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Senate committee unanimously recommends four appointments to Utah Wildlife Board
Summary
A Senate committee gave favorable recommendations to four governor-appointed members of the Utah Wildlife Board and approved meeting minutes; the nominees will face the full Senate for advice and consent the following day.
A Senate committee voted unanimously to recommend four governor-appointed nominees to serve on the Utah Wildlife Board and approved committee minutes, the panel said during a meeting that included public comment and brief questions of nominees.
The committee favorably recommended Justin Oliver (Northern Region), Bob Christiansen (Northeastern Region), Christopher Robinson (Central Region) and Ryan Fouts (Northern Region) to the full Senate for advice and consent, the chair said. The committee also approved minutes from its May 20, 2025 meeting.
The nominations were introduced at the start of the meeting. Justin Oliver told the panel he lives in West Haven, is a general contractor with about 25 years’ experience in multifamily construction and has volunteered extensively with sportsman groups, regional advisory councils and a veterans-oriented hunting program. The committee noted Oliver’s experience on Regional Advisory Councils and other volunteer roles; Senator Hinkins complimented his willingness to serve and encouraged him to relay public concerns to the Legislature and state wildlife managers.
Bob Christiansen said he lives in Altamont in Duchesne County and described roughly 25 years as a Forest Service biologist, academic training in fisheries and wildlife management at Utah State University, and service on Regional Advisory Councils and statewide committees. Duchesne County Commissioner Greg Miles offered public comment in support of Christiansen, calling him an ‘‘honest’’ collaborator with a long record of habitat work. Christiansen’s nomination was recommended without dissent.
Christopher Robinson described nearly 40 years of land- and water-related work, service on CWMU and mule-deer planning committees, and longtime involvement with the Nature Conservancy and local government (he noted his service on the Summit County Council). Robinson said he understands the need to recuse himself from conflicts and to balance private-landowner incentives with the public interest in wildlife. Senator Hinkins said he had personal experience with Robinson and praised his ability to work between livestock and wildlife interests.
Ryan Fouts told the committee he has led the Utah Wild Sheep Foundation, operates a long-standing CWMU, and has worked on youth and veterans hunting and fishing programs; he said he seeks to represent both consumptive and nonconsumptive users of wildlife. Committee members praised his work fundraising and organizing youth and veterans events.
Committee motions to favorably recommend each nominee were made from the floor and passed by voice vote. The chair said all four nominees will be presented for advice and consent to the full Senate the following day. The committee also took up and approved minutes from May 20, 2025.
No substantive opposition to any nominee was recorded in committee. The only public comment recorded during the meeting was in support of Bob Christiansen by Duchesne County Commissioner Greg Miles.
The committee briefly paused business during the meeting to address temporary quorum issues; business resumed and all four nominations were recommended without recorded negative votes.
The full Senate will consider the appointments at its next convening for advice and consent, per the committee announcement.
