For everyone who supports Ducks Unlimited's habitat and conservation efforts, here's a chance to show it with a DU license plate, complete with the familiar duck head logo.

How about "IDODU"? Or maybe "DU4ME"?

Although the possibilities are endless, the bottom line number is 400, as in how many vehicle owners need to apply for the DU license plate before they become realities.

The cost would be $25 annually for numbers generated by the Department of Transportation, and $15 of that annual fee would be returned to DU, state regional director Jeff Essler said Thursday during a news conference at DU's Great Plains Regional Office in Bismarck.

For another $25 annually, a vanity license plate is available. But only five characters are available because of the DU logo.

For every $1 DU raises from the license plates, the organization is able to leverage 7 additional dollars from other sources, Essler said.

And the money stays in North Dakota because "we spend more than we raise in North Dakota," Essler said.

The money would be used for wetlands enhancement and protection. Habitat that ducks prefer has been lost, Essler said, and "we want to work to maintain what we have."

Money also would go into agronomy programs that are aimed at planting winter wheat, which is beneficial for ducks, said Jim Ringelman, DU's director of conservation programs in the Dakotas and Montana.

"Winter wheat is planted in the fall and is undisturbed in the spring. Ducks nest in it with considerable success," he said.

At least a dozen other states allow organizations to have specialized license plates, and Essler is hoping North Dakota joins other states that allow DU plates.

Organizational license plates received the go-ahead during the last legislative session, Essler said, and 400 is the minimum number needed before DOT moves forward with organizational plates. DU has about 6,000 members in North Dakota, he added. Money will be refunded if the effort falls short of 400, Essler added.

DU and its volunteers worked with DOTon the license plate design, Essler said. The plate maintains the standard blue-sky-and-prairie theme.

Essler is collecting the applications and checks, which he will take to DOT once he has 400. Applications are available at DU's Great Plains Regional Office, 2525 River Road in Bismarck or on DU's Web site, nd.ducks.org.

Once the minimum is met, DU plates always will be available, Essler added.

"Hopefully, these new DU plates will increase awareness of DU throughout the state and also remind people of the important conservation work DU does right here in North Dakota," said Paul Myerchin, DU North Dakota president.