Every single time…
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before over the past few years: a country artist takes a hunting trip, they post their harvest on social media and supposed “fans” begin to lose their minds over the fact that they committed the seemingly unforgivable act of going on a hunt.
We’ve seen this an incredible number of times this year alone. Beyond unhinged pop stans trying to drag Ella Langley for hunting trips from all the way back in 2022 in response to her breaking Mariah Carey’s Billboard Hot 100 #1 record with “Choosin’ Texas,” we’ve seen the likes of Jordan Davis and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, Cody Johnson, receive a whole lot of backlash for their hunting trips this year.
In particular, Johnson received some major backlash when he celebrated the aforementioned Entertainer of the Year win with a 10-day journey deep in the Alaskan wilderness on a grizzly hunt. Given the crazy amount of hate hurled towards him after the hunt, the “Horseback” singer would later respond to critics, calling out the hypocrisy and commenting that it’s “awful ironic” that many people criticizing him have no issue eating meat when they don’t have to go out and kill the animal themselves.
“In a lot of ways, in every way, this was not only a meat-harvesting hunt; it was a conservationist effort tag. So I’m really proud of it. You’re never going to please everybody, but I just think that it’s awful ironic that people would say, ‘How dare you kill this poor bear, but do you want to go eat at Chick-fil-A?’”
Given that Johnson’s was back in June, it seemed like we were overdue for another hunting controversy in country music. And over the weekend, it came from none other than rising country-folk star, Sam Barber.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the 23-year-old, he has been one of the premier artists in the ever-growing country-folk scene. With one of the most unique, raspy voices in the genre, he’s scored major hits over the past few years with the likes of “Indigo” with Avery Anna, “Straight and Narrow,” “Dancing in the Sky” and “The More I Hope.”
Back to the hunt, on Monday, Barber took to social media to upload photos of a recent caribou hunt in Alaska — presumably some time over the past month or so during a break from his current American Route Tour.
To absolutely no one’s surprise, a plethora of “fans” in the comments took issue with Barber’s photos, calling it “disgusting” and letting it be known that they were unfollowing him.
“i love you sam but this isn’t right”
“There’s no true fun in hurting an innocent being”
“Hunting is grossss”
“Sam love u sm but noo.”
“Disgusting”
“Another photo like this puts me as a fun far away from you. Even if you do this why to post it? That is one of the gorgeous animals in the world.”
“Followed for music, unfollowed for this.”
“Animal was just tryna live its life Sam. Sad stuff”
“Gross.”
Despite what the comments might say, the hunt itself was perfectly legal and within Barber’s rights.
Like the Johnson grizzly hunt fiasco, he was required to have a valid hunting license and had to adhere to the strict Game Management Unit (GMU) rules. Beyond the legality, caribou are in no way, shape or form an endangered species in Alaska. According to Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game, there are approximately 950,000 caribou distributed across 32 different herds across the state.
In other words, there was no risk — both legally or ethically — in his hunting trip.
Though there were quite a few hate comments toward Barber, plenty of other fans came to his defense, not only describing the aforementioned guidelines but also noting how Alaska itself allows this for conservation efforts.
“To all y’all complaining about hunting. He’s harvesting a caribou and there are around 950,000 caribou across 32 herds in Alaska. Around 22,000 are legally harvested each year for food. Alaska Fish & Game actively monitors individual herds and regulates hunting based on what each population can sustainably support – and they restrict or completely close hunting when a herd can’t support it. This isn’t indiscriminate killing; it’s a regulated harvest and a normal part of wildlife management and food provision in Alaska. Get a grip.”
“Cue all the people that like country music cause its trendy right now judging the lifestyle that makes the music.”
That one right there sounds pretty spot on…
“A bunch of country fans complaining about hunting????? Ironic.”
“Why are people in so much awe that a country singer is hunting????”
“Hunters are the biggest conservationists there are period full stop. I don’t know about you but if you do eat meat and you’re complaining about this, would you rather have that stuff from the grocery store that’s injected with all kind of hormones and vaccines and God knows what else or know where your meat comes from.
And second everyone talking about oh he’s just trying to live his life. If you were that Caribou would you rather be taken out by a human very quickly ethically and painlessly? Or a pack of wolves that we’re gonna eat you before you’re even dead starting at your butt hole because that’s where they start same with mountain lions same with bears. It’s just a logical question that most people don’t think about. Hunting is necessary to control population and it is a much much healthier source meat than buying from the grocery store. And have you ever seen a slaughterhouse?”
Sam Barber Tour Dates
September 24—Charlottesville, VA—Ting Pavilion
September 25—Knoxville, TN—Knoxville Civic Coliseum
September 26—Atlanta, GA—Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
December 3—St. Louis, MO—Chaifetz Arena
December 4—Independence, MO—Cable Dahmer Arena
December 10—Albuquerque, NM—Revel
