Kid Rock has angered animal rights groups after posing with the corpse of a mountain lion he had killed.

The 44-year-old star can be seen next to an unidentified friend sporting a camouflage ensemble and a yellow hat, holding the dead lion up for the photo.

Ted, 66, who is known for his love of hunting, and previously starred in the reality show 'Wanted: Ted or Alive', which saw contestants kill animals and cook them to survive, captioned the photo: "And what a grand conservation New Year it is! HAIL my MotorCity boy KidRock for saving all those muledeer elk & livestock by whacking this magnificent mountain lion (sic)."

However, animal welfare groups have been angered by the rocker's action.

Ben Williamson, a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), said: "It's obvious that not everyone has evolved mentally and emotionally when you see someone grinning after gunning down another living being who was busy minding his or her own business and living life.

"These days, only the very smallest percentage of people find it acceptable in any way to support blood sports like trophy hunting."

Anticipating the backlash from posting the controversial image, Ted slammed "braindead squawkers" defended the pair's actions as "necessary" and "beneficial".

He wrote: "I can hear the braindead squawkers already with their obscene denial that killing lions is wrong. Its legal its necessary its good its beneficial its a damn riot!... Praise the mighty life giving renewable protein/sport/trophy/FUN! 2015 be good good year so far! (sic)"

Kid Rock recently spoke of his love of guns and admitted he regularly adds to his collection of weaponry.

He said: "I'm always buying more guns. I have everything from a Civil War cannon to an MP5 machine gun and old police guns. If someone invades your house, yeah, you can shoot them. I don't think crazy people should have guns."