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The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee issued the following testimony by Jeff Crow, director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, at a hearing entitled "Legislative Hearing on S. 1514, the Hunting Heritage and Environmental Legacy Preservation (HELP) for Wildlife Act":
"Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I am Jeff Crow, Director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Before becoming director in 2016, I was the agency's chief of staff, overseeing day-to-day operations for the Commission, for two years. Prior to these roles at the administrative level of the agency, I served the AGFC as the chief of law enforcement, sometimes working with Federal enforcement agents concerning our bedrock laws and regulations that help manage our migratory waterfowl.
"Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to testify on behalf of the State of Arkansas, supporting the Hunting Heritage and Environmental Legacy Preservation for Wildlife Act, including reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the promotion of building public shooting ranges, the clarification of migratory bird-baiting regulations to coincide with USDA and state agricultural best practices, and many other important initiatives for the continued conservation of our nation's fish and wildlife.
"To Reduce Landowner Liability for Baiting Migratory Game-birds if they Adhere to USDA and State Agricultural Best Practices
"Arkansas' position as the nation's top-producing rice-growing state as well as its reputation as the premiere waterfowl-hunting destination in the country gives us a unique perspective concerning proposed amendments to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
"Waterfowl conservation is one of the more successful examples of coordination between state and federal authorities. It is this cooperation that has benefitted wildlife in Arkansas and the people who enjoy that wildlife resource. Arkansas hunters consistently rank in the top three for total duck harvest and lead the nation in mallard harvest each year. In a time when many states are experiencing declines in hunting participation, Arkansas duck hunter numbers have grown over the past decade, with approximately 100,000 individuals duck hunting in Arkansas each year, including Arkansas resident hunters and guests from all 50 states.
"Outdoors-related recreation generates more than $4.9 million a day in Arkansas. According to the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and...