The Mystical North American Snipe
Originally published in The Greeley Tribune, October 28, 2023.
While snipe hunting does have its success stories, it's a very tight-lipped activity, and most hunters do not elaborate as it’s something one must experience firsthand.
A magician makes shadow puppets in Mexico. Photo/Stacy McCloud.
Magic. Magic is what keeps me going. Trying to find magic in my life is what keeps the mundane monotony out of my life. I try to keep the grueling agony of everyday life locked up in a burlap sack, zip-tied, and thrown in the back of an unopened closet, collecting dust. Magic can be found in everyone's everyday life. All one has to do is search for it, and it’s not usually very far.
I find magic in animals, children, unexpected strangers, humor, situations, and in the most unlikely circumstances.
I was thinking of this as I was drinking a red blend after a long day of diving and too much sun in Mexico. It was a girls' trip, and we exhausted ourselves. So, rather than going out for dinner, we stayed at the resort for dinner and entertainment—a magic act that was sure to be cheesy and full of easily debunked feats of magic.
As I watched the magician perform his surprisingly less predictable than anticipated cruise ship magic, I was reminded of all the magical snipe hunting we've taken our foreign hunting friends on. Snipe hunting solidifies relationships and adds dimensions and layers to friendships.
A man prepares for his first snipe hunt. Photo/Ima Sniper
Snipe hunting is practiced from coast to coast by many avid snipe hunters; it is a creature that no other continent gets to enjoy through the art of hunting.
The species is so rare that it is unknown if past generations of snipe were able to survive and sustain life in climates other than North America. Due to the lack of snipes in captivity, there is little known about the species, its appearance, its habitat, mating habits, food preferences, and life expectancy.
While snipes can be hunted during the day, it’s believed the creature is primarily nocturnal. Most hunting parties utilize the cover of darkness in hopes of capturing the cat-sized prey. Many hunters have claimed to have caught snipes, but few can describe the species. Under the cover of night, the snipe may look like other animals, such as rabbits, squirrels, cats, or raccoons.
Some hunters have claimed it has shape-shifting abilities like that of the Native American wendigo. One must wonder how much alcohol was consumed during those hunts. While snipe hunting does have its success stories, it's a very tight-lipped activity, and most hunters do not elaborate as it’s something one must experience firsthand.
Let us not confuse snipe the mammal with the long-legged snipe birds that tends to be found in marshy areas across the world. There are about 20 different species of snipe birds but only one known species of the mammal snipe. The North American snipe (mammal) is in extreme danger of becoming extinct due to overhunting.
Traditional snipe hunting gear. Photo/Ima Sniper
Overhunting is caused by lack of regulations to protect the species. Other contributing factors to dwindling sightings of snipes could be: shortage of food, urban sprawl, and poor growth management in the habitat of the species.
In an effort to conserve the species for future generations, I am in the process of starting an organization called American Snipe Society or ASS. To become an ASS, reach out to me.
The gestation period of a female snipe is unknown; therefore, it is near impossible to know how often the female reproduces, contributing to the population of the species. Like the jackalope, there is no specific season for hunting snipes, and no license is required. Juveniles, newborns, pregnant snipes, and adults are hunted all the same without discrimination. With such depleted numbers of snipes in the wild, we need to be concerned about how this could possibly disturb the ecosystem for future generations.
When it comes to snipe hunting, I prefer the catch and release method, it ensures the survival and release of the snipe.
It is believed that snipes are attracted to the shaking and beating of paper bags with wooden spoons or sticks, and they often respond to a series of whistles and tongue clicks.
Once they are caught, there is no recommended ethical way of dispatching the snipe, and it is feared that some die in the paper bags without successfully finding their way to freedom. It is unsure why this happens; however, some experts believe it is due to the nocturnal nature of the creature and its preference for darkness.
After every snipe hunt, I tear the paper bag open and shake it upside down, releasing the prey. I then tear up the bag and carefully dispose of it to ensure the survival and longevity of the species.
Snipes are attracted to the shaking and beating of paper bags with wooden spoons or sticks, and they often respond to a series of whistles and tongue clicks.
A snipe hunter tries to coax the ever elusive snipe from a tree. Photo/Ima Sniper
Tips for Successful Snipe Hunting
Full Moon Hunts. While many hunters will argue that the moonless cover of night is the best time for hunting elusive snipes, most hunters I've met prefer hunting for snipes during the full moon. While nocturnal animals are naturally more active during the darkness, it is believed that snipes mating games are played in the brightest of night skies. Many hunters take advantage of this and coordinate full moon hunts.
A change in the amount of daylight is a phenomenon called photoperiodism, and it directly influences animal behavior. Some animals are less active during the full moon, possibly due to their vulnerability and the chance of being spotted by hunters.
Learn to Call Them. Make sure to practice your oral sounds to have a successful snipe hunt. Quick, loud bursts of whistling paired with tongue clicking seem to draw them in especially fast. The serious snipe hunter often practices whistling for days or even weeks in advance as it is the series of whistles and clicks that attract the snipes.
Plan Your Hunt Carefully. Snipes seem to prefer country or mountain living and are rarely spotted in city limits or in densely populated neighborhoods. While it is unclear where they sleep (do they have dens, roost, or burrow?), snipes seem to prefer the protection of evergreen trees and are more likely to be discovered in forested areas. A recent study performed by a handful of cryptozoologists suggests that the Northern American snipe hibernates like bears, skunks, and groundhogs, making winter hunts futile.
Camouflage. The best camouflage for snipe hunting is dark clothing and a ski mask or dark makeup to cover faces. In fact, it’s best to try to leave as little skin exposed as possible. Make sure clothing is breathable and has stretch for flexibility.
Items Required for a Successful Snipe Hunt. As it’s futile to hunt a snipe during daylight hours, a flashlight is necessary. An even better option is a headlamp, which frees your hands for the ease of the hunt. It is important that a hunter wears comfortable gear, and quiet shoes or boots are a must. One should ensure their hands are free to easily manage a paper grocery bag in one hand and a stick or a wooden spoon in the other. As previously mentioned, the spoon is meant to beat the paper bag while making the series of whistling and clicking noises in hopes of luring the creature into the bag.
A snipe hunter hopes to catch the mystical North American Snipe. Photo/Ima Sniper
Magic is what creates romance, memories, friendships, loves, and legacies. We all need a little magic.
If you're lacking magic in your life, reach out to me and let me help set up your snipe hunt.
To read more about the excursions and this elusive creature, contact me or sign up to receive information on future hunts. I can also be found on Instagram @skingirl.
#americansnipesociety #ASS #snipesforlife #snipehunter
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