By Doug Leier
No matter how you appreciate North Dakota’s outdoors, be it by hunting, fishing, or simply hiking, here’s a simple way to invest in its future: buy a federal duck stamp.
You don’t even have to hunt to make a difference. Birdwatchers, photographers and anyone who enjoys watching wildlife can purchase a stamp knowing the money helps protect wetlands and grasslands.
Those acres benefit mallards, pintails and other waterfowl, but they also provide nesting cover for grassland birds and habitat for grouse, deer and other species. It’s a pretty simple equation: ducks need water and grass, and grassland birds need grass.
I don’t have a set date but near the back side of September I’ll go get my duck stamp. I still appreciate the tradition of purchasing a physical stamp, even though electronic purchase technology has made the process easier.
I live about a mile from the post office. Over my lunch break I decided to get some steps in and walk the bike path there, expecting a line. There were only two people ahead of me when the employee asked what I needed.
“Just a duck stamp,” I said.
Unfortunately, they had run out and expected more in a couple of days.
I waited a few more days to make sure before trying again on a Tuesday afternoon. I arrived shortly after noon, with five people ahead of me and one employee working hard to keep the line moving. By the time I reached the counter, 11 more people were waiting behind me. The transaction itself was quick: I paid $25 and walked out with my stamp. The entire trip took about 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, there’s a much easier option for anyone who wants to avoid the wait.
Hunters can purchase an electronic federal duck stamp through North Dakota’s online licensing system or at DuckStamp.com. An electronic stamp purchased through an authorized program provides immediate proof of purchase. Keep the official electronic stamp or proof-of-purchase certificate available on your phone or printed copy while hunting. A regular sales receipt alone isn’t enough.
The electronic stamp adds a $4 shipping and handling fee for a total of $29 through the online program, while a traditional physical stamp costs $25. The physical stamp, when ordered online, will arrive after March 10. It’s also worth noting that not all state agencies allow the purchase of an electronic federal duck stamp on their website. North Dakota is one of the states that does. You don’t have to wait for that mailed stamp to hunt legally if you have the valid electronic stamp or authorized proof of purchase.
I’ll keep walking to the post office because I enjoy the tradition. But whether you buy your stamp across a counter or online, the important part is what that purchase supports. Duck stamp dollars help conserve the habitat.
Sometimes conservation starts with a simple purchase. And sometimes, it starts with recognizing that there’s more than one way to get the job done.
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