Uncovering the Tangled Web of Utah's Anti-Wolf Lobby

For years, the state of Utah has poured millions of taxpayer dollars into the anti-wolf advocacy group Big Game Forever, allowing the organization to secretly lobby for the removal of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. However, the recent release of financial records has shed light on the organization's questionable spending, revealing connections between the Benson brothers and their involvement in other controversial projects, such as the failed plan to dredge Utah Lake.

Exposing the Hidden Agenda and Dubious Practices of Big Game Forever

The Gray Wolf Delisting Campaign: Taxpayer Dollars Fueling a Private Agenda

The Utah Legislature's relentless pursuit to delist the gray wolf began in 2011 when Senator Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, sponsored a resolution calling on Congress to remove the species from federal protection. To accomplish this goal, the state began funneling millions of dollars to the nonprofit organization Big Game Forever, which was co-founded by Utah lawyer and hunter Ryan Benson.Over the years, Big Game Forever received an astonishing .1 million from the state's Division of Wildlife Resources, with the funds earmarked for the anti-wolf campaign. The group claimed victory in 2020 when the Trump administration delisted the gray wolf, but a federal judge reversed that decision in 2022, once again placing the species under federal protection.

Lack of Transparency and Questionable Spending

Despite the massive influx of taxpayer funds, there were repeated concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding Big Game Forever's spending. A 2013 legislative audit found that the nonprofit was receiving upfront payments before demonstrating any progress on its goals and that it was commingling state and private funds.In 2018, the state finally required Big Game Forever to disclose the names of its subcontractors, but the organization fought to keep the records secret for four years. The unredacted documents recently obtained by The Utah Investigative Journalism Project shed light on the nonprofit's spending, revealing that a significant portion of the funds went to companies owned by the Benson brothers, Ryan and Jon.

The Benson Brothers' Entangled Interests

The documents show that Ryan Benson's company, Stag Consulting, and Jon Benson's firm, Stoneworth Consulting, received major payments from Big Game Forever. Additionally, Jon Benson was working hundreds of hours on the wolf delisting effort while also serving as the president of Lake Restoration Solutions, a company that had a controversial plan to dredge Utah Lake and create artificial islands.This revelation raises questions about the Benson brothers' intertwined interests and the potential conflicts of interest in their involvement with both Big Game Forever and Lake Restoration Solutions. The latter company's plan ultimately failed, but not before it pursued one of its critics, Brigham Young University professor Ben Abbott, in court for defamation.

The Wider Network of Influence and Subcontractors

The financial records also shed light on the wider network of individuals and organizations involved in Big Game Forever's anti-wolf campaign. Other subcontractors, such as Don Peay's Peay Consulting and the Montana Trappers Association's Matt Lumley, billed significant hours for "public outreach" and "direct action" work.Interestingly, the documents revealed the involvement of high-profile lobbying firms, including Dutko, a major Washington, D.C.-based firm, and Hartley & Associates, a Utah-based lobby group. The latter's Jeff Hartley was also simultaneously lobbying for Lake Restoration Solutions, further entangling the web of interests.

Lack of Oversight and Accountability

The lack of oversight and transparency surrounding Big Game Forever's spending has been a persistent concern. The Utah Department of Natural Resources, which defended the denial of records in court, was even ordered to pay attorneys' fees to the Utah Investigative Journalism Project for its yearslong battle to obtain the financial records.The recent appropriation of 0,000 by Utah lawmakers for "state management of wolves" has come with a stipulation that an audit be conducted on past anti-wolf lobbying payments before the funds are released. This move underscores the growing demand for accountability and the need to ensure that taxpayer money is being used responsibly and in the public's best interest.

Lingering Questions and the Ongoing Struggle

The revelations uncovered by the financial records have raised numerous questions about the true motivations behind Big Game Forever's anti-wolf campaign and the extent of the Benson brothers' involvement in the wider network of organizations and projects.As the battle over wolf management continues, the public's trust in the transparency and integrity of the process is more crucial than ever. The Utah Investigative Journalism Project's persistence in obtaining these records has set an important precedent, highlighting the importance of government transparency and the public's right to know how their tax dollars are being spent.