Last updated on 2018-07-20
Boy, there’s gotta be a promo for South Dakota Tourism in here somewhere….
Maria Butina didn’t spend all of her time in South Dakota making speeches to impressionable young people. In the fall of 2014,* the accused Russian spy picked up a shotgun and went pheasant hunting:
In April 2016, the Russian gun journal Kalashnikov (apparently separate from Concern Kalashnikov, the gun manufacturer) published Butina’s “Охота на фазана в Южной Дакоте”—”Pheasant Hunting in South Dakota,” a pleasant little essay about her experience flying into Sioux Falls in the fall to engage in our favorite fall pastime. Butina spoke fondly of our fair state, writing, “The frosty air and the very smell of the local flora reminded me of my native Siberia.”
Butina didn’t name her hosts and hunting companions, but they appear to be all guys, and she says her U.S. comrades (товарищи—tovarishchi, yes, literally, comrades) landed a reservation at one of the best hunting lodges near Sioux Falls.
Naturally, I’d love to know who her hunting pals were that lovely day. Maddeningly, the social-media-savvy Butina only got this 300-pixel-wide image of the whole party. Let’s try zooming:
There’s Butina, her left from center, in the plaid scarf. The tall guy behind her left shoulder could be her boyfriend and big South Dakota connection Paul Erickson. But the other guys… crowdsourcers! Magnify and enhance! Readers, do you recognize any of those lucky fellas?
MRO—hey! That looks familiar!
Missouri River Outdoors lies right on the Missouri River just south of Elk Point. That’s some fine country Butina got to tromp around in for four hours with her shotgun and a bunch of guys.
Butina’s article includes one more photo, but remarkably, the fellas are all looking away from Butina, and the camera:
Well, at least we know our fellas weren’t totally distracted from the business at hand by the only lady on the hunt.
Update 2018.07.20 12:28 CDT: An interpid reader goes surfing and finds Butina went hunting at MRO on November 9, 2014. Missouri River Outdoors has a Facebook album of 77 photos titled “Stickney Grp. 2014” that features Butina’s lead photo in much better resolution:
—I’m not gonna ask her; you go ask her.
—No, you!
—If I told you that, I’d have to kill you.
Given that we live in 2018 photoshop is real, I am not going to vouch for the authenticity of this photo, but here’s one of Butina in front of Mt. Rushmore. SD Tourism should be able to use it.
https://twitter.com/funder/status/1019975459717697542
I am unsure about all the fuss about how supposedly pretty this young woman is. She’s a redhead and not nearly as pretty as young Dr. Bosworth was. Prettier than Ms. Hubbel, yes.
How many hunters did she offer to have sex with?
Lots, I’m sure.
If you fellas will turn on your scanners and ID some of the fellas in the above pictures, maybe we can ask them.
wonder how many rubles she charged?
I wonder if this trip is different from the photo she posted on Feb. 7, 2015: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=773105922779176&set=a.100596083363500.805.100002393251827&type=3&theater
From what I can tell, her hat appears to be the logo of Buffalo Butte Ranch.
Good eye, James! Same cap, scarf, earmuffs… if you’re right, then I may have the date of the hunt wrong. She may have taken that photo in fall 2014.
Ammosexuals thrive on misapplication of the 2d amend. Gun manufacturers have liability protection and cannot be sued. Republicans take advantage of guns as a wedge issue for votes while NRA is going international to sell more military guns to new markets like Russia. And Russia sexualizes guns so it can infitrate western democracy freedom with spies targeting Republicans. And hated trial lawyers searching for deep pocket liability of mega-corporations in Sin City seek justice for mass shooting victims at the country music ‘good ol’ boys’ fest (undoubtedly unarmed concealed carriers could have fought back with RPGs perhaps.) They could have used overwhelming force and taken all 50 floors DOWN in self defense. And the lawyers for the hotel/mob shield themselves from liability by doubling down and SUING their victims 1st because despite lax luggage security in the comped room for the rich ammosexual accountant on a losing jag fueled by alcohol/drug anesthetization. Some storyline, eh Republican gun nuts? REGULATE GUNS!
Kinda OT, but a Russian and his wife were charged with running a sex trafficking ring out of Miami’s Drumpf Tower. Drumpf has sold many condos/apartments in Florida to Russians for cash only.
Drumpf porperties in Florida are magnets for wealthy Russians wanting to have anchor babies which don’t offend wingnuts because they are white, not POC.
James was on the right track! Another intrepid reader found a Missouri River Outdoors Facebook album showing that above photos and 75 others of Butina, Erickson, and “the Stickney grp” hunting on November 9, 2014. Butina was working South Dakota months before the public appearances previously reported. I have updated the main post above with photos.
Now, with that better-resolution photo, can anyone identify Butina’s hunting companions?
As all this white guys look alike. they all look Russian to me, especially that little fat dude on the end, could be Stalin.
CIA knows who they are by now. I can not wait see who else gets charged
May 7 Mother Jones pictures (fotodate unknown) the “Stalin” individual in a video with metal glasses and a blue right pinkie ring. “Russian Sniper Rifle NRA Promote[d]”, David Corn.
@Leslie: I don’t think that old guy is who you are suggesting.
Perhaps. Same nose, pinkie ring? Same red head promoting the new Russian sniper rifle. I wonder if ammosexuals would be comfortable calling it a sporting rifle like they insist of ar15 variants. I have seen such .50 cal monstrosities in sporting goods stores I think. Rhino hunting?
http://www.leadercourier-times.com/news/article_39836d36-904d-11e8-9a87-f33537834536.html
Caption for the photo: Missouri River Outdoors – hunters
This group of hunters shows off their birds in November 2014 at Missouri River Outdoors west of Elk Point. Not all of the hunters could be identified by press time, but they include, standing from left, Frank Stickney of Elk Point, unidentified man, Earl Miller of North Sioux City, Kevin Connelly of Elk Point, unidentified man, Maria Butina of Russia, Paul Erickson, formerly of Vermillion, Bill Heubaum of Yankton and George Madsen of Sioux City; and kneeling, unidentified man.
Great link Cathy. Good news on the names as well as we know that for each of them there is an R in front of their name, signifying Russian.
Who is this guy in the middle? He stayed out of the group photo and doesn’t seem to show up in the field pics.
https://scontent.ffsd1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10421256_855451097820079_7432362064878321139_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=240378de2689bc145d64f04a44795bf6&oe=5C0B4679