Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

What Arkansas Game and Fish Commission does

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is a state government agency of Arkansas, headquartered at 2 Natural Resources Drive in Little Rock, responsible for conserving, managing, and enhancing the state's fish and wildlife resources. Founded in the 1920s to address declining game populations, AGFC now oversees over 100 Wildlife Management Areas spanning 380,000+ acres, manages 600,000+ acres of lakes for fishing and boating, and operates multiple state fish hatcheries (Joe Hogan, Andrew Hulsey, Charlie Craig) and nine nature centers across Arkansas. Its core functional remit covers hunting and fishing regulation, wildlife population management (white-tailed deer, waterfowl, turkey, black bass, trout), habitat restoration, and public access to nearly 3 million acres of publicly accessible hunting land including 250,000+ acres of leased timber company land.

AGFC's product portfolio includes regulatory/licensing services delivered through a proprietary online portal and mobile app, formal education programs (Hunter Education, Boater Education, Youth Shooting Sports, Archery in the Schools), conservation initiatives (Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Program, Stream Habitat Program, Private Lands Habitat Division), and recognition programs (Master Angler, Triple Trophy, Wings Over Arkansas, Arkansas Grand Slam, Arkansas Legacy Lunker Program). The agency is funded through hunting/fishing license and permit fees, federal Pittman-Robertson/Wallop-Breaux grants, conservation license plates, and donations via the affiliated Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation. Customers include licensed hunters and anglers (over 100,000 waterfowl hunters annually), private landowners, K-12 educators, and youth/family participants, served through a community-led, event-driven, and direct-to-consumer go-to-market model spanning digital channels, regional offices, nature centers, and statewide license vendors.

AGFC pursues strategic partnerships with federal agencies (U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NRCS, U.S. Department of the Interior) and commercial/nonprofit entities (Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, AFTCO, The Nature Conservancy, Ross Foundation) to extend programmatic reach. Its operating scope is geographically constrained to Arkansas; it has no external commercial revenue motive and operates under a state regulatory mandate rather than a market-share growth orientation.

Name

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Legal name

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Website

https://agfc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is a state government agency headquartered in Little Rock that conserves and manages Arkansas's fish and wildlife resources, regulating hunting and fishing, operating 100+ wildlife management areas, four fish hatcheries, and nine nature centers for the state's hunters, anglers, private landowners, educators, and youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation & Outdoor Recreation

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (114)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Administration (BPAIAAAO)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation services
• Hunting license sales
• Fishing license sales
• Outdoor recreation programs
• Fish hatchery operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. License and Permit Fees: Revenue generated from the sale of hunting licenses, fishing licenses, stamps, and permits. This includes resident and non-resident licenses, specialty permits for specific hunts, and conservation licenses.
2. Federal Grants and Funding: The commission receives federal funding from agencies including the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and through programs like the Wildlife Restoration Act for habitat restoration and land acquisition projects.
3. Conservation License Plates: Specialty license plate sales where proceeds fund conservation education and the AGFC Conservation Scholarship Fund.
4. Donations and Foundation Support: Support from Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation including fundraising events like the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet and direct donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AGFC conserves and manages Arkansas's fish and wildlife resources through issuing hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, operating fish hatcheries and stocking programs, maintaining 100+ Wildlife Management Areas, delivering Hunter and Boater Education courses, running youth and family outdoor recreation programs, and providing technical habitat assistance to private landowners. The agency enforces wildlife regulations and conducts wildlife population surveys and research to inform sustainable harvest management.

Product overview

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) operates a unified portfolio of public resource management services centered on wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental education. The agency's offerings span regulatory/licensing functions (hunting/fishing licenses via the AGFC Mobile App and licensing portal), formal education programs (Hunter Education, Boater Education with online and in-person delivery), youth development initiatives (Schools of Conservation Leadership, Generation Conservation student club, Youth Shooting Sports, Archery in the Schools), recreational achievement programs (Arkansas Legacy Lunker trophy bass program, Arkansas Grand Slam, Master Angler, Triple Trophy), and land/water habitat programs (Private Lands Habitat Division, Stream Habitat Program, Water Trails). The core platform is complemented by nine nature center facilities and access to over 100 Wildlife Management Areas. Partnerships with organizations like AFTCO (apparel) and Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas (safety education) extend program reach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation: A nonprofit foundation that supports the commission's conservation mission and hosts fundraising events like the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet.
• Arkansas Legacy Lunker Program
• Generation Conservation
• Schools of Conservation Leadership

Products and services

• Licensing System (Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Licenses)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,000,000 white-tailed deer population maintained through sustainable management
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AFTCO (American Fishing Tackle Company)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 May 2026AFTCO named Official Apparel Partner of the Arkansas Legacy Lunker Program, a trophy bass conservation initiative launched in 2026. AFTCO provides premium co-branded apparel for participating anglers and specialized gear for the program's angler recognition and youth divisions. Partnership aligns with AFTCO's 10-percent Pledge for Conservation dedicating portion of annual profits to fisheries protection, habitat restoration, and youth angler programs.
• Electric Cooperatives of ArkansascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026Three-year partnership making Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas the Official Outdoor Safety Education Partner of AGFC. Programs launching in 2026-27 school year include Hunter Education, Boater Education, and new ATV Safety Education program. Includes Arkansas Outdoor Safety Graduation Cord for high school seniors completing all three certifications. Electric Cooperatives also serve as Founding Partner of Annual Generation Conservation Summit and presenting sponsor of Safety Zone display area.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for prescribed burn management to restore prairies, glades, and savannas while managing fuel loads and promoting native plant communities across the state.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for habitat management including prescribed burn associations with private landowners. AGFC acquired Stone Prairie WMA (989 acres) from The Nature Conservancy in 2017.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partnership connecting private landowners with NRCS programs for conservation solutions including streambank stabilization, riparian vegetation, and livestock management.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for Fish and Wildlife Program for enhancement of Threatened and Endangered Species habitats. Also distributes funding through Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) for barrier removals and aquatic habitat restoration.
• Arkansas Game and Fish FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit foundation supporting AGFC through fundraising events including the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet and direct donations. Supports conservation mission and outdoor recreation programs.
• Arkansas Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Governor's office and Natural State Initiative Advisory Council to develop outdoor education opportunities within school curriculum.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: State wildlife agency with parallel regulatory authority over hunting, fishing, and wildlife management. Operates state fish hatcheries, WMAs, and hunter/boater education programs in a similarly structured model, making it the closest analogue in scope and function.
• Missouri Department of Conservation: Neighboring state conservation agency managing wildlife, fisheries, and public lands with a comparable funding mix (license sales, dedicated conservation sales tax). Operates hatcheries, nature centers, and education programs with a similar organizational structure to AGFC.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Commission-form state wildlife agency with regulatory authority, hatchery operations, WMA system, and hunter/boater education. Geographic context differs, but mission, regulatory structure, and program portfolio are closely aligned with AGFC.
• Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: State fish and wildlife agency operating fish hatcheries, WMAs, hunter education, and license-based funding. Shares the conservation-commission governance model and overlapping Arkansas River and border-region wildlife priorities with AGFC.
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: State wildlife agency with parallel hunting, fishing, and boating regulatory and educational functions. Operates hatcheries and WMAs and shares the Mississippi Flyway waterfowl management context with AGFC.

Broad incumbents

• Ducks Unlimited: National nonprofit specializing in waterfowl habitat conservation, a core focus of AGFC's Waterfowl Rice Program and greentree reservoir management. Functions as both a partner and an adjacent organization competing for conservation funding and donor attention.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal partner and primary grant funder for AGFC's habitat and endangered species work. Operates the broader national wildlife management framework and provides funding through the Wildlife Restoration Act and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Emerging players

• The Nature Conservancy (Arkansas Chapter): Major conservation NGO that has partnered with AGFC on prescribed burns and previously transferred the 989-acre Stone Prairie WMA to the agency. Comparable focus on land acquisition and habitat management, but operates as a private nonprofit with different funding mechanics.

Others

• Bass Pro Shops: Major outdoor retailer headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, with deep involvement in fishing conservation, hunter education advocacy, and youth outdoor programs. Functions as an adjacent ecosystem player with overlapping customer base and conservation sponsorship interests.

Regional players

• National Wild Turkey Federation: National nonprofit focused on wild turkey and habitat conservation with active state chapters in Arkansas. Operates as an adjacent conservation organization with overlapping membership, conservation program delivery, and partnership opportunities with AGFC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubearkansaswildlife.buzzsprout.com/1990641
• Xx.com/ARGameandFish
• Facebookfacebook.com/ARGameandFish

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arkansas Game and Fish Commission