(Another) Social Media Influencer Implicated in Illegal Hunting Scandal

In true hypocritical social media influencer fashion, a 29-year-old with a massive online following has gone ahead and proven to all of us that the depths to which some will sink for a few more likes, knows no bounds.

In a case coming out of the beautiful and bucket-list worthy Yukon Territory, a young man by the name of Tristan James Hamm has been implicated in an illegal bear hunting scandal that put him up against over a dozen territorial and federal charges. Hamm, also affectionately known as "Mr. Adventure," has built a significant following through his outdoor-focused content. With over two million Instagram followers (before privatizing his account in November 2023) and around 100,000 TikTok followers, Hamm (formerly) showcased activities like trail running, helicopter jumps, and exploring abandoned sites. A native of Winkler, Manitoba, he founded Revived Outdoors in 2016, an adventure tourism company emphasizing wellness and mental health. 

And in the event that wasn’t enough to make his followers feel worse about themselves, Hamm also advocated for ethical wildlife interaction, launching the “Explore, Don’t Exploit” movement to promote sustainable outdoor practices and discourage geotagging on social media - odd requests out of someone making a living off those very activities.

And yet, despite claiming residency in Whitehorse, Yukon, his actual residency was a key point of contention in the legal case that has since brought all of his actions under scrutiny.

Between October 2022 and May 2023, Hamm admitted to illegally hunting three bears in the Yukon, triggering widespread controversy. The allegations centered on his use of misleading information to obtain Yukon resident hunting licenses, something that is strictly reserved for residents of the Canadian territory. In the Yukon, it remains unlawful for non-resident hunters to hunt without the assistance of a licensed outfitter, something this case has highlighted that the ever-so-honorable Hamm seemingly bypassed on his way to dropping three nice bears.

According to Crown prosecutor Kelly McGill, Hamm illegally killed a grizzly bear near Kluane Lake in May 2023 along with two illegally hunted black bears within a five-day period during the same month.

After serving a warrant, it was noted that conservation officers recovered two black bear hides, a grizzly bear hide and a bear skull from a taxidermist in the Yukon in connection with the incidents.

In total, Hamm faced 19 charges for illegally killing the bears and exporting their remains (likely hides and skulls) out of Canada without proper permits. The case drew outrage from Yukon residents, hunters, and wildlife advocates, who viewed Hamm’s actions as a betrayal of conservation principles, especially given his public persona as an “ethical outdoor advocate.” 

Hamm appeared virtually (naturally) in a Yukon Territorial Court last week where he pled guilty to three charges under the Yukon Wildlife Act. The remaining 16 charges were dismissed in a plea deal, leaving Justice Katherine McLeod to deliver the final blow of the sentencing. Noting Hamm’s expressed remorse with the need for deterrence and given the public nature of Yukon’s wildlife resources, Hamm was handed a $10,500 fine and a matching $10,500 contribution to the Yukon conservation fund for illegally hunting the three bears.

He was also hit with fines of $2,750 and $1,750 for two counts of obtaining licenses improperly, plus a $3,500 contribution to the conservation fund. He was given a two-year ban on hunting in Yukon and a three-year prohibition from joining hunting groups unless Hamm becomes a Yukon resident, and in which case, he will be mandated to the completion of an online hunter education and ethics course before applying for a Yukon hunting license again. He’s also been ordered with the forfeiture of all of the bear pelts that he acquired using the fraudulent licenses.

Hamm expressed heartbreak over the situation (likely on Instagram), promising greater care with licensing regulations in the future. Justice McLeod acknowledged the financial, emotional, and reputational toll on Hamm but emphasized his responsibility to comply with the law. The total penalties amounted to approximately $30,000, with half those going to supporting conservation efforts.