Q&A

Asa Hutchinson and Mike Ross

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette outdoor writer Bryan Hendricks recently met with Arkansas gubernatorial candidates Asa Hutchinson, the Republican nominee, and Mike Ross, the Democratic nominee, to discuss issues of interest to the hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts of Arkansas.

Do you hunt and fish? And for how long?

HUTCHINSON I do hunt and fish. You know, I’ve probably always done some fishing. I’ve gotten into more serious hunting in probably the last 10 years, but I’ve really hunted to a certain extent all my life. It’s just I’ve probably enjoyed it more with my boys the last 10 years. A lot of duck hunting. I’ve done pheasant hunting and also some deer hunting. I got a great Axis deer down in Texas. That was a free-range deer, by the way. I’ve always liked backpacking. I’ve done a lot of climbing the 14ers in Colorado. Had a great trip up to Alaska with my sons doing some fishing, and so I enjoy Arkansas. I’ve primarily done my duck hunting here in Arkansas.

ROSS I’ve been hunting and fishing my entire life. I grew up in southwest Arkansas. I started off squirrel hunting with my dad. From that I transitioned to deer hunting and quail hunting. I later picked up duck hunting. I’ve always enjoyed fishing. I still do some bass fishing, but I just love crappie fishing.

What’s your most memorable outdoor experience?

HUTCHINSON I think it would be the duck hunting in the Delta and the sunrise. I mean, it’s just the being out there early, being with family, the crisp morning, that’s just got to be a constant memorable experience that I enjoy every time I do it.

ROSS There’s really two. It’s going squirrel hunting with my dad when I was a little boy, and it was taking my son on his first deer hunt. Going squirrel hunting with my dad at a very young age, that was really my introduction to not only learning how to hunt and becoming a hunter, but also beginning a lifetime of appreciation for sportsmen and for conservation and for understanding how the two go hand in hand.

How do hunting and fishing fit into the fabric of Arkansas’ culture, and what is the governor’s role regarding the conservation of our state’s fish and wildlife?

HUTCHINSON Th e governor plays a significant role in it. The governor is the chief marketer for the state, whether it’s industry, or whether it is our state parks or whether it is our tourism, and our hunting and fishing. You know we have got some of the best hunting and fishing in the world right here in Arkansas, and it brings a lot to our economy, but it’s also an extraordinary part of our tradition from generation to generation.

ROSS Well, it’s part of our heritage. It’s an Arkansas tradition. It’s part of the fabric of Arkansas. It’s an important part of our way of life in Arkansas. As a leader of the state, as governor, my commitment is protecting the rights of hunters and fishermen, and making certain we have good conservation practices to ensure that this tradition will live on for generations to come.

How important is hunting and fishing to Arkansas’ economy?

HUTCHINSON Well, it’s huge. You look at how much comes into our economy from the sale of outdoor equipment, the firearms that are hunting equipment. It’s the travel, it’s the tourism and the coming in from out of state for the best duck hunting and fishing that’s available. It’s extraordinary for our economy. You know, tourism is the No. 2 industry in Arkansas, so that puts it in perspective, and hunting and fishing is a significant part of that. We talk about the Natural State which goes into that hunting and fishing culture that we have, so it should be a part of our marketing efforts. It should be a part of our identity culture. Arkansas is a lot. From the world’s largest retailer to agriculture, timber, fishing. But the outdoors recreation is a significant part of what we offer and what we have to market.

ROSS Oh, it’s huge. Hunting and fishing in Arkansas has about a $1.6 billion economic impact. That’s the most recent number I’ve seen, and I get this. When I was in Congress, I was elected co-chairman of the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus, which works in conjunction with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. It’s the largest bi-partisan caucus within the Congress, and that’s what I did in Congress was promote conservation, promote the rights of hunters and fishermen, and that’s exactly what I’ll do as governor. A lot of people would get pretty excited about an industry announcing a $1.6 billion investment in Arkansas, and that’s what hunters and fishermen mean to the Arkansas economy. It puts a lot of people to work, and we never need to lose sight of that.

How does the Second Amendment relate to the use of firearms for hunting and recreational shooting?

HUTCHINSON Th e second amendment applies to the right to bear arms. The recreational sports is just a part of it. Obviously the other part is protection. It is the right to bear arms. A subset, or a portion of that, extends to our outdoors recreation. Also, in terms of practicality, there’s a number of states that have passed laws and federal legislation which restrict the ammunition clips. I asked for good protection for bears when I was in Alaska. I was recommended to get a Springfield .45 semiautomatic, 13-magazine clip firearm. That would have been made illegal by some of the proposals to restrict ammunition clips. And so I just don’t think that is a solution. Whether it is the target practice and the recreational sports or the hunting, it’s all a part of the Second Amendment.

ROSS Well, you know I’ve consistently earned an A-plus rating from the National Rifle Association during my time in the state senate and in the United States Congress. I personally own a lot of guns. I’ve got a concealed carry permit. I’ve got an Arkansas hunting license. I always have. I think obviously it’s very important we protect the Second Amendment rights, not only for hunters but for all law-abiding citizens.

How do you view the Game and Fish Commission taking a lead role in promoting shooting sports among young people?

HUTCHINSON I think the role of the Game and Fish is to foster our culture of hunting and fishing traditions in Arkansas, and outdoor sports and outdoor activities. And that can be a relevant part of it because the comfort level and the safety on firearms and shooting sports is a part of that culture. We have to recognize that there’s others that engage in that as well. 4-H, for example. 4-H is really doing a great deal in the shooting sports. I think it’s consistent with the mission, but we should not look at that as Game and Fish’s exclusive territory. There’s a lot of other people involved in that, a lot of other organizations.

ROSS I think it’s outstanding. I’m real excited about the Game and Fish Foundation and the commission. They both have played a meaningful role getting young people involved, teaching them gun safety, what it means to be a good sportsman and to play by the rules. And I’m especially pleased they’re setting up around the state the last few years some ranges for skeet and trap and sporting clays. When my son was growing up in Prescott, I actually purchased one of those ProMatic clay target throwers. We set it up in a cow pasture every Sunday afternoon after church. I’d take him and a bunch of other 12- and 13-year-old boys out there and let them shoot, and it not only was teaching them about our heritage and our tradition of being outdoors, but it was teaching them gun safety and responsibility, and those are memories that I’ll always have.

What qualities would you look for in the people you would appoint to the Game and Fish Commission?

HUTCHINSON I would look for someone that is an active user of our wildlife lands, an outdoors person that does hunt and fish. And I would look for someone that understands the key element of public availability and public access. We just don’t want our hunting and fishing to be restricted to those who can have lodges and can have the private lands. Public access is important, and an understanding and appreciation of that value, and the accessibility of that, is an important criterion. I want somebody to get in there and do a good job, that is willing to work and support what has been built in Arkansas to such a high level.

I would try to balance it geographically, but it’s probably not comparable necessarily to the Highway Commission, where geography is even more important in the area of the state you come from. It’s very important that the Game and fish Commission is represented geographically across the state because everyone in the state utilizes it.

ROSS They’ve got to be sportsmen. They’ve got to be pro-gun. They’ve got to understand the importance of conservation and ensuring that Arkansas remains the Natural State so we can continue to pass this great Arkansas tradition down to future generations. I believe that each region of the state should be represented on the commission. It shouldn’t be all deer hunters. It shouldn’t be all duck hunters. It shouldn’t be all fishermen. It should be a combination of people that enjoy all different types of hunting and fishing. First and foremost I would look at the character of the person and make sure they would represent our state well in a fair and impartial way.

How do you view the Game and Fish Commission’s autonomy from the rest of state government?

HUTCHINSON Th e Game and Fish is constitutionally independent. I recognize and respect that authority. So I think the Game and Fish Commission, while independent, I want them to work to build greater partnerships, making sure they’re acting in concert with other state agencies, so they can work to support expanding economic opportunity and growth. We want to encourage all our agencies to work together in partnership, and that is my goal.

ROSS The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is one of two state agencies that are independent constitutionally of the governor and the legislature. I think it’s good. I think it ensures there’s no politics involved in the decisions that they have to make, and I think we should continue that tradition.

What’s your favorite shotgun?

RO SS Benelli Super Black Eagle. I use a Ruger Red Label over-and-under for quail or pheasant, and I use a Browning .270 for deer hunting, and I keep a Smith & Wesson M&P .40-caliber by my bed.

HUTCHINSON My favorite shotgun is the shotgun I have, a Remington 12-gauge.

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