“If evidence comes to light that hunting is putting the species in danger we could in no way support that practice. We would stop tomorrow.”

In Les Landes, France the Ortolan Bunting is considered a delicacy.  French hunters catch thousands of birds every year and the method to prepare them for human consumption is brutal: the bird are force-fed in complete darkness for days before being drowned in Armagnac. Still, hunters like Regis Hargues are fighting to preserve this hunting tradition, which is facing steep regulation in France. Regis is the spokesperson for The Federation of Hunters in Les Landes. The Federation not only regulates hunting in the region but is also involved in wildlife conservation. Regis is trying to prove that the hunt is not having an impact on declining bird populations. If he is successful, will the hunt continue?