Carson Wentz gets torched for posting photos from his successful black bear hunt

Carson Wentz is in hot water. On Friday, the NFL quarterback posted a picture of himself posing with a black bear he killed on a hunting trip in Alaska on Instagram. The reactions were… Mixed.

Many fans immediately questioned why Wentz killed the massive creature, pointing to its beauty. Other users rushed to Wentz’s defense, claiming there was nothing wrong with the act. Whether moral or not, the hunt was legal.

“Hunting licenses are required to hunt both black and brown/grizzly bears. In addition to a hunting license, some black bear hunts require a harvest ticket, some black and brown/grizzly bear hunts require a registration permit, or a drawing permit, and some require nothing but a license,” Alaska’s website reads.

Alaska has an estimated 30,000 brown bears statewide. For reference, that is over 98% of the United States population of brown bears, and more than 70 percent of the North American population. Wentz referred to the kill as a “bucket list” item.

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Wentz certainly hasn’t been accomplishing any bucket list items on the gridiron lately. Last season, the 6-foot-5 quarterback started eight games for the Washington Commanders, completing 172 passes on 276 attempts.

Further, Wentz tossed just 11 touchdowns while dealing nine interceptions. To nobody’s surprise, the Commanders released Wentz this offseason following a forgettable campaign in Washington.

While the 30-year-old quarterback has struggled recently, he once had a bright career ahead of him. Wentz made the Pro Bowl in 2017 after leading the Eagles to an 11-2 record before tearing his ACL. In his seven-year professional career, Wentz boasts 22,129 passing yards, 151 touchdowns and 66 interceptions.

Perhaps Wentz’s hunt will revive something inside of him. Back in 2016, the North Dakota State alumnus discussed his love for the outdoors with USA Today Sports.

“It’s just so beautiful,” Wentz said. “There’s just something about it. It’s funny: Growing up, hunting and shooting were never that big to me. I didn’t enjoy a lot of it, because I would rather go to the park and play football. But then my second year of college, I fell in love with it.”

Wentz continued.

“It’s one of my favorite things to do because it’s a good release. It’s fun. It’s that much more enjoyable when your friends and your family come along. I feel like I can be me out there. It’s just my getaway.”

Wentz will look to find a new getaway this fall as the free agent searches for a team. The veteran shot-caller is reportedly in no hurry to find a new home.