Utah girl Aryanna Gourdin, 12, posted several images to Facebook standing alongside the lifeless carcasses of a giraffe, zebra and impala - all apparently killed with the help of her father during a recent hunting trip in Africa.
One of the photos, showing her holding up the head of a giraffe, has received more than 7000 comments, including several calling her a "killer" and "cruel".
The Facebook page, Aryanna Gourdin - Braids and Bows, has received more than 57,000 likes.
One person commented: "Hunting for food and resources is one thing, but you're hunting for sport alone, it's a f**king trophy to you f**king idiots."
Supporters also posted messages to the youngster, including one reading: "Who cares what all them nasty people say it's a tradition and they ain't gonna stop us so don't feel bad for putting any of this stuff up."
In an interview with Good Morning America, the youngster expressed her love for hunting, saying: "It's something I cherish and enjoy, and I want other people to see what I experienced."
“I would never back down from hunting," she added.
"I am a hunter, and no matter what people say to me, I’m never going to stop.”
Her father Eli Gourdin told Good Morning America the giraffe was offered to them by the hunting farm they visited.
"They actually had an older giraffe that was eating up valuable resources other giraffes need to survive," he said.
"We're proud to be hunters, and we'll never apologise for being a hunter."
Mr Gourdin also claimed he donated the meat from the dead animals to a nearby village to feed 800 orphans over a month.
