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About the Commission

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission plays an important role in keeping The Natural State true to its name. Over the past 100 years, the agency has overseen the protection, conservation and preservation of various species of fish and wildlife in Arkansas. This is done through habitat management, fish stocking, hunting and fishing regulations, and a host of other programs conducive to helping Arkansas’ wildlife flourish.

In November 1996, Arkansas taxpayers passed Amendment 75 to the state constitution. The amendment now directs nearly 26 million dollars annually to wildlife protection and management in Arkansas.  The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is committed now, more than ever, to assuring a bright future for the state’s natural resources in years to come!

Our agency is more than just managing "critters". An essential part of ensuring a healthy wildlife population involves people. Through agency programs geared towards the public, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission works with the human element to generate awareness of ethical and sound management principles. Whether it be educational programs, fishing and hunting regulations, or environmental awareness, the agency understands that working with people is just as important a factor in managing wildlife as any other.

The Commission itself consists of seven Arkansans appointed by the governor to seven year terms. An eighth, non-voting, member sits as Chair of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s Department of Biology. It is the sole responsibility of the Commission to oversee the agency’s function as a wildlife management entity.

Monthly Meeting

The Commission meets monthly in Little Rock at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Little Rock office.  If the meeting location has changed, it will be sent out as a press release and the location of the meeting will be posted on the website.  Use the hyperlinks below to view the dates of upcoming meetings as well as the agenda for the current meeting.

Schedule of Upcoming Meetings

Click here to view a schedule of the upcoming meetings.

The Director

In February 2003, Commissioners from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission appointed Scott Henderson as the agency’s new director.  Henderson has worked for the AGFC since 1972. Before becoming director, he served as the agency’s assistant director for 16 years. 

The Commissioners

The following are the current members of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Sonny Varnell - Chairman  (2003-2008)
St. Paul, Arkansas
P.O. Box 211, St. Paul, AR  72760 - (479) 677-3225 - svarnell@alltel.net

Gov. Mike Huckabee named Sanford "Sonny" Varnell of St. Paul in Madison County to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on Monday, May 5, 2003.

Varnell, replaced Bill Ackerman of Fayetteville, who resigned from the commission. Varnell will serve until July 1, 2008.

Varnell graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1957 and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.  He worked for International Paper Co. at its Pine Bluff facility from June 1963 until his retirement from the company in November 1997.

Gov. Mike Huckabee appointed Freddie Black of Lake Village to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on July 3, 2002.  Black grew up on the banks of Lake Chicot, the state's largest natural lake. “When you call your state the Natural State, one of the most important appointments an Arkansas governor can make is an appointment to the Game and Fish Commission,” Huckabee said. “I can't think of anyone who loves our state more than Freddie. He will work hard to protect and enhance our precious natural resources,” Huckabee added. 

Black replaced Marion McCollum of Stuttgart.  His term expires on July 1, 2009.

He is the president of Simmons First Bank of South Arkansas. He has held that position since 1994. He worked from 1980-84 for First State Bank & Trust of Lake Village and served from 1985-94 as executive vice president of Simmons First Bank of Lake Village.

He is a 1974 graduate of Subiaco Academy and a 1978 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a degree in banking and finance. Black received his master's of business administration degree from the University of Arkansas in 1979 and graduated in 1983 from Louisiana State University's Graduate School of Banking of the South.

“Being appointed to the Game and Fish Commission is a dream come true for me,” Black said

Black is a member of Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Island 82 Hunting Club and the Woodstock Island Hunting and Fishing Club. He hunts deer, quail, dove, duck and turkey. He also enjoys bass and crappie fishing.

Brett Morgan   (2003-2010)
Little Rock, Arkansas
10926 Plantation Lake Road, Scott, AR  72142 - (501) 961-1692 - HRCHCasey@aol.com

Gov. Mike Huckabee appointed Brett Morgan of Little Rock to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  Morgan was a central Arkansas automobile dealer prior to selling his dealership in January 2001.

"I've been an avid Arkansas sportsman for 30 years," Morgan said. "I've actually hunted or fished on the majority of the state's wildlife management areas," he added. Morgan said the he would follow the governor’s lead in promoting the state. “I think Arkansas has some of the finest hunting and fishing in the country,” he said.

Huckabee said he chose Morgan because of Morgan's passion for protecting the state's natural resources and making them available to all Arkansans.

Morgan replaces Jim Hinkle of Mountain View.  Morgan will serve until July 1, 2010.

Craig Campbell    (2006-2011)
Little Rock, Arkansas    P.O. Box 34367, Little Rock, AR 72203  - 501-377-2403 - lburns@stephensgroup.com

 Gov. Huckabee appointed Craig Campbell, of Little Rock, to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Campbell replaces John Benjamin of Glenwood who resigned to pursue a new employment opportunity.

Campbell is vice chairman of The Stephens Group, LLC, a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas system, a member of the Executive Committee of the Arkansas Livestock Show Association Board and an avid outdoorsman and hunting enthusiast.

Campbell 's term expires on July 1, 2011.

George Dunklin Jr.    (2005-2012)
DeWitt, Arkansas
P.O. Box 586, DeWitt, AR 72042 - (870) 946-4549 - gdunklin@dunklingrain.com

Gov. Mike Huckabee has named George Dunklin Jr., an Arkansas County farmer, to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  Dunklin replaced Forrest L. Wood of Flippin, who was Huckabee's second appointee to the commission in 1998.  Dunklin's term expires on July 1, 2012.

Dunklin is a 1980 graduate of the University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in business. He has been a member of the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board and manages several family-owned companies.

"George is one of the finest conservationists I know," Huckabee said. "His goal is to leave his land in better shape than he found it. He has spent a large amount of money planting thousands of hardwood trees in Arkansas County in an effort to restore the bottomland hardwoods of east Arkansas. There's a sense of responsibility there to give something back. He's making sure he leaves behind a positive legacy for his children and his grandchildren. George will bring that same sense of responsibility to the AGFC. He loves this state and its people. And he cherishes the natural resources God has provided for Arkansans. I cannot think of anyone who will do a better job of protecting those resources.

Ronald Pierce     (2006-2013)
Mountain Home, Arkansas  1453 CR11, Mountain Home, AR 72653 - (870) 430-5203 - ronpierce@suddenlink.net 

Gov. Mike Huckabee appointed Ron Pierce to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  Pierce replaced Mike Freeze of England.

Pierce is CEO/owner of Challenger, Inc. Bass Cat Boats in Mountain Home.  Previously, he was employed with Baxter/Travenol Laboratories as Plastics Superintendent in Mountain Home.

"I've known the Pierce family for many years pre-dating my time as Governor, and Ron's love of the outdoors, his knowledge of protecting and preserving our resources, and his strong business acumen will be a great asset to the Game and Fish Commission," Gov. Huckabee said. 

Pierce has been involved in fishing, boating and water conservation for many years. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Bass Research Foundation. Pierce served as Mayor of Mountain Home from 1976 through 1986.

"Ron's having served as a Mayor will prepare him for making tough decisions, but his passion for wanting every Arkansas to have the opportunity to enjoy the natural treasures of our state will serve us well," Gov. Huckabee said.

Rick Watkins     (2007-2014)
Little Rock, Arkansas    P. O. Box 32050, Little Rock, AR72260 - (501) 217-7503 - Rick@TheWatkinsCompany.com

Governor Mike Beebe has named Rick Watkins of Little Rock to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

“Rick has long been a champion for educating our youth about the outdoor opportunities that Arkansas provides us all,” Beebe said. “He understands and values education as a vital component of the services that Game and Fish provides Arkansans of all ages.”

Watkins, 50, has spent the past five years as a board member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, which supports conservation- and outdoors-education efforts throughout the state. He has also spent most of his life actively involved in the Boy Scouts of America, as both an Eagle Scout in his youth and as an adult volunteer. Last month, Watkins received national recognition as a recipient of the Silver Antelope Award, which is presented for outstanding volunteer service to the Scouts.

Born and raised in Little Rock, Watkins graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a degree in Business Administration. He is the owner and president of the Watkins Company, a regional printing and advertising-distribution company. He also serves on the board of Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Kimberly G. Smith    (Ex-Officio)
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 - kgsmith@uark.edu

Kimberly G. Smith became a Commissioner (ex officio) in July 2004 when he became Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.  He replaced Dan Davis, who had served for 2 years as Interim Chair.