The winner of this year’s competition will have their work featured on the 2026 Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp. Sales of the Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp have produced more than $11 million for wetland habitat protection and conservation, according to ODNR.
The proceeds fund wetland projects in Ohio which are important to many resident and migratory waterfowl species, other wetland birds, and amphibians. Additional proceeds are matched and leveraged to support habitat work in Canada that benefits nesting birds which migrate through Ohio. Ohio is proud to be one of the few states that still features hand-painted artwork on the state wetlands stamp.
Artists can choose to depict any of Ohio’s native waterfowl species other than bufflehead, American wigeon, or lesser scaup, which were featured on the previous three stamps. All artists ages 18 and older who reside in the U.S. are encouraged to enter the competition. Artwork will be judged on Saturday, Feb. 15 by a panel of judges with a conservation background.
The winner receives a $4,000 service contract. Design entries may not exceed 18 inches wide by 13 inches high, should be displayed on a single white mat of 2.5 inches width, and be protected by a removable acetate or cellophane cover. All two-dimensional art mediums, other than digital art and photographs, are accepted.
For contest rules, including a list of qualifying species, read the Ohio Wildlife Wetlands Stamp Design Contest Rules and Artist Packet at wildohio.gov.
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