Tim Walz struggles to load shotgun during pheasant hunting in Minnesota, trolls compare him to Elmer Fudd

SLEEPY EYE, MINNESOTA: Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota went viral on social media following a recent hunting expedition—but not for the reasons he might have hoped.

While participating in the annual Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener near Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, on Saturday, October 12, Walz faced a less-than-smooth experience with his shotgun. A video from the event showed the Democratic vice presidential nominee struggling to load a semi-automatic shotgun. 

Video fo Tim Walz struggling to load his shotgun goes viral 

The video was shared on X (fomerly Twitter). The Minnesota Governor joined the pheasant hunt as part of a traditional seasonal kickoff for upland game bird hunting. He was apparently carrying a Beretta A400 shotgun but failed to get off a single shot despite spending three hours trudging through tall, straw-like grass.

The Associated Press reported that Walz wore Carhartt hunting chaps and a commemorative orange vest as he took on the role of a hunter while out on the campaign trail. The viral footage showed Walz fumbling with the shotgun as he spoke with reporters.

Tim Walz trolled online after his shotgun mishap

What caught the internet by storm wasn't just the governor’s lack of hunting prowess, but a video where he appeared to struggle with loading his firearm. 

Critics on social media pounced on him almost immediately. Some even compared him to a cartoon character from the Looney Tunes, whose aim is to hunt Bugs Bunny, but he usually ends up seriously injuring himself.

"This is hilarious. This man has never owned or loaded a shotgun. It will be great fodder for SNL," one posted on X.

"Terrible look when you’re a supposed hunter and you struggle loading your shotgun. Wow that’s bad," another wrote.

"Seriously... How do you serve in the military as long as he did and fumble with a firearm this badly?" a third user chimed in.

"The fact he is holding a shotgun casually with one hand (with his hand and index ON the trigger) with the barrel pointed up while it swings around wildly as he attempts to load live ammunition into it? LITERALLY no legal responsible gun owner would load a shotgun like this," read a comment.

"Wow look at the big war hero who carried a weapon of war in a war, and he can't even handle a shotty. Nothing about this dude quite adds up does it?" someone else added.

"Can Walz do anything without embarrassing himself? Seriously," another wondered.

Some users even compared Walz to Elmer Fudd from the 'Looney Tunes' cartoon. "This is Tim Walz hunting pheasants. Who did it better?" asked one person. 

"Finally my meme fits," wrote another.

One individual further mocked Walz with a meme and wrote, "Tim Walz processing a question from the media." 

Tim Walz's hunting trip comes amid polling concerns

Tim Walz seemed to take the day in stride, even if he didn’t manage to bag any pheasants. "There's good days and there's great days pheasant hunting," he said.

Meanwhile, the only successful shot of the day came from his friend Scott Rall — who has accompanied the governor on many hunting trips. Even then, the thick brush made it difficult for anyone in the party to retrieve the downed bird as the grass in some areas grew as tall as Walz himself.

While Walz’s hunting trip might have backfired on social media, it was undoubtedly part of a broader campaign effort. He, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, has been emphasizing their gun ownership while also advocating for gun control measures such as universal background checks.

In an interview with CBS News, Walz shared that the Beretta A400 he carried during the hunt was purchased for trap shooting. He showed off its "kickoff" feature, which makes the recoil gentler. "So, when you get old it doesn't hurt your shoulder as much," he said.

The outing served as an opportunity for Walz to appeal to male and rural voters, a demographic where recent polls have shown he faces challenges. A CBS News poll from August revealed a major gender gap among likely voters, with only 45% of male voters expressing support for Harris, compared to 54% for former president Donald Trump.

Of course, the Trump campaign didn’t miss a beat in response to the aforementioned hunting trip. A statement called the event "staged" and Trump campaign co-chair Chris LaCivita dismissed the outing as Walz "bumbling around trying to load his shotgun."

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