John Gay started hunting at 7 years old, traversing public Wildlife Management Areas across northeast Arkansas with his father, brothers, uncle and cousin.
“My father had a big impact in exposing me to the outdoors, exposing me to greentree reservoirs, wetlands,” Gay says. “He taught me to respect the land.”
But it wasn’t until he joined the Army after college that he truly began to appreciate the resources he’d had access to growing up.
“My wife and I lived in Germany for a couple of years. It was there that I learned how difficult it was to hunt in that country,” he says. “There was no public land access; you had to be invited by someone with land.
“It made me realize how lucky I was to grow up in Arkansas and have the freedom to hunt, fish, float rivers and explore the great outdoors on public land.”
When he returned to Arkansas, Gay settled in Jonesboro, and he’s since made a point to give his children and grandchildren outdoor experiences similar to the ones he’d had growing up. Five years ago, Gay and his wife built a home on his family’s century farm, originally purchased in 1906, where he’s working to improve water efficiency, soil health and wildlife habitat. He’s utilizing public and private resources from organizations like Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Ducks Unlimited.
“We leave a lot of rice stubble in place and water on the field to provide habitat for waterfowl,” Gay says.
He also gives back to DU’s America’s River Initiative, which he says allows him to donate his money directly to preserving GTRs in northeast Arkansas.
“I wanted to get involved with an organization that was aligned with my values in protecting wild places in my backyard, particularly Dave Donaldson (WMA),” he says.
Gay has been particularly influenced by conservationists like John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt.
“We are only here for a little while, and the good Lord has blessed us to be a good steward of this land we call The Natural State. I want to do my part, with all the resources that are available, to protect and care for it for future generations to find rest in the green deep woods,” he says.
In the Hole
What advice would you give young hunters in Arkansas?
“Get involved with conservation in your local communities and organizations. Your action or inaction will determine what the landscape will look like in 50 years.”
What do you think conservation organizations should be doing to preserve waterfowl species and habitat?
“Game & Fish should be purchasing any GTRs that come available.”
What is your biggest conservation goal?
“To protect wild places. There’s all kinds of data out there that we’re losing wetlands; I want my grandchildren to enjoy what I enjoyed as a young boy. We’re at a critical point.”
