12-15-2006, 06:10 AM
Wildlife Department announces winner of 2007 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp competition Jeffrey Hoff of Jamestown, N.D., was selected as the winner of the 2007 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp competition held Dec. 8 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's central office in Oklahoma City. His painting portraying two redheads will be featured on the state's 2007 waterfowl stamp. The Oklahoma waterfowl stamp program was started as an effort to ensure quality habitat in the Sooner State for migrating ducks and geese. It was started in 1980 and showcases the artwork of some of the nation's most talented wildlife artists.
"It feels great when you can win a contest like this and help conservation," said Hoff, 35. A waterfowl hunter himself, Hoff discovered his interest in painting about eight years ago, mostly by accident. Hoff enrolled for college courses too late to get into the engineering coursework he had planned, and as a result, only one class was available for him to take - a painting class. He signed up and developed a new talent. Since then Hoff has enjoyed painting several species of North American wildlife and has competed throughout the years in more than one duck stamp competition across the nation. He received inspiration for this year's winning portrait from a photograph he had taken in a slough. Purchased by both hunters and collectors, the stamps help fund various waterfowl conservation projects around the state. Alan Stacey, wetland habitat biologist for the Wildlife Department, said the program has helped purchase close to 13,000 acres of wetlands and has advanced efforts to enhance, create, renovate and maintain thousands of acres of critical waterfowl habitat. Wetland development units such as Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area in southwest Oklahoma and the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area in McCurtain County have reaped benefits from the duck stamp program. Stacey said further wetland restoration and renovation work is planned for the future at a number of wildlife management areas across the state. Four honorable mentions were named in the 2007 competition. They were: Hoyt Smith, Tulsa, Okla.; Edward Suthoff, Gardiner, Mont.; Russ Duerksen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Daniel Allard, Columbus, Ohio.
"It feels great when you can win a contest like this and help conservation," said Hoff, 35. A waterfowl hunter himself, Hoff discovered his interest in painting about eight years ago, mostly by accident. Hoff enrolled for college courses too late to get into the engineering coursework he had planned, and as a result, only one class was available for him to take - a painting class. He signed up and developed a new talent. Since then Hoff has enjoyed painting several species of North American wildlife and has competed throughout the years in more than one duck stamp competition across the nation. He received inspiration for this year's winning portrait from a photograph he had taken in a slough. Purchased by both hunters and collectors, the stamps help fund various waterfowl conservation projects around the state. Alan Stacey, wetland habitat biologist for the Wildlife Department, said the program has helped purchase close to 13,000 acres of wetlands and has advanced efforts to enhance, create, renovate and maintain thousands of acres of critical waterfowl habitat. Wetland development units such as Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area in southwest Oklahoma and the Red Slough Wildlife Management Area in McCurtain County have reaped benefits from the duck stamp program. Stacey said further wetland restoration and renovation work is planned for the future at a number of wildlife management areas across the state. Four honorable mentions were named in the 2007 competition. They were: Hoyt Smith, Tulsa, Okla.; Edward Suthoff, Gardiner, Mont.; Russ Duerksen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Daniel Allard, Columbus, Ohio.