Duck Stamp as a discount coupon

A sports team recently promoted the Duck Stamp -- officially known as the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, shown below -- as a way to pay for half-price tickets at the box office. The Bowie Baysox, a class Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team, said the April 9 game against the Richmond Flying Squirrels will be Outdoorsman Night.

The Baysox are making it easy for hunters, crabbers and fisherman to get into the game with a special ticket offer. Any fan who brings a hunting, fishing, boating or crabbing license, or duck stamp to the box office can purchase a lower reserved seat ticket for $7 (regularly $14). The tickets must be purchased in person at the box office on the day of the game, and a fan can only purchase one ticket for each license or stamp in their possession.

The indefatigable Paul Baicich -- author of "A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds" and current co-writer of Birding Community E-Bulletin -- shared that news with Duck Stamp supporters and posed the questions:

Why don't we see more of this? Why not try to make possession of the Stamp an effective "discount coupon" for a local restaurant, an environmental film showing, a birding/nature festival entrance fee, an art show, a refuge Friends event, a bird-trip outing, a bird specialty store, etc.?

I like his questions and hope that birding festival organizers and birding supply retailers will consider his suggestion. Do you own a Duck Stamp? Would you buy one - for just $15 per year - to receive discounts at events and stores?

What would you receive in addition to potential discounts? The satisfaction of knowing that 98 cents of every dollar goes to providing habitat for waterfowl and other species that live in and visit wetlands and grassland. Birders everywhere benefit from the habitat leased or purchased with Duck Stamp funds by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, because a plethora of birds everywhere - not just ducks - use the food, water and shelter at national wildlife refuges and other sites.

Does your favorite birding retailer or festival offer a discount to Duck Stamp holders? If not, why?