp on Friday, June 26, at a first day of sale event at Bass Pro Shops in St. Augustine. This year’s stamp features a pair of buffleheads painted by Jim Hautman, a seven-time winner of the national stamp art contest. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission joined the U.S. Postal Service, Ducks Unlimited, and Bass Pro Shops for the ceremony.

The Federal Duck Stamp is one of the country’s oldest conservation tools. Since 1934, stamp sales have raised more than $1.3 billion, and about 98 cents of every dollar goes straight into protecting wetland habitat. That money has helped conserve more than six million acres across the National Wildlife Refuge System.

A Local Refuge Built on the Same Idea

The Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge sits right at the southern edge of our area. About 4,000 acres are open to waterfowl hunting, reached by water trails off the south side of US 41. It is exactly the kind of place the duck stamp is meant to support, and the same marshes draw birders and photographers the rest of the year.

Who Needs a Stamp, and Where to Get One

Migratory waterfowl hunters who are 16 or older are required to buy and carry a current Federal Duck Stamp or electronic E-Stamp, unless they are exempt. Physical stamps are sold at most U.S. Post Offices, many sporting goods and outdoor stores, and some national wildlife refuges. They can also be ordered online through the E-Stamp program.

You do not have to hunt to buy one. A current Federal Duck Stamp also works as free admission to any national wildlife refuge, which makes it a simple way for paddlers, photographers, and families to support the marshes they already enjoy. The new stamp is valid from July 1 through the following June 30.

Whether it rides in a tackle box or a camera bag, the duck stamp is one small way the wetlands around the Ten Thousand Islands keep getting the protection that keeps them full of life.

You may also be interested in Go Slow and Look Below for Manatees or Florida Winter Shorebird Survey Returns.