Hey guys, I just wanted to bring up the issue of the 200 permits that were just recently issued to SFW for the next 5 years by Utah. I think this is an important issue to bring up considering how it went down and the favoritism showed towards SFW during the process.
Let's start at the beginning. September 30th was the deadline to turn in bids for conservation groups to try there hand at getting these 200 expo tags to use in an expo in Utah. RMEF turned in a bid that was amazing and much more beneficial to sportsmen, wildlife, and Utah overall on the deadline. I belive they turned in their bid on the deadline so that they had the best chance of not exposing their bid or getting screwed over by the corrupt relationship between SFW and the Utah DWR. Sadly a week or so later the Utah DWR released news that there would be a new process in choosing the organization that would get the bid and the organizations interested would have to do a Request for Proposal to be considered. Now to me, this was very shady. It is obvious RMEF turned in the better bid and the DWR had to find a way that looked pleasing to the public to give SFW a second chance at making their proposal better. Then the criteria for the new RFP was released and the scoring criteria heavily favored SFW's past involvment with the expo an permits. Much of the scoring was based off of past performance of the expo and these permits, rather than what each organization would do if they received the 200 expo permits.
Last Friday the DWR chose to award SFW the 200 expo permits yet again, and now both the proposals have been released. I have read the proposals and it is obvious RMEF would benefit our wildlife, sportsmen, and economy more, but the scoring criteria was rigged in SFW's favor.
The difference between the two proposals were and still are;
-RMEF agreed to give all $5 from permit application fees back to the Utah DWR for wildlife projects, SFW's proposal gives $1.50 back to wildlife and they keep $3.50 to use as they please.
-RMEF agreed to give back 50% off all other proceeds from the expo (entry fees, booth fees,etc.) SFW agreed to nothing.
-RMEF agreed to give 100% of conservation tag funds back to wildlife, SFW will retain 10% for administrative costs
Now it is my opinon RMEF would have a much bigger affect on this expo, attract new public, and the event would be much bigger as well as a much larger percentage of funds being retained for wildlife purposes.
Sadly the Utah DWR decided to award these permits to SFW yet again, and it has become even more obivous the all to friendly relationship that exists between the DWR and SFW. I personally will not apply for any tags or attend the expo again. This was a blatantly corrupt move by the DWR and SFW, and the correct decision was not made. I applaud RMEF as the stand up organization they are that tried to fix a broken system, sadly the corruption runs too deep. I would encourage anyone who thinks this was not right to avoid going to the expo in February in SLC ran by SFW and the MDF. The only thing that is going to fix this, is if the public stops supporting the system that has become so corrupt. If you agree this process was wrong and more money should be givent to benefit wildlife then don't apply for there tags and don't go to the expo. It's sad because I have went the last few years, but I'm done with it at this point. It is a proven event where SFW benefits off of a public resource and thinks they are untouchable.
Let's start at the beginning. September 30th was the deadline to turn in bids for conservation groups to try there hand at getting these 200 expo tags to use in an expo in Utah. RMEF turned in a bid that was amazing and much more beneficial to sportsmen, wildlife, and Utah overall on the deadline. I belive they turned in their bid on the deadline so that they had the best chance of not exposing their bid or getting screwed over by the corrupt relationship between SFW and the Utah DWR. Sadly a week or so later the Utah DWR released news that there would be a new process in choosing the organization that would get the bid and the organizations interested would have to do a Request for Proposal to be considered. Now to me, this was very shady. It is obvious RMEF turned in the better bid and the DWR had to find a way that looked pleasing to the public to give SFW a second chance at making their proposal better. Then the criteria for the new RFP was released and the scoring criteria heavily favored SFW's past involvment with the expo an permits. Much of the scoring was based off of past performance of the expo and these permits, rather than what each organization would do if they received the 200 expo permits.
Last Friday the DWR chose to award SFW the 200 expo permits yet again, and now both the proposals have been released. I have read the proposals and it is obvious RMEF would benefit our wildlife, sportsmen, and economy more, but the scoring criteria was rigged in SFW's favor.
The difference between the two proposals were and still are;
-RMEF agreed to give all $5 from permit application fees back to the Utah DWR for wildlife projects, SFW's proposal gives $1.50 back to wildlife and they keep $3.50 to use as they please.
-RMEF agreed to give back 50% off all other proceeds from the expo (entry fees, booth fees,etc.) SFW agreed to nothing.
-RMEF agreed to give 100% of conservation tag funds back to wildlife, SFW will retain 10% for administrative costs
Now it is my opinon RMEF would have a much bigger affect on this expo, attract new public, and the event would be much bigger as well as a much larger percentage of funds being retained for wildlife purposes.
Sadly the Utah DWR decided to award these permits to SFW yet again, and it has become even more obivous the all to friendly relationship that exists between the DWR and SFW. I personally will not apply for any tags or attend the expo again. This was a blatantly corrupt move by the DWR and SFW, and the correct decision was not made. I applaud RMEF as the stand up organization they are that tried to fix a broken system, sadly the corruption runs too deep. I would encourage anyone who thinks this was not right to avoid going to the expo in February in SLC ran by SFW and the MDF. The only thing that is going to fix this, is if the public stops supporting the system that has become so corrupt. If you agree this process was wrong and more money should be givent to benefit wildlife then don't apply for there tags and don't go to the expo. It's sad because I have went the last few years, but I'm done with it at this point. It is a proven event where SFW benefits off of a public resource and thinks they are untouchable.
