Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Director Doug Schoenrock plans to leave the agency to lead the Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission, the latter agency announced Thursday.
Schoenrock is set to assume his new role at the start of 2027.
The former president of nonprofit conservation group Ducks Unlimited has led the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission since May 2025. He replaced Austin Booth, who left the role after three years for a job with a Memphis-based outdoor lifestyle company.
Under Schoenrock, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission reformed its regulations with the goal of reducing the number and complexity of rules hunters and anglers must follow. The commission in April approved more than 200 rules changes, including the standardization of deer limits.
A federal lawsuit filed in October accused Schoenrock of forcing out two high-ranking wildlife officers who sought a “suppressed” inspector general’s report tied to a Hatchie Coon Hunting Club boundary dispute, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
Schoenrock is a Tennessee native who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science from the University of Tennessee.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The agency also works to maintain public safety through law enforcement and safety education on waterways.
