The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced that artists can now submit entries for the 2019 Minnesota Walleye Stamp from Monday, Oct. 8, through Friday, Oct. 19.

The voluntary walleye stamp validation costs $5 but is not required to fish for or keep walleye. For an extra 75 cents, purchasers will be mailed the pictorial stamp. A pictorial collectable stamp without the validation is available for $5.75. Walleye stamps are available year-round and are not required to be purchased at the same time as fishing licenses.

“Walleye stamp proceeds help fund an account for purchasing walleye fingerlings from private producers,” said Shannon Fisher, populations and regulations manager for the Department of Natural Resources. “These fingerlings are stocked in lakes across the state.”

The stamp contest offers no prizes and is open to Minnesota residents only. The walleye must be the primary focus of the design, though other fish species may be included in the design if they are used to depict common interaction between species or are common inhabitants of Minnesota lakes and rivers.

Artists are not allowed to use any photographic, digital or electronic imagery product as part of their finished entries. Winning artists usually issue limited edition prints of the artwork and retain proceeds. Judging will take place 2 p.m. on  Thursday, Oct. 25, at DNR Headquarters.

Artists who want to submit entries should closely read contest criteria and guidelines for submitting work, available from the DNR Information Center, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155, by calling the Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367, and online at mndnr.gov/stamps.