The General Assembly finds that: (1) Recreational hunting is an important and traditional recreational activity in which some fourteen million (14,000,000) Americans sixteen (16) years of age and older participate; (2) Hunters have been and continue to be among the foremost supporters of sound wildlife management and conservation practices in the United States; (3) Persons who hunt and hunting-related organizations provide direct assistance to wildlife managers and enforcement officers of federal, state, and local governments; (4) Purchases of hunting licenses, permits, and stamps and payment of excise taxes on goods used by hunters have generated billions of dollars for wildlife conservation, research, and management; (5) Recreational hunting is an essential component of effective wildlife management, in that it is an important tool for reducing conflicts between people and wildlife and provides incentives for the conservation of wildlife, habitats, and ecosystems on which wildlife depend; and (6) Recreational hunting is an environmentally acceptable activity that occurs and can be provided on state public lands without adverse effects on other uses of that land.
Ark. Code Ann. § 15-41-302 (West)
The General Assembly finds: (1) The control, management, restoration, conservation, and regulation of birds, fish, game, and wildlife resources of the State of Arkansas, including hatcheries, sanctuaries, refuges, and reservations, is vested in the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission; (2) The commission seeks opportunities to expand the benefit of its expertise and resources for the people of Arkansas; (3) Arkansas is an attractive and popular tourist destination for persons who seek rejuvenation and enjoyment through the sports of wildlife and nature appreciation, including hunting and fishing; (4) The income generated for the commission on behalf of oil and gas leases in the Fayetteville Shale has presented an unprecedented opportunity for the commission to further its wildlife conservation goals for the benefit of all Arkansans; (5) The Department of Rural Services and the commission are interested in developing a Wildlife Recreation Facilities Pilot Program to ignite interest in the wildlife resources of Arkansas and to promote economic development in the state through the use and enjoyment of the state's abundant wildlife resources; and (6) To further carry out the mission of the commission, a Wildlife Recreation Facilities Pilot Program should be implemented to establish criteria and construct wildlife recreation facilities, including without limitation the development of community ponds, shooting ranges, community fishing, and access areas for fishing.
Ark. Code Ann. § 15-47-102 (West)