The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) 2023 Warden Stamp is now available for purchase online. For its 14th edition, the stamp celebrates California’s recreational anglers, divers and commercial fishery participants, and their contributions to the economy and conserving California’s coast.
The 2023 Warden Stamp features the lingcod, a member of the greenling family and an important native marine species pursued in the state’s recreational and commercial fisheries. These fisheries support tens of thousands of jobs within the state and are essential to California’s coastal communities.
“The 2023 Warden Stamp celebrates Californians’ commitment to helping CDFW manage California’s diverse fish, wildlife and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend,” said David Bess, CDFW Deputy Director and Chief of the Law Enforcement Division. “The purchase of this stamp is a testament to their continued support for the important work our wildlife officers do.”
Since 2010 CDFW has raised funds to enhance resources for its Law Enforcement Division through the Warden Stamp Program. For more than a decade the program has celebrated a native California species, and members of the hunting, fishing and outdoor community have shown their support by purchasing the stamp for $5.
The 2023 stamp is its usual warden shield shape, with a turquoise water background. The lingcod image was digitally hand painted by CDFW staff member, Sarah Guerere, using digital watercolor brushes. The fish resembles those found off California’s coast, with gray and purple markings.
Since 1871, CDFW’s wildlife officers (wardens) have been dedicated to being the department’s “boots on the ground” when it comes to maintaining the balance of the state’s many plants and animal species, like the lingcod. The Warden Stamp Program was created to address the need for better equipment and training for wardens.
Wildlife officers patrol on foot, by plane, boats, horseback and in a variety of vehicles. Although their objectives of protecting California’s plants and animals remains the same, threats to native species are always evolving. From the growing threat of wildfires, drought and internet wildlife traffickers – CDFW’s wildlife officers remain committed to being the stewards of the Golden State’s natural resources. Please continue to support wildlife officers and their mission by purchasing the latest Warden Stamp.
To view an image of the new stamp, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/warden-stamp.
To purchase the stamp, please visit www.ca.wildlifelicense.com/InternetSales. From there scroll to bottom of the page and click “Continue as Guest.” Then click on “2022 Warden Stamps” under the Menu tab. Add stamps from the line that reads “Warden Stamp Decal – 2022 Edition” and follow prompts to check out.