Question: I have contacted three sporting goods stores in my area asking about the purchase of state and federal duck stamps and how they relate to the Automated License Data System (ALDS). They don't know and do not have individual state stamps as in the past. Please help a bunch of duck hunters.

Answer: Federal Duck Stamps are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are available at U.S. Post Offices, some license agents and online at https://shop.usps.com/, but not from DFG.

The California Duck Validation (no longer called a stamp) may be purchased now online at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/, in person at any DFG license sales office (a list of which can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/officelocation.html) or from any license agent (https://www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales/), where validations can be purchased at the same license terminal as the hunting license. Although they are no longer required, the physical stamps are still produced for collector purposes. If you purchase the California Duck Validation and still want to receive an actual stamp, you must request it online. You can read about how to do that at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/collectorstamps/.