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Individual states and Indian reservations can require waterfowl hunting permit stamps, in addition to the federal stamp.

Although they are frequently offered as "plate numbers," the numbers printed on the vast majority of state duck stamps are actually serial numbers. Some serial numbers appear in the selvedge, much like a plate number, while other serial numbers are printed on the face of the stamp itself. Again, these serial numbers are not true plate numbers. These serial numbers are typically printed in black in a separate process from printing the stamps themselves, which may not even include black in their design, or in red if the stamp itself is printed in black.

On some Michigan issues, the highest serial number appearing on the pane is reprinted in the selvage, essentially functioning as a counting number. These are not true plate numbers.

Some states also require permit stamps for hunting of other birds and animals, such as fish, turkeys, pheasant, woodcock, deer, elk, moose and even bears, as well as for different hunting methods such as black powder or bow and arrow.

Some states issue separate stamps with different fees for residents vs. non-residents, or for a reduced rate for teenagers, seniors, or for residents of a bordering state that shares a river or a dammed lake. A few states have recognized the potential revenue in the collector market by issuing "governor's editions" and other stamps with large surcharges. Very, very few are known with true plate numbers.

Trial color large die proofs of the 1955 Michigan Trout stamps exist in green and violet with a 5-digit die or reference number, but these are not plate numbers. Plate numbers do not appear on printed proof sheets or the issued stamps.

Maryland also issued crabbing permit stamps in booklets of 10. The individual stamps have six-digit serial numbers. The lower and upper serial numbers are printed on the booklet tab. They might look a lot like plate numbers, but they are not.

Here are some examples of exceptions featuring true plate numbers.

New Jersey

unlisted, $2 NJ Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife $2 Woodcock stamp (1983), possible plate number 5041 in the same light green ink as the stamp. Note: the 1982 NJ Woodcock stamp features a serial number, not a plate number; older issues as well as NJ resident and non-resident trout fishing stamps as far back as 1953 have neither plate numbers nor serial numbers. (Image courtesy of eBay / ckstamps)

unlisted, $2 NJ Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife $2 Woodcock stamp (1984), possible plate number 2548 in the same brown ink as the stamps. (Image courtesy of eBay / ckstamps)

It may be that these are indeed serial numbers, but the printer merely used the same ink color as the basic stamp. This was the case for the 1976 and 1977 Indiana duck stamps, RW-IN 1 and RW-IN 2.

New York

Scott RW-NY 6, $5.50 Canvasbacks (1990), plate number 1A 1A 1A in brown, cyan and yellow. Additional plate numbers 1A 1A appear in the lower margin of the stamp to the right, in magenta and black.

Printed by multicolor security printer House of Questa in the UK so these are proper plate numbers. Also printed with serial number 0164. (Image courtesy of eBay / ckstamps)

Additional marginal markings include "The House / of Questa" in black in the bottom margin, and repetitions of the House of Questa logo in the same five colors in the upper right vertical pair.

Scott RW-NY 6S specimen as indicated by diagonal black lines invalidating the denomination, plate number 1B 1B in magenta and black. (Image courtesy of eBay / ckstamps)

Scott RW-NY 7, $5.50 Redheads (1991), plate number 1A 1A 1A. Additional plate numbers 1A 1A 1A appear in the lower margin of the stamp to the right, in magenta, black and light gray.

Printed by security printer House of Questa in the UK so these are proper plate numbers. Also printed with serial number 0129. (Image courtesy of eBay / ckstamps)

The 1989 New York duck stamp, Scott RW-NY 5, is presumed to have similar marginal markings, based on The House / of Questa imprint in the lower right horizontal pair, in black.

Partial list of state hunting/fishing permit stamps reviewed without plate numbers:

California Hunting license stamp, $1 1914
California alien (i.e., non-resident) Angling licenses, $3 1914-1927, $5 1928-1935
Delaware $2.10 resident, $5.25 non-resident Trout stamps 1956-1976
Indiana Trout stamps, $1 1951-1957, $2 1958-1971, $2.25 1972-1975
Kansas 50¢ Quail stamps 1937-1962
Maryland $3 Archery Big Game stamps 1960-1968
Maryland $2 Firearms Big Game stamps 1960-1967
Maryland $1 resident and $1 seniors Trout Fishing stamps 1963-1976
Maryland $5.50 resident and senior Deer and Turkey stamps 1968-1980
Maryland $10 resident, $20 non-resident, and no-fee junior/senior Crabbing permit stamps, 1990s
Michigan resident, non-resident Hunting permit stamps, 1948-
Michigan resident, non-resident Sportsman license stamps, 1980s- (included 1 bear in 1981)
Michigan $12.85 resident, non-resident Bow & Arrow fee stamps, 1989
Michigan Trout stamps, $1 1949-1957, $2 1958-1961
Michigan $9.85 resident, also non-resident Fishing Fee stamps, 1989
Michigan $1 Cisco Netting stamps 1963-1968
Michigan $2 resident Bear hunting permit stamps, 1959-1962
Michigan $11.25 resident, $100.25 non-resident Bear hunting permit stamps, 1982-1985
Michigan no fee Bear hunting permit stamps, 1986 (the fee was hand-written when the stamp was applied to the permit)
Michigan $14.35 resident, $150.35 non-resident Bear hunting permit stamps, 1987-1989
Missouri Trout stamps, $3.30 1969-73, $4.40 1974-80, $4.50 1981-83, $5 1984-89, $6 1990-95, $5 1996
Montana Special Area permits to hunt deer and elk (dated when purchased)
Tennessee Shell Tax stamps, various denominations from 1 mill to 5¢, 1937-1938
Tennessee Trout stamps, $1 1956-1963, $2 1963-1969
Tennessee Trout stamp essays and proofs, 1957-1963
Tennessee $1 Archery stamps 1967-1972
Virginia $1 resident and $2.50 nonresident Big Game Hunting stamps, 1938-1958
Virginia $1 resident, $5 non-resident Elk Hunting stamps 1940-1947

Dates are for stamps known to exist. Paper licenses, buttons and medallions also served as licenses but no stamps applied.

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This page last updated Januuary 4, 2026.