SPECIAL TO THE PVT The winning duck stamp painting is by Jeffrey Klinefelter. Advertisement

You would think after winning over 60 wildlife stamp art contests, Jeffrey Klinefelter would start getting used to winning...but you would be wrong.

"I am always surprised when I win," said Klinefelter after being notified his entry had been selected as the winner of the 2010 Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest. "These contests always have a lot of tough competition every year. There are times when I don't even place, so it's always very exciting when you win one."

The win marks the fourth time the Indiana artist has claimed the Nevada Duck Stamp contest with wins in 1996, 2001 and 2006. He also won the Nevada Trout Stamp art contest in 2002.

The contest was sponsored by the Nevada Waterfowl Association and sanctioned by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. This year there were 33 entries to the contest from 22 states including four entries from Nevada. All of the winning entries can be viewed on the NDOW website at www.ndow.org/wild/stamp/.

The winning entry in the annual art contest was selected by a panel of seven judges including two wildlife commissioners. Klinefelter's painting of two northern shovelers near a patch of reeds will now grace Nevada's 2010-2011 State Duck Stamp.

The subject of this year's contest was the northern shoveler. Sometimes known simply as a "shoveler" or "spoonie", the northern shoveler is a common and widespread duck. The species is unmistakable in the northern hemisphere due to its long, spoon-shaped bill.

The Nevada Duck Stamp sells for $10 and is required to be purchased by any person who hunts migratory birds in Nevada. Stamps can also be purchased by collectors and the general public to support Nevada wildlife and habitat conservation efforts.