The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is conducting an art contest to select the design for the state's 2015-2016 upland game bird stamp.

This year's stamp will feature the ring-necked pheasant.
 
The California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest is open to all U.S. residents 18 years and over. Entries will be accepted from Sept. 30 through Dec. 30, 2015.

Artwork must include at least one ring-necked pheasant, preferably in a habitat or setting representative of California.

Entries will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and a print.
 
The contest will be judged by a panel of experts in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. The winning artist will be selected during a public judging event, with the date and location to be announced later.
 
An upland game bird validation is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California.

The money generated from stamp sales must be spent on upland game bird-related conservation projects, education, hunting opportunities and outreach.
 
The ring-necked pheasant was chosen this year because of CDFW's recent efforts to fund projects to address pheasant declines in California.

For more information, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/birds/pheasant .
 
CDFW sells about 175,000 upland game bird validations annually. Any individual who purchases an upland game bird validation may request their free collectable stamp by visiting www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/collector-stamps .

For collectors who do not purchase a hunting license or upland game bird validation or for hunters who wish to purchase additional collectible stamps, an order form is also available on the Web site.
 
For contest information and entry forms, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/upland-game-bird-stamp .