The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is extending the submission deadline for its art contest to select the design for the state’s 2013 Upland Game Bird Stamp.

Entries will be accepted through Nov. 25.

This year’s stamp will feature the sooty grouse.

The California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest is open to all U.S. residents ages 18 and older. The entry fee previously charged has been eliminated.

Art contest entries must include at least one adult sooty grouse. Entries will be judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and a print.

The contest will be judged by a panel of experts in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. The winning artist will be selected during a public judging event, with the date and location to be announced later.

An upland game bird stamp is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California, although hunters are no longer required to attach the stamp to their license. CDFW still produces the stamps and sends them to hunters upon request.

The stamps can be purchased at www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/collectorstamps/ .

The money generated from stamp sales must be spent on upland game bird-related conservation projects, education, hunting opportunities and outreach.

CDFW sells about 200,000 upland game bird stamps annually, which includes sales to collectors.

For contest information and entry forms, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/upstamp .