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.
The award was presented March 12 at the 90th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Ky.
Reid, a Pine Bluff native who grew up pursuing deer and ducks in Arkansas’ 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 Game and Fish Commission, where he 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.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Trey possesses a rare ability to translate the complex language of conservation into compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences,” said Keith Stephens, chief of the commission’s Communications Division. “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,” said Luke Naylor, chief of the Game and Fish Commission’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 for the work that drives Arkansas’s waterfowl habitat.”
Reid joined the commission 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 commission’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,” said DU Chief Conservation Officer Karen Waldrop. “These dedicated partners, colleagues and leaders are vital in conserving these essential resources. 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 Game and Fish Commission 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.
Randy Zellers is assistant chief of communications at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Trey Reid, left, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission assistant chief of communications, and Luke Naylor, AGFC chief of wildlife management, accept awards at the 90th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. (Special to The Commercial/Arkansas Game and Fish Commission)