Minnesota artist wins 2016 Nevada duck stamp contest
Submitted by editor on Wed, 11/18/2015 - 1:16pm
Minnesota wildlife artist Mark A. Thone has done well in the previous art contests he has entered, but after getting close several times and never winning, he was starting to wonder if it was ever going to happen. Well, he can stop wondering because Thone’s entry has been selected as the winner of this year’s Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest.
“My first reaction to your announcement of my selection as Nevada Duck Stamp winner was an ear to ear grin,” said Thone. “Then I played my poker face told my wife the news…As her face lit up, I admit to doing a little touchdown dance.”
While this may be his first win, Thone has a proven track record of success with several of his pieces placing near the top in Minnesota stamp competitions as well as twice finishing in the top 10 in the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest.
The contest was sponsored by the Nevada Waterfowl Association and sanctioned by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. This year there were 17 entries to the contest from 12 states including two entries from Nevada.
The winning entry in the annual art contest was selected by a panel of seven judges including two wildlife commissioners. Thone’s painting of a pair of Buffleheads floating on the water will now grace Nevada’s 2016-2017 State Duck Stamp.
The subject of this year’s contest was the Bufflehead. The name Bufflehead refers to the bird’s large bulbous shaped head. This is most noticeable when the male puffs out the feathers on the head, which greatly increases the apparent size. The Bufflehead is actually one of the smaller ducks ranging from 13–16 inches long with the drakes larger than the females. Adult males are striking black and white, with iridescent green and purple heads with a large white patch behind the eye. Females are grey-toned with a smaller white patch behind the eye and a light underside.
“I love the bufflehead, I think of them as the Chickadee of the waterfowl world,” said Thone. “The little diver duck can come bombing in to your decoys and while noted as generally being a very black and white duck in color scheme they can be iridescent in the right sunlight.”
The Nevada Duck Stamp sells for $10 and is required to be purchased by any person who hunts migratory birds in Nevada. Stamps can also be purchased by collectors and the general public to support Nevada’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts. A limited number of prints may also be issued, and are available for fundraising for wildlife-related and other conservation organizations.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear.
