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Sam Lungren

Sam Lungren
Sam Lungren is MeatEater's Fishing Editor and a former freelance writer/photographer, commercial fisherman, and editor of BHA's Backcountry Journal. Though originally from Whidbey Island, Washington, he's been in Montana for almost a decade and probably isn't leaving—except during steelhead season. Send him an email sam@themeateater.com or follow him @samlungrenmedia.

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Policy & Legislation

Idaho Congressman Proposes Breaching Snake River Dams to Restore Salmon
Representative Mike Simpson, Republican of Idaho, released a massive infrastructure proposal on Feb. 6 that would fundamentally restructure Pacific Northwest shipping and energy with the goal of rehabilitating Idaho’s remaining wild salmon and steelhead runs. Realizing a decades-long dream of anglers and tribes, the congressman is calling for the demolition of the four Lower Snake River dams that have rendered the water hot and slow and reduced...

Policy & Legislation

Montana Legislation Would Give Majority of Non-Resident Tags to Outfitted Hunters
Editor’s note: this article was amended on Feb. 4 following a hearing in committee.
A new bill in the Montana legislature would guarantee up to 60% of all non-resident deer and elk tags to hunters sponsored by an outfitter. On Jan. 25 State Senator Jason Ellsworth of Hamilton introduced SB 143 and it was heard in the fish and game committee on Feb. 2. Hunters are sharply divided on the merits of this legislation.
In effect, the bill...

Policy & Legislation

California Bear Hunt Ban Bill Withdrawn Amid Online Outcry
California State Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco has dropped his bill to end bear hunting in the state after mass protest online and organized opposition from numerous industries.
As the COVID pandemic continues to ravage the state, Wiener believed “this isn’t the time to focus on this right now,” Catie Stewart, a spokesman for Sen. Wiener, told the Sacramento Bee on Monday. This news comes one week after the bill was introduced, before it was...

Policy & Legislation

New Legislation Could Ban Bear Hunting in California Forever
As black bear populations continue to climb past historic levels in California, a state senator introduced a bill to permanently ban bear hunting in state. On Monday, Jan. 25, Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco brought forth S.B. 252, the “Bear Protection Act,” which would abolish bear permits and make it illegal to kill bears except for scientific research and the protection of human safety, public property, livestock, and endangered...

Policy & Legislation

The Unfortunate Inevitability of Washington’s Boat Ban for Steelhead Fishing
Faced with several years of dismal steelhead returns and even worse predictions this year, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in early December announced a suite of new angling regulations meant to reduce impacts on fish while preserving fishing opportunity. Among those regulations are single-point barbless hooks, no bait, earlier closures, and a prohibition on fishing from a floating device on all coastal streams.
Many anglers and...

Policy & Legislation

The Great American Outdoors Act Passes Congress
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Great American Outdoors Act by a margin of 310 to 107. This historic bill now moves to the desk of President Trump, who tweeted in favor of the bill today and is expected to sign it into law.
This legislation, which has been called the biggest thing to happen to public lands in a generation, includes full and permanent funding at $900 million annually for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and...

Policy & Legislation

Find Out Where Your Representative Stands on the Great American Outdoors Act
The United States House of Representatives will vote on the Great American Outdoors Act on Wednesday, July 22, the Speaker’s office announced this week. The legislation passed the Senate on June 17 by a 73 to 25 margin. Read our past coverage of the bill to learn why Conservation Director Ryan Callaghan thinks this could be the biggest thing to happen to public lands in our lifetimes. You can read the text of the bill here (it’s pretty short...

Policy & Legislation

Senators Pass Great American Outdoors Act. Find Out How Yours Voted
On Wednesday morning, Senators overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act, thanks in no small part to vocal support from the conservation, hunting, and fishing community. With 73 ayes, two absent, and 25 nays, this legislation now heads to the House of Representatives. Click here to read more about the bill.
The whole MeatEater crew would like to thank everyone who called or emailed or wrote letters or even shared...

Policy & Legislation

Here’s How YOU Can Make Public Lands Better Today
Pick up your phone right now. Dial (202) 224-3121 and hit the green button. When you reach the congressional switchboard, tell them where you’re from and ask to be connected to your Senator’s office. When you get through, tell the staffer who answers that you want your elected representative to vote in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act. That’s it. And you might be shocked at how much of a difference it makes.
Tomorrow, Wednesday June 1...

Policy & Legislation

How the Supreme Court’s and EPA’s New Clean Water Act Guidelines Affect Hunters and Anglers
Last week, the Supreme Court and the Environmental Protection Agency put out new and potentially conflicting guidelines regarding the interpretation and enforcement of the 1972 Clean Water Act.
On Tuesday, April 21, the Trump Administration’s EPA redefined which wetlands and waterways qualify for protection under the Clean Water Act, drastically narrowing the criteria. Two days later, on Thursday, April 23, the Supreme Court ruled on a Hawaiian...