Contact: Alissa Kakatsch, DNR Assistant Game Bird Specialist
Alissa.Kakatsch@wisconsin.gov or 608-576-7559
DNR Announces 2026 Wild Turkey, Pheasant And Waterfowl Stamp Design Contest Winners
Sam Timm’s winning artwork for the Waterfowl Stamp depicts two hooded mergansers in flight.
Photo credit: Sam Timm/Wisconsin DNR
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the winners of the 2026 Wisconsin wild turkey, pheasant and waterfowl stamp design contest. The winning entries will be featured on the next editions of the wild turkey, pheasant and waterfowl stamps.
Many talented artists from around Wisconsin submitted artwork for judging, which took place on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Wisconsin Waterfowl Expo in Oshkosh.
Wautoma resident Sam Timm took first place in this year's wild turkey and waterfowl design contests. Caleb Metrich of Lake Tomahawk took first place in the pheasant design contest.
This year's judges were Tally Hamilton, Ducks Unlimited regional biologist; Mark Kakatsch, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation vice president; and Pat Gregory, a professional decoy carver.
While hunters are required to purchase stamps to harvest these game birds, anyone interested in supporting grassland, wetland and forest management activities may purchase a stamp to support conservation in Wisconsin. Sales of these three stamps bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for species management throughout the state, including habitat management, restoration, education and research projects.
Please note that an electronic "stamp approval" is printed on the licenses of wild turkey, pheasant and waterfowl hunters at the time of purchase. Customers will not receive an actual stamp except upon request. To get a physical copy of a stamp, visit the DNR's Collector Stamps webpage or go to any open Service Center.
Read more about Wisconsin's wildlife stamps in the fall issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.
