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 Craig in Northwest Arkansas, and Dunham in Northeast Arkansas) and the Jim Hinkle Spring River cold-water trout hatchery near Mammoth Spring—plus the roles and niches of each, from catfish, walleye, striped bass, and northern largemouth bass to forage species. The episode covers major infrastructure upgrades, including a new 16,000-square-foot production facility and water system at Joe Hogan, and the Spring River hatchery’s recovery after a devastating April 2025 flood, with production back online and over a million trout on station. They also note trout shortages tied to losses at Norfork National Fish Hatchery, explain why fish are stocked (catchable fishing, genetics, supplementation, forage), and describe ongoing hatchery renovations and restocking efforts such as Lake Wilhelmina.

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 settlements and timber protection, and outlines how public perceptions and agency outreach have helped bring fire back as a management tool through partnerships statewide. She discusses shifting some burns from the traditional February–March window to late growing season (July–September) to promote forb diversity and better control woody encroachment like sweetgum. The episode covers burn planning, weather constraints, ignition strategies, the Qualified Prescribed Burner law and training, prescribed burn associations, and examples of managed areas where prescribed burning have been used to great effect.

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 learning under mentors like former Director Pat Fitz during his 13 years in Ashley County before becoming a supervisor in Calico Rock. He explains game wardens’ community-oriented role as educators and public-safety officers. He also outlines the demanding academy and hiring process. Williams highlights specialized capabilities such as dive team, honor guard, disaster response, accident reconstruction, and canines, and shares how to contact wardens, including the 24-hour dispatch number 833-356-0824.