This was my first Federal Duck Stamp entry. Most of the research that I completed on mottled ducks actually took place when I was working on this painting, not the painting that I won with two years later. I remember how excited I was when I discovered that I had placed 16th. I had tied with Bruce Miller. Bruce Miller is a previous Federal Duck Stamp winner and his winning painting is one of my favorite Federal Duck Stamps. So the thought of tying with him was a huge honor alone. I only hoped I could do as well in the following years contest.