(Nicole Reis/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Nicole Reis

Social Media and Hunting

Hunters cautioned on posting trophies to social media

Jan 10, 2020 | 5:32 PM

Posting controversial images of hunted animals online is a risk some people are willing to take.

Daryl Minter, a conservation officer with the provincial Ministry of Environment told meadowlakeNOW social media images can help out those who violate conservation violations. It can also lead to social media backlash from those with a passion for animal welfare, as seen this week with a man who posed with a dead cougar and the image was posted online. In that instance the trapping death of the cougar was not unlawful.

“There’s so much that gets posted on social media and a lot of it helps us to capture violators that may be unknowingly be doing something wrong,” Minter said.

Minter said it’s helped officers locate individuals selling illegally hunted meat, fish or fur online.

Minter went on to say Facebook hunting posts can draw attention, discussion and misinformation toward lawful hunters and among people who may not consider what they are seeing.

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“Part of [call-out culture] is an animal being displayed like a trophy. That gets attention and it’s not always good attention,” he said.

Dr. Alec Couros, professor of educational technology and media at the University of Regina, told meadowlakeNOW those types of images trigger a mixed reaction from animal activists and hunting enthusiasts alike.

“People can very quickly dox you, which means they can find your information and easily find your place of employment or where you are located,” Couros said. “If you’re in the photo, you’re seen as being complicit in the act. You can’t judge everyone else’s perspective. By putting something online, you’re framing one particular moment that can come back to you and frame the rest of your identity. If it’s not even you in a picture, it can be taken out of context and affect someone’s identity for the rest of their lives.”

Couros often cautions his students to be aware about what is individually posted online.

“Often, in terms of privacy, information is shared in a photo. EXIF data which will give location, for instance, depending on where the photo is obtained. Some sites erase that data but the photo can tell a lot about where a person is,” he said.

A viral photo can lead to an increased risk.

“There’s something to be lost by being bland online, but if you do take a side or stand up for anyone, you take a risk of having a mob turn on you or having your privacy violated,” he said.

“Ultimately, there are mixed views on hunting but when you start to look, the bravado that comes with taking down an animal that is minding its own business, that is the line where people venture into being outspoken online when it comes to the rights of animals.”

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722