The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will be sponsoring an art contest to select the design for the state’s 2012 upland game bird stamp.

This is the third design that will be featured in the “Encore Edition” since returning to the use of original artwork for the stamp’s image in 2009.

The contest is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 . Entries will be accepted from Oct. 22, 2011, until the contest deadline on Jan. 31, 2012.

The species to appear on the 2012 upland game bird stamp is the band-tailed pigeon (Columba fasciata).

The design must include at least one adult band-tailed pigeon. Designs will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and print.

An upland game bird stamp is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California.

The money generated from stamp sales can only be spent on upland game bird related conservation projects, education, hunting opportunities and outreach.

Hunters are no longer required to physically attach the stamp to their license, but the stamps are still produced and mailed to purchasers upon request.

DFG sells about 200,000 upland game bird stamps annually, which includes sales to collectors who value them for their artist depiction of upland game birds.

In addition to the stamps, DFG typically issues signed, limited edition prints that are valued by art collectors.

The upland game bird stamp 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 to be held in the spring of 2012.

A date has not yet been set for the judging.

For contest information and entry forms, please visit the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/upstamp.