LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Trey Reid, assistant chief of communications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, was named Ducks Unlimited’s 2025 Conservation Communicator of the Year for his dedication to promoting waterfowl hunting and the conservation of waterfowl habitat Wednesday at the 90th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.
Reid, a Pine Bluff native who grew up pursuing deer and ducks in Arkansas’s famous public hunting grounds, was heavily inspired by outdoor writing legends Nash Buckingham and Ernest Hemingway. His passions for hunting and angling developed into a love of all things outdoors and a dedication to learn and share the science behind creating those breathtaking mornings in the blind and on the water. His work as a reporter at the Pine Bluff Commercial and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette paved the way to a career at ESPN and later the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, where he truly found his calling in promoting conservation at a regional and national level.
A veteran storyteller, Reid has captured the interests of outdoors enthusiasts as well as the general public telling the tale of conservation in ways that inspire understanding and action.
Keith Stephens, chief of the AGFC’s Communications Division, said, “Trey possesses a rare ability to translate the complex language of conservation into compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. His voice is a powerful asset in our ongoing efforts to protect Arkansas's natural resources.”
Reid remains steadfast in a dynamic, and sometimes volatile, world of communication in waterfowl conservation, educating people about waterfowl management and the work that takes place behind the fall flights and flooded timber to maintain healthy waterfowl populations for generations to come.
“Sometimes the right thing to do for the long-term benefit of waterfowl isn’t necessarily popular. It can mean changes to traditional hunting experiences and sometimes a short-term sacrifice for hunters,” Luke Naylor, chief of the AGFC’s Wildlife Management Division, said. “Trey does a remarkable job of communicating the need for these changes and working to build support among the hunting community for the work that drives Arkansas’s waterfowl habitat.”
Reid joined the AGFC in 2007. He has been at the forefront of many waterfowl and wetland-oriented projects, working alongside DU and other partners to safeguard Arkansas’s vital wetland habitats. Reid plays an instrumental role in public outreach efforts surrounding the AGFC’s greentree reservoir renovation initiative to help reverse damage to the valuable red oak component of historically flooded bottomland hardwood forests in Arkansas, including hosting town hall meetings and educational campaigns across the state.
"Each year, Ducks Unlimited proudly acknowledges the contributions of individuals to wetland and waterfowl conservation across North America. These dedicated partners, colleagues and leaders are vital in conserving these essential resources," said DU Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Karen Waldrop. "DU moves forward with our collective conservation mission because of dedicated individuals working together, and this year's winners highlight the impact of this unified passion. DU is honored to recognize their achievements."
The AGFC also earned a second recognition for its increased commitment to the Fall Flights program in 2024, delivering vital resources to Canadian waterfowl habitat projects to maintain and improve wetland habitat in the breeding grounds where many of the ducks that fly through Arkansas are produced. Arkansas was one of only 15 states to reach their commitment goal and one of 10 states to increase its commitment to this valuable program.
