Schedule of events set for Federal Duck Stamp Contest

STEVENS POINT - Discover how art and wildlife conservation are connected through a variety of activities for all ages, held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and in the community as part of the 2017 Federal Duck Stamp Contest.

Events held locally include art exhibits, hands-on activities and a documentary showing. The following activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted:

Friday, Sept. 8

WILD LIFE, Phantom Gallery Party hosted by CREATE Portage County. For information and tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/wild-life-phantom-gallery-party-4-tickets-36610726669.

Tuesday, Sept. 12

Learn to Hunt for Food Opportunities course, offered by Ruffed Grouse Society and Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. This course is for people interested in hunting upland game birds, Canada geese or whitetail deer. Pre-hunt course meetings are required on Sept. 12, 14, 19 and 21 at UW-Stevens Point, Room 240 Trainer Natural Resources building, 800 Reserve St. Sept. 16 will be a range day at the Bill Cook Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.  Cost is $20. Pre-register with Jessica Tomaszewski at jtomasz@uwsp.edu or 715-346-2536.

Thursday, Sept. 14

5:30 p.m., Million Dollar Duck film, Dreyfus University Center Theater The documentary focuses on the Federal Duck Stamp Contest and the eccentric nature of the contestants as well as the history and challenges facing this conservation program. www.themilliondollarduckfilm.com.

Friday, Sept. 15

3 -7 p.m. Main Street Parks, downtown Stevens Point, www.facebook.com/mainstreetparks/.

Friday, Sept. 15, and Saturday, Sept. 16

9 a.m. Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest work on display, Edna Carlsten Art Gallery, Noel Fine Arts Center

9:30 a.m. Decoy carving contest and exhibition, Laird Room, Dreyfus University Center. Hosted by the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and the UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources, www.wisducks.org/event/decoy-carving-competition/2017-09-15/.

9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friday, and 9:30 a.m. – noon Saturday, kids activities in Albertson Hall and UW-Stevens Point Museum of Natural History, including live birds through the Raptor Education Group, Inc., story time and duck-themed activities. An adult must accompany children in the museum at all times. The museum will be live streaming the competition on a monitor in the library lobby. Check in with the museum on Facebook and share your photos. Entries from the Junior Duck Stamp Competition will be on display in the museum both days.

10 a.m. Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest judging, Michelsen Hall, Noel Fine Arts Center

Saturday, Sept. 16

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Art in the Park, Pfiffner Park, Stevens Point, art sales and children’s activities www.artintheparkstevenspoint.org.

Wednesday, Sept. 20

5:30 p.m. Giving Hunting a Shot, Trainer Natural Resources Building Room 120, featuring Robyn Migliorini of www.Modern-hunters.com.

Now- Sept. 24

“The Eligible Five: Selected for the Federal Duck Stamp Contest,” Edna Carlsten Art Gallery, Noel Fine Arts Center. Reception Thursday, Sept. 7, from 4-7 p.m. The art exhibit is of the five species of ducks included in this year’s contest: the harlequin, gadwall, mallard, blue-winged teal or cinnamon teal duck. The exhibit was curated by UW-Stevens Point student Meghan Wagner with works from the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau.

For a full listing and more information, go to www.uwsp.edu/cnr/Pages/Federal-Duck-Stamp-Contest.aspx.

Also in the area, the annual Birds in Art exhibit is Sept. 9-17 at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau. It features the works of Don Rambadt, honored with the 2017 Master Wildlife Artist Medal. For information, go to www.lywam.org.