Quantock Staghounds: 2026 Hunting Act charges
What will the court determine about the alleged pursuit of wild deer with hounds in March and April 2026?
Overview
Practical action & accountability
Reporting routes checked 17 October 2026. These are public services and information resources, not confirmed QUA4U partners.
- Report a current incident: in an emergency or if a suspected crime is happening now, call 999. For a non-emergency in the Quantock area, use Avon and Somerset Police’s rural/wildlife reporting route or 101. Describe what you personally observed; do not present an allegation as a conviction.
- Preserve useful evidence safely: note the date, time and precise location. Retain original photographs or video, with a separate factual account of what you saw. Ask police how to submit files and request an incident/reference number. Avoid confrontation and do not endanger yourself or animals to obtain footage.
- Injured deer: the RSPCA’s deer guidance directs reports of injured, trapped or sick deer to 0300 1234 999. Keep your distance and do not attempt to handle, rescue or transport a deer yourself. For a road hazard, tell police so they can assess animal and traffic safety.
- Follow through: keep the reference number, receiving agency, response and next follow-up date. Track any published hearing or outcome separately from new incident reports. Update this case with a dated source when a court decision is verified.
Relevant routes: Avon and Somerset Police handles local crime reports; RSPCA provides the documented injured-deer reporting route; Somerset Wildlife Trust provides local wildlife-crime reporting guidance. The Trust is not listed here as an emergency rescue provider. No transport, veterinary placement or legal representation has been arranged.
Two people associated with the Quantock Staghounds have been charged under the Hunting Act 2004 after police reviewed video relating to incidents in March and April 2026. The defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted. The record should distinguish the charged conduct, the prosecution evidence, any statutory exemption raised, and the court’s eventual decision.
People & organizations
Investigating agency
Timeline
Add· Somerset, England
Video reviewed by police was reported to show a prolonged deer pursuit ending with a stag being cornered and shot. This describes the reported evidence underlying a charge; the court has not yet decided what it proves.
· Somerset, England
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed charges alleging hunting a wild mammal with dogs under the Hunting Act 2004 in connection with March 16 and April 23 incidents.
· Taunton, England
Chris Gibbons and Martin Watts are scheduled to appear at Taunton Magistrates’ Court. A scheduled hearing is not a finding of guilt.
Photos
Responses
No response published yet.
Respond
Outcome
No outcome recorded yet.
Links 0 of 5
No links yet. Court filings, official statements and reporting are the most useful.