Trey Reid, assistant chief of communications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), has been named Ducks Unlimited’s 2025 Conservation Communicator of the Year for his dedication to promoting waterfowl hunting and habitat conservation. The award was presented last week at the 90th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.
A Pine Bluff native, Reid grew up hunting deer and ducks in Arkansas’s renowned public hunting grounds. Influenced by legendary outdoor writers like Nash Buckingham and Ernest Hemingway, his passion for the outdoors evolved into a career dedicated to conservation. His reporting roles at the Pine Bluff Commercial and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette led him to ESPN before he found his calling at the AGFC, where he has played a key role in public outreach and education on conservation efforts.
“Trey possesses a rare ability to translate the complex language of conservation into compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences,” said Keith Stephens, AGFC’s chief of communications. “His voice is a powerful asset in our ongoing efforts to protect Arkansas’s natural resources.”
Reid has spent years educating the public on waterfowl management, explaining the science and conservation work behind healthy waterfowl populations. His ability to communicate these efforts has been crucial in building support among hunters, even when conservation decisions require changes to traditional hunting experiences.
“Sometimes the right thing to do for the long-term benefit of waterfowl isn’t necessarily popular,” said Luke Naylor, chief of AGFC’s Wildlife Management Division. “Trey does a remarkable job of communicating the need for these changes and working to build support among the hunting community.”
Since joining AGFC in 2007, Reid has been involved in numerous conservation projects, working with Ducks Unlimited and other partners to protect Arkansas’s wetland habitats. He has played a key role in outreach efforts for the agency’s greentree reservoir renovation initiative, which aims to restore vital red oak forests impacted by decades of flooding. His work includes hosting town hall meetings and leading educational campaigns to inform the public on the importance of wetland preservation.
“Ducks Unlimited proudly acknowledges the contributions of individuals to wetland and waterfowl conservation across North America,” said DU Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Karen Waldrop. “This year’s winners highlight the impact of this unified passion. DU is honored to recognize their achievements.”
The AGFC was also recognized for its increased commitment to Ducks Unlimited’s Fall Flights program in 2024. Arkansas was one of only 15 states to meet its commitment goal and one of 10 to expand its efforts, providing critical funding for wetland conservation projects in Canada—where many of the ducks migrating through Arkansas each year are raised.
Feature Photo (L to R): Adam Putnam, Karen Waldrop, Jerry Holden, Trey Reid, Mike McShane
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