04-07-2010, 11:13 AM
Massachusetts' annual art competitions for Archery and Primitive Firearms Stamps were held at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters and this year, one artist has won both contests. Barry Julius of Brockton was selected in independent blind judging contests. When the identity of the winning artist was revealed, judges were surprised that the two winning entries had been painted by the same artist.
They were no more surprised than the artist himself who was delighted to learn of his "sweep." An active sportsman since childhood, Barry Julius grew up in East Bridgewater. He studied graphics and design at Massasoit Community College and initially planned to pursue a career in advertising. In fact he taught art for many years and now serves as a recreation officer for the Mass. Department of Corrections. His art remains an active hobby. Julius had previously won the archery/primitive firearms competition in 1995, the archery stamp competition in 2002 and the Massachusetts waterfowl stamp competition in 2001. He has also placed high in wildlife art contests in other northeastern states.<br />
The 2009 archery stamp portrays a watchful buck and two does feeding in a meadow. The primitive firearms stamp illustrates a buck picking its way through a snow-covered woodland. The pair of stamps highlights the differences between deer behaviors and habitat during different seasons.<br />
Archery stamps have been required of anyone hunting deer during the archery deer season since 1960. In 1980, MassWildlife established a requirement for a similar stamp for the newly established historic firearms deer hunting season during which sportsmen hunt with flintlocks and caplocks, and hunters in both seasons bought what was called an archery/primitive firearms stamp. In 1996, two stamps were created; one stamp for archery and a separate stamp for the primitive firearms season. This allowed biologists to assess bowhunters and primitive firearms hunters activities. In 2006, MassWildlife opted to use separate artwork to alleviate any possible confusion between the stamps.<br />
Not only are these stamps required of the sportsmen and women hunting during the special deer seasons, they are also being sought by philatelists and other collectors of wildlife art. The annual sale of archery stamps and primitive firearms stamps generates over $250,000 for wildlife research, management and restoration in the Commonwealth. The 2009 stamps will go on sale in early December at hunting and fishing license outlets throughout the state.
They were no more surprised than the artist himself who was delighted to learn of his "sweep." An active sportsman since childhood, Barry Julius grew up in East Bridgewater. He studied graphics and design at Massasoit Community College and initially planned to pursue a career in advertising. In fact he taught art for many years and now serves as a recreation officer for the Mass. Department of Corrections. His art remains an active hobby. Julius had previously won the archery/primitive firearms competition in 1995, the archery stamp competition in 2002 and the Massachusetts waterfowl stamp competition in 2001. He has also placed high in wildlife art contests in other northeastern states.<br />
The 2009 archery stamp portrays a watchful buck and two does feeding in a meadow. The primitive firearms stamp illustrates a buck picking its way through a snow-covered woodland. The pair of stamps highlights the differences between deer behaviors and habitat during different seasons.<br />
Archery stamps have been required of anyone hunting deer during the archery deer season since 1960. In 1980, MassWildlife established a requirement for a similar stamp for the newly established historic firearms deer hunting season during which sportsmen hunt with flintlocks and caplocks, and hunters in both seasons bought what was called an archery/primitive firearms stamp. In 1996, two stamps were created; one stamp for archery and a separate stamp for the primitive firearms season. This allowed biologists to assess bowhunters and primitive firearms hunters activities. In 2006, MassWildlife opted to use separate artwork to alleviate any possible confusion between the stamps.<br />
Not only are these stamps required of the sportsmen and women hunting during the special deer seasons, they are also being sought by philatelists and other collectors of wildlife art. The annual sale of archery stamps and primitive firearms stamps generates over $250,000 for wildlife research, management and restoration in the Commonwealth. The 2009 stamps will go on sale in early December at hunting and fishing license outlets throughout the state.