As presidential candidates fish for votes, hunters in #France🇫🇷 see an opportunity to go on the offensive to defend a popular tradition dating back to the revolution. [_link] via @RFI_En @ChasseursFrance

— RFI English (@RFI_En) March 29, 2022

"Hunting is part of the soul of the countryside," says Denis Plat, chief editor at J'aime la Chasse online magazine. 

Hunting used to be reserved for the nobility, but the 1789 revolution opened it up to everyone and since then it's become one of the most popular and socially diverse activities in France.

"It goes from workers to CEOs, lawyers or employees ... through to the so-called elite with very exclusive hunting estates," Plat explains. "This is the richness of the French hunting tradition and it gives it real strength."

French election candidates meet hunters: what are they proposing?

After the dust clears ...

and the winner is Emmanuelle Macron by a clear margin

'Sapere aude'