Flathead Indian Reservation

Bird Stamps

The Flathead Indian Reservation is located in northwest Montana, between Glacier National Park and Missoula. The Confederated Kootenai and Salish Tribes live on the reservation. Waterfowl hunters were required to purchase bird stamps starting in 1987. From 1988 through 1990, the tribes had combination bird and fishing stamps printed with boxes to check off the appropriate activity. If sportsmen intended to hunt and fish, they were required to purchase two stamps and have both affixed to their use and conservation permit.

The 1987 issues were strip-type stamps. They measure approximately 88 mm wide x 15 mm tall and were self-adhesive, requiring a protective backing. The stamps were printed very close together on the backing material, which was then cut in such a way that produced booklet panes of eight (1x8). Ten panes were stapled together at the left to form a booklet. The stamps were plain rouletted vertically 23 mm from the left, creating a tab where the staples attached the panes to each other. The panes were scored horizontally between the stamps, however, they were often separated with scissors. The stamps were imprinted with a place for the license agent to fill in the date of issue and also with a signature line. The serial number was formed by three components: "No" in red ink to the left of the rouletting (therefore this portion was separated from the rest of the stamp at the time of issue); "B#" in black (indicating bird stamp as opposed to fishing); and the sequential number in red.

The 1988 stamps were printed in booklet panes of ten (2x5) with a tab at the top. Canary-colored carbon copies of the panes were affixed to the reverse of the tabs. The panes were plain (uncolored) rouletted 7 1/2 vertically between the stamps and horizontally between the bottom eight stamps. The panes were rouletted horizontally between the top four stamps and between the two stamps and the tab. Ten panes were stapled between covers to form a booklet. Serial numbers on the 1988 stamps were formed by two components. The left portion indicated the number of the pane from which the stamp originated. The right portion is a position number, indicating the relative placement of the stamp on the pane.

In 1989 the stamps were printed se-tenant with similar stamps that were overprinted "DUPLICATE" in salmon colored ink. At the time of issue, the unoverprinted stamps were affixed to the hunter's permits. The duplicate stamp(s) were affixed to canary-colored carbon copies of the permits and served as proof of stamp purchase. Upon proof of loss of their original permit and stamp(s) — and at the tribe's discretion — sportsmen could obtain a replacement license and stamp(s) at no additional charge. Occasionally, duplicate stamps were affixed to to original permits and unoverprinted stamps were affixed to permit copies in error. The 1989 stamps were printed in booklet panes of five se-tenant pairs (1x5) with a tab at the top. Canary-colored carbon copies of the panes were affixed to the reverse of the tabs.

There were at least two printings of the 1989 stamps. Panes from the first printing were plain rouletted 5 1/2 between the stamps and between the stamps and the tab. It should be noted that on many panes, the vertical roulette did not completely punch through the paper and appears to be rouletted 11. On a subsequent printing or printings, the panes were plain rouletted 6 1/2. All of the stamps the editor has examined from the first printing were on matte Fasson® CRACK'N PEEL Plus TM permanent paper. Some of the stamps from the subsequent printing or printings were on the same kind of paper; others were on chrome coated (gloss) Fasson® CRACK'N PEEL Plus TM paper.

In 1990 the stamps were once again printed se-tenant with similar stamps that were overprinted "DUPLICATE" in salmon colored ink. A vertical gutter measuring 26 mm wide separated the regular stamp (left) from those overprinted "DUPLICATE" (right) on 1990 booklet panes. The stamps were printed in panes of five se-tenant gutter pairs (1x5) with a tab at the top. Canary-colored carbon copies of the panes were affixed to the reverse of the tabs. Ten panes were stapled between covers to form a booklet. There were at least three printings of the 1990 stamps. Stamps from the first printing were on coated Mactac® Starliner TM PERMANENT paper, and the panes were stapled between blue covers. Stamps from subsequent printings were on two types of white mate paper, Fasson® CRACK'N PEEL Plus TM permanent or FasTrack TM, and stapled between manila covers. All 1990 stamps were plain rouletted 6 1/2.

All serial numbers on 1988 through 1990 stamps were printed in red ink. The 1989 and 1990 se-tenant pairs (regular and duplicate stamps) were printed with matching serial numbers. After 1990 the duplicate stamps were discontinued.

In 1991 the format of the bird stamps was changed. Strip-type stamps were once again employed. The 1991 stamps were labeled "JOINT BIRD LICENSE" and were specified in "Reservation regulations jointly enacted by the Tribes and state (of Montana)." The Flathead Reservation and state of Montana stamps from the 1990's are so similar that they almost certainly were produced by the same printer. The 1991 through 1997 stamps were die cut, self-adhesives with a protective peelable backing. Serial numbers were printed in black ink. The stamps were issued in booklet panes of ten (1x10) with a tab at the top. A second carbon copy (light blue-green) was added. A single pane was stapled between printed covers to form a booklet. From 1992 through 1994, a three-day bird stamp was issued in addition to the seasonal bird stamp. Starting in 1995, separate stamps were printed for resident and non-resident hunters.

Remainders of Flathead stamps have been sold to collectors at a price below their face value. Unsigned values are for stamps free of notations or that may have been removed from their backing material. Signed values are for stamps with the permit number filled in and may or may not bear a signature.