Arkansas Wildlife

Host Trey Reid welcomes Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Deputy Director Brad Carner back for a third straight episode on regulation updates, focusing on Arkansas waterfowl. They review that duck season dates remain largely the same, with only a minor change around the Christmas split, still opening the Saturday before Thanksgiving and closing January 31 under federal frameworks. Key changes include expanding non-motorized access ...

Host Trey Reid talks with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Deputy Director Brad Carner about biannual wildlife regulation updates aimed at simplifying rules and streamlining license products. They explain a new requirement on public lands that dogs pursuing deer, fox or coyote must wear GPS collars and electric correction collars, clarifying it does not apply to other dog types or private land, and noting the goal is reducing conf...

On this episode of the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast, host Trey Reid is joined by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Deputy Director Brad Carner to discuss new hunting and wildlife management area (WMA) regulation changes in the upcoming biennial cycle (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2028), part of 218 total fishing and hunting code updates aimed at simplifying and standardizing rules. They explain cleanup of outdated or redundant regulati...

Host Trey Reid talks with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Deputy Director Ben Batten about new regulations passed at the April commission meeting that take effect July 1, aligning fishing and wildlife regulation start dates and guidebook releases. They highlight the expansion of “blue ribbon” smallmouth bass streams from 2 to 10, with a one-over-15-inch smallmouth limit. They also discuss eliminating fish possession l...

Host Trey Reid talks with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission fisheries staff Eric Naas and Will Lancett about the first year of Arkansas’s Legacy Lunker program after the donation period ended March 31. They report 19 qualifying bass donations, with fish coming from several waters including DeGray (5), Lake Austell (3), Lower White Oak (3), and Ouachita (3), and discuss unusual double-catch stories, minimal false alarms, and s...

Host Trey Reid discusses Arkansas Game and Fish Commission fisheries and fish hatcheries with Reed Pfeiffer, an Assistant Chief in Operations and Jason Miller, an Assistant Chief in Fisheries, who began at the Joe Hogan Hatchery in 2000 and managed it before becoming assistant chief in 2023. They outline Arkansas’s hatchery system—four warm-water facilities (Joe Hogan at Lonoke, Andrew Hulsey in Hot Springs, Charlie Cra...

In this Arkansas Wildlife Podcast episode, host Trey Reid talks with Emily Roberts, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s prescribed fire coordinator, about how prescribed fire reinstates a natural process historically common in Arkansas and improves habitat by reducing leaf litter, opening canopies, and restoring grasses and wildflowers for wildlife. Emily describes her background, explains how fire suppression grew with s...

Host Trey Reid welcomes Colonel Joe Williams, chief of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Enforcement Division, to discuss Williams’ upbringing near Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, his hunting and fishing roots, and the game warden encounter that inspired his career. Williams describes earning a degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, interning with AGFC, entering the academy in 2009, and learnin...

Host Trey Reid welcomes John Stein, District 1 fishery supervisor in Northwest Arkansas with 24 years at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, to discuss fishery management challenges in a rapidly growing region. Stein shares his background from Northeastern Colorado and his path into fisheries, including early work as a fish pathologist and a hatchery technician at the Andrew Hulsey Hatchery in Hot Springs. The episode covers inc...

Join host Trey Reid on the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast as he delves into the diverse and intriguing world of freshwater mussels with Dr. Kendall Moles of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Discover the ecological importance of mussels, their unique reproductive mechanisms, and the various conservation efforts in Arkansas. Dr. Moles shares his journey and the challenges faced in preserving these vital species, including propagatio...

Join host Trey Reid on the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast as he delves into the significant role of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation (AGFF). Special guests 
Jibbie Tucker and Deke Whitbeck share insights about the foundation's history since its inception in 1982, its mission to support the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), and its impactful projects. Learn about the AGFF's efforts in fundraising, education...

Join Trey Reid from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as he sits down with Nick Feltz, the District 10 Fisheries Supervisor, for an in-depth update on the ongoing Lake Conway renovation and restoration project. This episode covers the significant progress made halfway through the five-year timeline, including dam and spillway construction, habitat improvements, and homeowner involvement. Nick also discusses the productivity of ...

Join host Trey Reid with guests Jeremy Risley and Will Lancet from Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions Fisheries Division in the latest episode of the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast as they discusses the exciting launch of the Legacy Lunker Program. They delve into details about the program's aim to enhance the genetics of Arkansas's bass population through selective breeding. Anglers have the chance to contribute by donating bass weighi...

Welcome to the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast, the official podcast of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. In this episode, host Trey Reid is joined by Christy Graham, Trout Program Coordinator, and Vic DeCenzo, Assistant Chief in the Fisheries Division, to discuss the recent emergency trout regulations passed by the Commission. They delve into the reasons behind these regulations, which include significant water quality issues and f...

Join Trey Reid as he chats with Allison Fowler, Assistant Chief of the Wildlife Management Division at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. They dive deep into the broader spectrum of wildlife conservation in Arkansas, discussing non-game species that make up 97% of the state's wildlife. From endangered mussels to pollinators like bees and butterflies, discover the extensive efforts made to conserve all of Arkansas's wildlife. Le...

In this episode of the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast, Trey Reid from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is joined by Ralph Meeker, AGFCs Statewide Deer Program Coordinator, and Jeremy Brown, AGFCs DMAP Coordinator, to discuss deer management. They dive into topics such as hunting season trends, factors affecting deer population, the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), and the impact of chronic wasting disease. The conversatio...

Welcome to the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast! In this episode, Trey Reid from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission talks with Tim Burnley, AGFC Stream Habitat Supervisor, about the vital work being done to maintain the health of Arkansas' streams. They dive into the significance of riparian management, discuss the impact of sediment pollution, and share detailed success stories of habitat restoration projects across the state. Tim exp...

Welcome to the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast, the official podcast of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. In this episode, host Trey Reid discusses the newly released book 'River to Ridge: Arkansas's Wildlife Management Areas' with guests Kirsten Bartlow, Watchable Wildlife Program coordinator, and Jeff Williams, editor of Arkansas Wildlife Magazine. The book, a compendium of Arkansas's diverse wildlife management areas, is packed w...

Welcome to another engaging episode of the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast the official podcast of The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. In this episode, host Trey Reid is joined by Lieutenant Tracy Blake, as well as brand-new game wardens Hailey Reed and Gage Gustavus. The discussion dives into the rigorous training and transformation from cadet to game warden, including the intense 18-week cadet school, practical field experiences, an...