Court hearing in Gap: poaching and the death of Aramis brought before the courts
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 a husky named Aramis shot dead. 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 District 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 concerned with 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 grew longer…
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 large quantity of animal remains: preserved chamois and deer heads, as well as chamois legs. All these remains should have been sent for rendering.
Is hunting not enough, then? For some, never, even if it means flouting the rules meant to regulate a practice that already has serious consequences for wild animals. 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 serious: during one of these illegal outings, the suspect is alleged to have shot a husky dog who was wearing a harness and went by the name of Aramis. What does he represent in this story? A presence deemed undesirable on a territory that some consider as their own?
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. We have documented this on numerous occasions: in 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, the animals will have voices to defend them
This case will be heard on 19 March 2026 at 1.30 pm before the Magistrate’s Court in Gap. One Voice will be there. Because poaching is not merely an offence: it is the very negation of wildlife. It is deciding on one’s own when an animal must die, without any framework or limits.
We had already taken action during the hearing of the poachers from the Cher region. Today, the same question arises: how many more animals must fall before we admit that this violence is not marginal but indicative of a system in need of a fundamental overhaul?
On 19 March 2026 at 1.30 pm, at the Magistrates’ Court in Gap, we will speak out on behalf of the chamois, the red deer, the roe deer and Aramis. Because behind every court case, there are lives shattered. Because poaching and the shooting of dogs or other domestic animals are not isolated incidents. They call for a radical reform of hunting. Let’s demand it: sign our petition.
Court hearing in Gap: poaching and the death of Aramis brought before the courts
Poaching, the death of a husky and illegal weapons: One Voice will be in Gap on 19 March to demand justice