?I choked and my hands started shaking, that usually does not happen,? said Storm when asked how he felt when Interior Secretary Gale Norton called him to announce his victory. ?It is hard to put in words what a great honor this is, to win the prestigious Duck Stamp contest. It has not hit me yet that I am in the midst of all these great artist that came before me.?

?Waterfowl hunters are required to buy Duck Stamps, and stamp collectors, art lovers and conservationists have purchased Duck Stamps for years to add to their albums, enjoy as works of art, and contribute to waterfowl conservation,? said Service Director Steve Williams. ?As our National Wildlife Refuges just turned 100, we?re asking all Americans who care about the environment to consider buying a Duck Stamp as a way of ensuring these great lands are protected for the next 100 years.?

All waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry Duck Stamps. Ninety-eight percent of the proceeds from the $15 Duck Stamp goes into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which purchases wetlands for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Storm's painting depicts a male and female redhead flying over a North Dakota pond under a light pastel sky. Storm took a photo a few years ago at Hay Bale Slough near York, North Dakota. Storm's family has been hunting at a duck camp there for years. The background of his painting came directly from this photograph. He made several sketches of the duck positions and ran them by his critic.

?My wife's (Kristin) critical eyes really help out my painting,? said Storm. Third place went to Sherrie Russell-Meline of Mt. Shasta, California, for her acrylic rendition of a Ross? goose. Eligible species for this year's contest were the redhead, Ross? goose, northern shoveler, ruddy duck and brant.

Digital image of the winning entry will be posted to the Federal Duck Stamp website: http://ducksstamps.fws.gov