Trial of a member of the hunting community in the Var region: Press Release
Poaching, death of a husky, illegal weapons…
One Voice will be present in Gap on 19 March for the trial of a member of the
Vars hunting society
Last December, a man who is a member of the Vars hunting society was taken
into custody for offences related to his hunting activities: undeclared weapons,
the remains of animals killed illegally, and the shooting of a husky named
Aramis. One Voice has joined the proceedings as a civil party in this case
which has been documented by the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB). We
will be present at the Magistrates’ Court in Gap on 19 March 2026 at 1.30 pm to
demand a verdict commensurate with the violence inflicted.
The case came to light during an investigation initially focusing on aggravated assault
committed between December 2023 and December 2025 by a member of the Vars
hunting society. But as investigators delved deeper into their inquiry, the list of
offences lengthened…
Animal remains kept as trophies
The defendant poached chamois and roe deer outside the hunting season or in
breach of established hunting plans. Searches led to the seizure of undeclared
weapons and a pick-up truck believed to have been used for poaching trips. The
investigations also uncovered a significant quantity of animal remains: preserved
chamois and deer heads, and chamois legs. All remains that should have been sent
for rendering.
Poaching is not a mistake, but a decision: the decision to shoot without regard for
seasons, quotas or the fragile balance of natural habitats. The decision to kill without
restraint.
Aramis, a dog treated as a target
Even more seriously: during one of these illegal outings, the suspect is alleged to
have shot a husky dog who was wearing a harness and answered to the name of
Aramis.
Violence linked to hunting does not stop at animals classified as ‘game’. It spills over.
It also affects walkers’ dogs, stray dogs and cats. Cows, donkeys, horses. Hunting
dogs themselves are not spared. All too often, they are treated as mere tools:
neglected, abandoned, kept in appalling conditions. One Voice has documented this
on numerous occasions: in the Ain, in Lot-et-Garonne and elsewhere. Aramis joins
this endless list. He serves as a reminder that, in the world of hunting, dogs too pay a
heavy price.
On 19 March 2026, animals will have voices to defend them
This case will be heard on 19 March 2026 at 1.30 pm before the Magistrates’ Court in
Gap. One Voice will be there. Because poaching is not just a minor offence: it is the
very negation of wildlife. It is deciding, alone, when an animal must die, without any
framework or limit.
Our organisation had already taken action during the hearing of the poachers in the
Cher region. Today, the same question remains: how many more animals must fall
before we admit that this violence is not marginal but indicative of a system in need of
a thorough overhaul?
Poaching and the shooting of dogs or other domestic animals are not isolated
incidents. They call for a radical reform of hunting. One Voice is calling on the general
public to sign its petition.
Trial of a member of the hunting community in the Var region: Press Release
Poaching, death of a husky, illegal weapons. One Voice will be present on 19 March
for the trial of a member of the Vars hunting society