Blake Fischer posted a picture of a family of baboons he shot dead with a bow and arrow. Photo / Supplied
Blake Fischer posted a picture of a family of baboons he shot dead with a bow and arrow. Photo / Supplied
An Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner is being criticised by some after he shared photos of himself posing with a family of baboons and other animals he killed while hunting in Africa.
A spokesman for Governor C.L 'Butch' Otter's Jon Hanian told The Idaho Statesman in a story on Friday that the governor's office is looking into the matter involving Commissioner Blake Fischer, the Daily Mail reported.
Fischer and his wife shot at least 14 animals in Namibia, according to the photos and descriptions included in an email he sent to more than 100 recipients.
Fischer poses after shooting a giraffe. Photo / Supplied
The animals included a giraffe, leopard, impala, sable antelope, waterbuck, kudu, warthog, gemsbok (oryx) and eland.
Fischer responded to the criticism by saying he didn't do anything illegal, unethical or immoral.
Former commission member Fred Trevey also called on Fischer to resign.
But Fischer: "I didn't do anything illegal. I didn't do anything unethical. I didn't do anything immoral."
Most of the photos with the African animals are posed as standard big game hunting photos of the kind often seen in Idaho with deer, elk and mountain lions.
The photo causing some to question Fischer's judgment and ability to remain a commission member is one of him smiling broadly with four dead baboons propped in front of him, blood visible on the abdomen of the smallest baboon.
Fischer killed them using a bow and arrows.
"So I shot a whole family of baboons," Fischer wrote below the photo in the emails he sent.
Blake Fischer posted a picture of a family of baboons he shot dead with a bow and arrow. Photo / Supplied
Fischer responded to the criticism by saying he didn't do anything illegal, unethical or immoral. Photo / Supplied
Fischer poses with a dead leopard. Photo / Supplied
Keith Stonebraker, a former commission member, told the newspaper an apology by Fischer would satisfy him.
"They killed a whole family, including small baboons, and I think that's revolting," Stonebraker said. "It just puts a bad light on us."
The commission Fischer serves on makes policy decisions concerning Idaho's wildlife, and it often manages game populations through hunting and fishing regulations.
Those regulations are intended to require ethical behaviour in the pursuit of wildlife. Some of Idaho's policies, such as on wolf and grizzly bear hunting, have been challenged in federal courts.
The commission has seven members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Fischer was re-appointed this year, but he needs Senate confirmation.
Former commission member Fred Trevey called on Fischer to resign.
"Sportsmanlike behaviour is the centre pin to maintaining hunting as a socially acceptable activity," he wrote in an email obtained by the newspaper through a public records request.
