WASHINGTON – Legislation authored by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) to authorize a permanent electronic duck stamp for the entirety of a waterfowl hunting season was signed into law by President Joe Biden Tuesday.

The bipartisan Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 will make the Federal Duck Stamp more accessible, decrease barriers to compliance and increase revenue for conservation. It will allow hunters access to an electronic duck stamp via their smart phone to meet the requirement that they purchase a Federal Duck Stamp and carry it while in the field.

“Arkansans are rightfully proud of the unique environment that makes our state a world-class duck hunting location. Modernizing the Federal Duck Stamp is great news for waterfowlers who want to take part in this time-honored tradition and share their appreciation for this popular outdoor activity. I’m pleased the president has signed the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 into law,” said Boozman, a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, which invests federal funds generated by the Duck Stamp in wetland preservation.

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Angus King (I-ME) championed this legislation. It was also cosponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA). 

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Garret Graves (R-LA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA).

The legislation is backed by a number of leading conservation and wildlife organizations.

"On behalf of Arkansas's waterfowlers, I would like to thank Senator Boozman for leading the Senate's efforts to modernize the Federal Duck Stamp. This commonsense legislation not only cuts red tape, but makes it easier for Arkansans to enjoy our world class waterfowl opportunity," said Director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Austin Booth. 

“The Duck Stamp Modernization Act is a commonsense effort to simplify the way in which sportsmen and women operate in the 21^st century. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is glad to see this legislation signed into law, and thanks the leadership of Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair Senator Boozman, CSC Vice-Chair Representative Graves, and the other members of the CSC who spearheaded this effort,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane.  

“This is commonsense legislation that will make buying a duck stamp much easier and help make duck hunting more accessible to all waterfowlers,” said Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam. “More than 8 million acres of wetland habitat has been conserved through the Federal Duck Stamp program. Now that the stamp is fully electronic, we hope that more birders, anglers and conservationists will join us to increase the number of stamps purchased each year so that more wildlife habitat can be protected. Senator Boozman and Representative Graves did an incredible amount of work behind the scenes to get the Duck Stamp Modernization Act passed, and we thank them for their efforts.”