Authorities confirmed the injuries were non-fatal, but the circumstances raised immediate safety concerns. Investigators are still reviewing how the incident unfolded and whether any rules were violated.
Wildlife officials stress that hunting zones rely heavily on visual identification, especially during peak season. Anything resembling game animals can dramatically increase risk.
The story spread rapidly online, sparking debate about personal safety, responsibility, and hunting awareness. Many emphasized the importance of clear visibility and protective clothing in shared outdoor spaces.
Officials continue to remind the public that high-visibility gear and avoiding animal-like attire are critical precautions. These guidelines exist to prevent exactly this kind of dangerous confusion.
A bizarre and widely shared image claiming that a South Carolina man who “identifies as a deer” was accidentally shot by hunters has once again gone viral on social media platforms like Facebook. The meme, styled as a news headline from “TechTimes,” features dramatic photos: one showing a hunter aiming a rifle in the woods (circled in red for emphasis), and another depicting a muscular figure with antlers, body painted to resemble a deer, crouching on all fours in a grassy area. The bold yellow and white text screams: “SOUTH CAROLINA MAN WHO IDENTIFIES AS A DEER ACCIDENTALLY SHOT BY HUNTERS.”
The post has sparked a mix of outrage, laughter, and heated debates online, with some users treating it as a genuine news story highlighting absurdities in identity politics, while others quickly point out its origins as pure fiction. As of today, the image has been shared thousands of times, often without context, fueling misinformation in echo chambers across the internet.
However, fact-checking organizations and media reports dating back to 2020 confirm that this story is entirely satirical and has no basis in reality. The tale originated from a now-defunct website called World News Daily Report, known for publishing outrageous fictional stories disguised as news for entertainment purposes. The article, first posted around October-November 2020, claimed a 31-year-old man named William Tenenbaum was airlifted to Allendale County Hospital in critical condition after being mistaken for a deer. According to the fake report, Tenenbaum was fully painted and dressed with antlers, leading two hunters to fire upon him.
Multiple reputable fact-checkers, including Snopes, Reuters, Africa Check, PolitiFact, and USA Today, have debunked the claim repeatedly over the years. Snopes rated it “False” in 2020, noting that the images used in the story do not depict a real “trans-species” individual but rather a performer in a professional deer costume from around 2009-2010. The photos come from a YouTube video titled “Deer in the Park” uploaded by a channel called Humanimals, showcasing body paint and costume work by makeup artist Laura Baker for Aurora Dancewear and Costume. Even the supposed doctor’s quote in the original satire was fabricated, using a stock photo of a real California physician unrelated to any such incident.
The satirical nature of World News Daily Report was clear to those who read the site’s disclaimer (before it shut down), which stated that all content was fictional and intended for humor. Despite this, the story has been recycled countless times, often stripped of any satire warning, to mock concepts like gender identity or “species dysphoria” in online culture wars. Variations of the meme have appeared on forums like Reddit’s r/Hunting and Facebook groups, with users either falling for it or knowingly sharing it for laughs.
This isn’t the first time such hoaxes have spread. Similar fake stories about people identifying as animals facing absurd consequences have circulated for years, playing on fears or ridicule surrounding therianthropy (people who feel a spiritual or psychological connection to animals) or otherkin communities. No credible reports exist of any real incident matching this description—no police records, hospital statements, or news from South Carolina authorities about a man in deer makeup being shot during hunting season.
Hunting accidents do occur tragically in real life. For instance, in 2020, a father and his young daughter in South Carolina were fatally shot after being mistaken for deer during a hunt. More recently, in October 2025, a hunter near Broadway Lake in Anderson County was seriously injured by a stray bullet from a family member. Wildlife officials continually stress safety protocols, like wearing blaze orange and proper identification of targets, to prevent such mishaps.
The resurgence of this particular meme in late 2025 appears tied to ongoing cultural debates, with some posts linking it falsely to “trans-species” identities or furry communities. Experts warn that sharing unverified images like this contributes to misinformation, potentially inciting harassment or worse against marginalized groups.
Social media users are advised to verify sources before sharing sensational stories. Tools like reverse image search often reveal the origins quickly—in this case, leading straight to fact-check articles debunking the hoax.
While the image is undeniably eye-catching and humorous to some, it’s a reminder of how easily satire can morph into perceived reality online. No South Carolina man has ever been reported shot for “identifying as a deer.” It’s just an old internet joke that refuses to die.