Minnesota artist wins annual duck stamp contest
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A Minnesota artist has won the federal duck stamp art contest for 2017.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Saturday that Bob Hautman from Delano won the contest with his acrylic painting of a pair of mallards.
The stamp featuring Hautman's art will go on sale next June. This is Hautman's third win.
Each year, the duck stamp raises nearly $40 million from hunters and collectors to conserve and protect wetland habitats. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke says the duck stamp is one of the most successful conservation programs in U.S. history.
One of Hautman's brothers, James Hautman of Chaska, won the award last year. Bob Hautman's win this year makes it the 13th time the three brothers have graced the duck stamps with their art.