Governor Hobbs’ Next Game & Fish Commissioner
Could Decide Arizona’s Outdoors
If you hunt, fish, or just love spending time in the Arizona outdoors, there’s a big change coming that deserves your attention.
With a new appointment to the Arizona Game & Fish Commission on the horizon, Governor Katie Hobbs will soon decide who helps lead the agency that shapes how we hunt, fish, and manage wildlife across the state. The outcome of this decision will have a ripple effect on every aspect of our outdoor community, from public land access and habitat management to the future of conservation funding.
This might not make the evening news, but for those of us who live and breathe the outdoors, it’s a big deal. The people sitting on that Commission don’t just attend meetings; they make the decisions that impact whether we have healthy wildlife herds, sustainable access to land, and a voice in how Arizona’s natural resources are managed.
“A commissioner has real power to shape the future of hunting in Arizona, and that power needs to be used to grow this way of life, not bury it in red tape.” — Derek Matthews, Ph.D.
Why It Matters
The Arizona Game & Fish Commission is at the heart of everything we care about as outdoorsmen and women. Its decisions shape our hunting and fishing seasons, determine how our license dollars are spent, and influence how future generations experience Arizona’s wild places.
The real question is simple: Will the next commissioner stand with hunters, or with politics?
“Hunters aren’t asking for special treatment; we’re asking for partnership. We need open land access, healthy wildlife herds, sound predator management, and real collaboration between hunters and the Arizona Game & Fish Department.” — Derek Matthews, Ph.D.
What the Commission Actually Does
For anyone who’s not familiar, the Arizona Game & Fish Commission isn’t just a symbolic board. Its members are responsible for:
- Setting hunting and fishing regulations — seasons, bag limits, and license rules rooted in science and public input.
- Overseeing the Game & Fish Department — setting priorities and appointing the Director.
- Managing habitat and conservation projects — deciding how to invest in access, restoration, and preservation.
- Promoting safety and education — from boating programs to hunter education.
- Representing the public — balancing land access, conservation, and outdoor recreation.
Every one of those responsibilities affects how we experience the outdoors. That’s why having the right commissioner, one who understands our way of life, truly matters.
“Hunter Nation Arizona doesn’t want to fight with the Commission — we want to work alongside it. We want what’s best for our state, our wildlife, and our people.” — Derek Matthews, Ph.D.
The Finalists for Arizona Game & Fish Commission
Patrick Cooley – Yuma
Patrick Cooley is the President and CEO of Keithly-Williams Seeds in Yuma. With a strong background in business leadership and land management, he brings operational experience and a private-sector perspective to wildlife and conservation issues. His focus may include improving efficiency, fostering partnerships, and supporting rural economies while ensuring hunting and fishing opportunities remain strong.
Jessica Manuell – Parks
Jessica Manuell is a lifelong hunter from Northern Arizona, a Hunter Education Instructor, and Acting Chair of the National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors Northern Arizona Chapter. She writes for ReelCamo Girl, Great American Wildlife, Miss Pursuit, and other outdoor platforms, and works as Operations Manager for Canyon Coolers. Jessica combines hands-on hunting experience with community engagement and scientific training (Master’s in Crop Science), bringing a practical and educational perspective to the Commission.
Why Every Hunter Should Care
Every tag we buy, every tank of gas we burn on the way to camp, every piece of gear we purchase — it all fuels Arizona’s wildlife management system.
According to the Arizona Game & Fish Department, hunters and anglers spend about $1.3 billion each year in our state. That spending supports over 21,000 jobs and generates more than $124 million in taxes, much of it in rural areas that depend on outdoor recreation.
Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: AZGFD doesn’t rely on state tax dollars. It’s funded almost entirely by the outdoor community — hunters, anglers, and recreationists — through licenses, permits, and excise taxes on hunting and fishing gear.
In other words, we’re the ones keeping the lights on, and the wildlife healthy.
“Some of the biggest moments of my life — the ones that shaped who I am — happened in the field, by the river, and under Arizona’s open sky. I want to make sure my children have that same opportunity.” — Derek Matthews, Ph.D.
Hunting and fishing aren’t just pastimes. They’re what keep small towns alive — fueling local diners, gas stations, sporting goods stores, and family-owned outfitters. When hunting and fishing are strong, so are Arizona’s communities.
Hunter Nation’s Position
Hunter Nation believes that wildlife management belongs in the hands of people who live it every day; the hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen who respect the land and understand the science.
We stand for God, Family, Country, The Constitution, and the Hunting Lifestyle, ensuring that decisions about wildlife are made with experience, conservation, and common sense at the forefront.
“We need a commissioner with equal parts passion and business sense, someone who understands both the heart and the economics of the outdoors. Because hunters are not just participants; we are the original conservationists and one of Arizona’s greatest economic engines.” — Derek Matthews, Ph.D.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about protecting the traditions that define us as outdoorsmen and women.
What You Can Do
This is our moment to pay attention, speak up, and stand together. If we don’t, decisions about our outdoor future will be made by people who’ve never shouldered a rifle, baited a hook, or watched the desert come alive at sunrise.
Here’s how to stay engaged:
- Join Hunter Nation — help strengthen our collective voice and keep our traditions alive.
- Stay informed — Subscribe for updates from Arizona Game & Fish
- Spread the word — share this article with your hunting buddies, outdoor clubs, and local communities.
“We want to see hunting flourish, not fail — and that starts with all of us staying engaged.” — Derek Matthews, Ph.D.
The Bottom Line
Hunting and fishing connect us to the land in a way nothing else can. They sustain Arizona’s wildlife, economy, and heritage.
The next Arizona Game & Fish commissioner will have the power to shape that future. Let’s make sure it’s someone who understands who we are, people driven by purpose, respect for the land, and a deep love for the hunt.
The message is having a strong state
wildlife conservation program is not enough.
It recognizes it is more than that as a long time
Resident of Arizona I have experienced the only
Real protected habit left is on the reservation
That we gave the native Americans,
We need to protect our farm land and our water
Ways and most of all do not allow big business
To infringe buying up any of our national forest..
If we don’t start shooting our mouth off about how our passion for continued hunting in the future our hunting grounds will be like an endangered species
List having nothing to shoot.
feel about what we believe in