2003 Minnesota Trout and Salmon Contest Winner

Ever wish you could have designed one of your states' outdoor hunting stamps? Well, the third time must have been the charm for a Minnesota man. His ability to seize and capture one of Mother Nature's most beautiful freshwater fish in action was enough to earn him the title of creator of the 2003 trout and salmon stamp for the state of Minnesota.

Micah J. Hanson's depiction of a brown trout about to catch a stonefly nymph won the 2003 Trout and Salmon Stamp Contest. Hanson, who grew up in Rushford, Minn., also won the 2000 Trout and Salmon Stamp contest.

The design was selected from among 15 entries in this year's Trout and Salmon Stamp Contest, held on Aug. 8 at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Headquarters in St. Paul. It was the third time Hanson has entered the contest.

Other finalists were Tombo Beard, Circle Pines; Charles Dero, Miltona; Laurence Huls, Avon; and Ron Iverson, Paynesville.

The DNR, which conducts the annual stamp contest, offers no prizes. The winner, however, retains print reproduction rights to the work, which is usually reproduced as a limited-edition wildlife print.

The Minnesota Trout and Salmon Stamp is required for those who fish in designated trout streams, designated trout lakes, Lake Superior, or who possess trout or salmon. They must also purchase a regular Minnesota fishing license.

The DNR sells approximately 97,000 stamps every year for $8.50 each, according to Mark Ebbers, DNR Fisheries Trout and Salmon Program consultant. He said proceeds are used for trout and salmon habitat improvement and stocking programs for streams and lakes.

Judges this year were: Bob Trevis, Ideal Printers; Rob Drieslein, editor of Outdoor News; Dave Bennett, Lake Superior Steelhead Association; Dr. Ira Adelman, University of Minnesota; and Jack Wingate, DNR Division of Fisheries research manager.

Information compiled with the help of the Minnesota Office of Tourism.