Former DHS secretary Kristi Noem shared Instagram images Monday of a large elk she took with a bow in Wyoming during archery season. She credited companions Patrick, Randy, Jason and Taylor for a successful outing and expressed thanks for their aid.

The New York Post reported that most replies were favorable while some users condemned her for killing the animal. Noem told critics the meat would feed her household and others, that she had learned about the species from her father and now hunts with relatives and friends, and that objectors misunderstand a duty of care; she added that buying only items never taken from the wild would empty stores and leave families hungry.