US big game hunter who boasted of gunning down animals faces criminal charges

An American big-game hunter who boasted of gunning down local animals while visiting a Scottish island is now facing criminal charges. 

Larysa Switlyk, 33, ‘a world-renowned hunter’ from Sarasota, Florida, was accused of ‘trophy hunting’ wild animals on the island of Islay, Scotland in September after she posed for a series of Instagram photos during the hunt. 

Now, Police Scotland have confirmed that the hunter, who regularly posts photos of her hunts alongside her boyfriend Jason, has been reported for firearms offences, along with a 41-year-old man also from the US. 

While she was pictured with slain goats, stags and sheep on Islay, hunting animals in season is not illegal in Scotland and she is facing a charge under Section 11a of the Firearms Act, which relates to how you can use borrowed shotguns legally.

Ms Switlyk drew intense criticism from politicians and celebrities after posting the photos – although many commenters mocked her for posing so proudly with a sheep.  

Police Scotland added that they had received several complaints about hunting in September and the Procurator Fiscal is now investigating. 

Read more at