Any person who purchases a California Duck Validation and/or Upland Game Bird Validation is entitled by law to receive a collectible California Duck Stamp and/or Upland Game Bird Stamp upon request.
Why doesn’t CDFW automatically mail collectible Duck and Upland Game Bird Stamps to every hunter who purchases Duck and Upland Game Bird Validations?
Answer: It costs CDFW approximately $1 to print and mail each collectible stamp. CDFW expects to issue up to 180,000 Upland Game Bird Validations and 70,000 California Duck Validations annually. The cost of printing and mailing stamps to all hunters could reach $250,000. Money spent to print and mail collectible stamps could possibly otherwise be used to manage waterfowl and upland game birds and to offer hunting opportunities to the public. Providing stamps to only those customers who make the request via the Online License Sales and Services website maintains the opportunity for collectors to obtain the physical stamp while reducing waste associated with printing and mailing to those who are uninterested. This efficiency also allows more funding to be used for wildlife management.
To receive your collectible stamp, you must request it online. Select “Online Sales”. Read the “Online License Sales - Before You Start” section and select “License Sales”. Enter your information as it appears on your hunting license. Complete each step as though you are purchasing a stamp. Because you qualify for a free collector’s stamp, the stamp will be displayed as a free item under the STAMPS section at the bottom of the hunting items selection page.
After you have made your selections, go to the cart and complete your transaction. Make sure you complete the transaction by selecting check out and select “submit payment” even if there is no fee for the items you have selected. You will not be charged for collectible stamps, but you will be charged for any other items you purchase in the same transaction. Your collectible Duck and Upland Game Bird Stamps will be mailed to you after June 30th.
An order form (PDF Form) is available for collectors who did not purchase hunting validations. Hunters may also use the order form (PDF Form) to purchase additional collectible stamps.