Posting photos of dead wild animals could be illegal soon

[BWH]

Umm, isn’t this social media?

As i said..... I don't hunt for social media... I do it for me. I don't mind sharing with friends/colleagues that would be interested. However, typically speaking I don't put it out there for Facebook, Twitter, the world, etc to see.

 

[Royal27]

Umm, isn’t this social media?

Yup! Sure is. So yes, posting any picture of a dead animal from a Namibian hunt would be wrong.

The interesting thing is that this seems to be a request and not a law. I'm certainly not a Namibian lawyer, but not only does this seem to be non-enforceable, but it isn't written very clearly either. Only applies to a valid permit holder? So as soon as the permit expires and is no longer valid I can post, right?

Then there is the entire question as to whether or not this is constitutionally allowed, or does it violate Namibian freedom of speech?

 

[JPbowhunter]

They're doing this because some people are incapable of judging what will blow back and what won't.

As i said on another thread in Australia we're one idiot posing with a 'rare' giraffe away from having hunting trophies banned coming in here. I don't care if its a good looking young girl or a fat old bloke you're treated the same by me, and this stuff has happened far too many times to blame ignorance.

And it's simply arrogance to argue that "it's legal and I'm not hiding it", we live in a different world now and we're constantly under the international microscope. No you don't have to hide it, but when people are sharing their photos to 20 different pages, putting a shopping list of hashtags including things like 'vegan' 'animal lover' and crap like that to deliberately stir up antis what do you expect? having photos of animals with tongues out, blood everywhere, sitting on it and fist pumping even i find it disrespectful.

No the world is not the same but neither is hunting, if you've any doubt about that open a hunting magazine or watch a few hunting shows and note how many have articles/eps are without a kill as opposed to with one. We've created an emphasis on killing and size to the point where it's all some people hunt for and do anything to get it. And before people are even home they've shared it all over the internet.
Its often said "yeah but antis dont see the rest of the hunt so they think its just about the kill" thats because to a lot of hunters these days it really has become about that so without realising it they're not including those things.

So share your photos if you must on facebook and instagram but do so privately.

I personally don't share any photos to any social media anymore that aren't already on the net. I was fortunate enough to take a fallow buck this year that if certified would be well inside Australia's top 20 but i dont hunt for recognition of any kind which is why the pics are only on my computer and you wont see him in any record books. Remembering the hunt, eating the meat and having the head is all the recognition i need.

It would be a very shortsighted and stubborn person who can't see the road we're heading down if we don't clean up our act. And it won't just hurt us, it'll hurt the very animals that hunting protects because we all know the anti hunting brigade aren't going to be digging into their pockets. Hunters always talk about conservation and if we genuinely care about that would not sharing pics on facebook to ensure their continuance be such a big price to pay?

Perhaps the longevity of hunting and species preservation is what Namibia is focussing on and not some hunters ability to brag to the world.

 

[VonJager]

I agree this seems like a bit of overreach, but each country is allowed to make their own laws. We have a bunch of laws in Canada, and I know the US does as well, which might be thought of as a bit odd, if not downright stupid. The Lacey Act comes to mind - not all of it, but a lot of it.

This particular law would be enforceable to the extent that the person was within the reach of Namibia. No different than any other law. Given how much I enjoyed hunting there, and how much I'd like to again, I'd likely comply.

Is this law a good idea? Well, given that it won't stop the posting of most pictures, it probably won't make much difference to anyone's views of hunting, whether in Namibia or anywhere else. But if Namibia wants to make a statement, well, that's up to them.

Personally, AH is the only social media platform where I've ever posted my pictures, Some have ended up on social media because outfitters (without my approval) posted pictures of me with trophies.

Would I still hunt if I couldn't post my pictures? Absolutely. I take pictures principally for me, and for friends. I have no need to show them to others, although I've been happy to do so here.

I think we need to maintain a sense of balance and proportion here. The world is changing, and not for the better. I am hunting in September and part of the deal is that I will not publish any pictures anywhere, nor will I make it known where I have hunted what I'm hunting. Sound a bit much? The place I'm hunting wants no bad publicity, because it could seriously impact what they do. I can't argue with them; in fact, I think they're right. But it's a great deal for me, and I'm happy to agree to the conditions.

How important is bragging to hunting anyway? You can still take and share pictures with others, just not on social media.

This strikes me as no big deal. Let's get behind the good guys and save our anger for the bad guys. Namibia is one of the good guys.

You mention the Lacey Act. If this law passed, and even if we never intended to go back to Namibia, violated the law. Wouldn’t we be guilty in the US under the Lacey act?

 

[Pondoro]

Now what kind of lunacy is this..? Is it all of a sudden unethical to post pics of game taken during a lawful hunt..??

So Namibia promotes hunting in that country and make it a domestic million dollar industry wich they benefit big time from....and now the will not make a stand for hunting...?

Jeez...

 

[leslie hetrick]

well said, pondoro! if any hunters from the U.S. are charged under the lacey act it will only hurt the Namibians as it will be laughed out of any court here. remember all the noise about that lion cecil and the hunter who shot him, it didn,t go any where here, if any one broke the law it was the PH.

 

[John Struewing]

They're doing this because some people are incapable of judging what will blow back and what won't.

As i said on another thread in Australia we're one idiot posing with a 'rare' giraffe away from having hunting trophies banned coming in here. I don't care if its a good looking young girl or a fat old bloke you're treated the same by me, and this stuff has happened far too many times to blame ignorance.

And it's simply arrogance to argue that "it's legal and I'm not hiding it", we live in a different world now and we're constantly under the international microscope. No you don't have to hide it, but when people are sharing their photos to 20 different pages, putting a shopping list of hashtags including things like 'vegan' 'animal lover' and crap like that to deliberately stir up antis what do you expect? having photos of animals with tongues out, blood everywhere, sitting on it and fist pumping even i find it disrespectful.

No the world is not the same but neither is hunting, if you've any doubt about that open a hunting magazine or watch a few hunting shows and note how many have articles/eps are without a kill as opposed to with one. We've created an emphasis on killing and size to the point where it's all some people hunt for and do anything to get it. And before people are even home they've shared it all over the internet.
Its often said "yeah but antis dont see the rest of the hunt so they think its just about the kill" thats because to a lot of hunters these days it really has become about that so without realising it they're not including those things.

So share your photos if you must on facebook and instagram but do so privately.

I personally don't share any photos to any social media anymore that aren't already on the net. I was fortunate enough to take a fallow buck this year that if certified would be well inside Australia's top 20 but i dont hunt for recognition of any kind which is why the pics are only on my computer and you wont see him in any record books. Remembering the hunt, eating the meat and having the head is all the recognition i need.

It would be a very shortsighted and stubborn person who can't see the road we're heading down if we don't clean up our act. And it won't just hurt us, it'll hurt the very animals that hunting protects because we all know the anti hunting brigade aren't going to be digging into their pockets. Hunters always talk about conservation and if we genuinely care about that would not sharing pics on facebook to ensure their continuance be such a big price to pay?

Perhaps the longevity of hunting and species preservation is what Namibia is focussing on and not some hunters ability to brag to the world.

I agree with you @ jpbowhunter. I will not watch hunting programs because if the camera angle isn't perfect, they won't take a shot. That's not hunting. These idiots that have to jump up and down and pump their fist, where is the respect for the animal. That's far from placing "The last meal" in the fallen animals mouth. Mostly, I don't hold that this blog is the same as "social media", you all may think otherwise, but I wouldnt be caught dead on that other crap. I can't place anyone on AH in the same league as Facebook or whatever those other pieces of garbage are.

 

[BenKK]

I like the Namibian idea and would support it. I look forward to visiting and hunting there someday.

 

[spike.t]

seems a bit like trying to shut the barn door after the horse has fkd off to me........

 

[WAB]

Guys, you realize that we are all on social media posting photos of our hunts here right?

 

[sestoppelman]

As I said earlier in this thread, posting trophy pics in places full of left loons is just asking for criticism, so go ahead post away, but be prepared for backlash, death threats, and all the rest. As far as Namibia goes, I think the suggestion that they could make posting on FB or anywhere else for that matter illegal, is just a little out of their jurisdiction. I have no immediate plans to return there, so I don't care anyway, I so p'o'd the customs gal upon leaving she read me the riot act for questioning something, so they probably have a poster with my face on it, that says NO ENTRY!

 

[Bas]

I would be surprised if animal pics are largely responsible for bookings made by safari companies. Some people don't show respect for the animal taken. In WV people will get their game home by using truck beds while others use external means such as a hitch platform or trailer. These animals are on display to every motorist and bystander on the hunter's way home. The single easiest way to get negative attention is to leave the tongue dangle outside of the mouth while in transport before butchering takes place. Anti hunters and those on the fence about hunting (translate voters) not only make personal assessments about the animal but about the hunter as well. Since hunter numbers are in decline (as well as their revenue) we need to keep positive the last dignified images of hunters and hunting that we can muster. If sharing pics is necessary maybe private messaging is an alternative . Celebrating a contemporary accomplishment has covered a broad spectrum - from over-the-top end zone shenanigans to the dignity of Walter Payton's own sense of humility at the end of an incredible play on his behalf . Let's keep the conversation alive....for hunting futures sake.
Thanks, Bob

 

[Hank2211]

You mention the Lacey Act. If this law passed, and even if we never intended to go back to Namibia, violated the law. Wouldn’t we be guilty in the US under the Lacey act?

@VonJager, the same thing occurred to me when I saw @Royal27's post.

If not posting pictures is a condition of the hunting permit, even what lawyers like to call a "condition subsequent", it is possible - even probable - that breaching a condition of a hunting permit makes the hunt illegal. For example, if the permit says no hunting at night for leopard (as Namibian leopard permits do), and you take the leopard at night, that was (and is) an illegal hunt. And if the hunt is illegal, then I believe the Lacey Act would apply (although that's not a legal opinion). Certainly, if you brought the leopard back to the US and the US was or became aware of the violation of the permit, you would likely be a felon waiting to be convicted.

An interesting take on this though is that since the Lacey Act only applies to bringing animal bits into the US or across state lines, if you bring the bits home before you violate the permit, or if you are bringing nothing home, is there still a violation? If you bring nothing back, then on its face the Lacey Act would not apply. But if you bring something back and the hunt is subsequently made illegal because of a breach of the hunting conditions, then you might be. How about a few years later when you retire to Florida and bring your wall-mounted pals with you?

Interesting stuff.

And I still can't get excited about it.

 

[Royal27]

Example of what must be removed from Social Media in order to hunt in Namibia.

 

[outwestidaho]

The world has gone crazy ! Bat s#%t crazy ! What's next I can't take a picture ! How about no one can see my taxidermy mounts ! How about they just make it illegal to even mount them.
What about outfitters, no dead game on your web site. No more video either ?
Even if you never post a thing on social media which this site is, (take your avatar off if it's from namibia) this is big can of stupid ! Where will it end ?
I can see it now you must sign a full agreement to keep total secrecy about hunting namibia.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Example of what must be removed from Social Media in order to hunt in Namibia.

View attachment 236717

One more reason to blame the San.

 

[johnnyblues]

How much more do we hunters need to endore? The fking world has gone mad. Namibia should follow the course it has always taken to promote hunting an conservation. The idea that they can tell us what to do with out legal property weather it’s legally taken game or MY photographs is absurd. This is another example of bowing down to the anti hunting public. Obviously the hunting community weather it be SCI ,DSC, gun manufacturers, hunting apparel manufacturers, NRA whomever are just not doing a good job of reaching the general public. I keep saying we need a high powered PR firm to help. I realize this is a tremendously difficult task but to do and say nothing to ensure hunting will continue in the future is a travesty. We’re just losing ground constantly, how much longer until it’s all gone?

 

[BRICKBURN]

.......... Only applies to a valid permit holder? ...........

Which means Poachers can post freely. Perhaps this is a new enforcement strategy.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Dear Minister Shifeta,

I am flabbergasted at the contention stated in your memo dated July 3 2018, that posting an image of a legally hunted trophy is unethical.

I can only conclude that you are quite confused about the nature of what constitutes unethical behavior.

Please read the Namibian Constitution and review your actions in context of section 21(1). If your confusion persists, please obtain a professional legal opinion, after which I am certain that you will be redirected to address your efforts toward curbing your own immoral and illegal actions.

My best wishes in your ethics education.

 

[Adrian]

I guess publications like the African Hunting Gazette and African Outfitter etc will have to find material from other countries now?
What about the magazine of NAPHA, HuntiNamibia, how will they publish a hunting magazine if photos from the country they represent are not allowed?

So many questions.......