All this wet weather should really bring out the snipes for camping this Memorial Day weekend. Snipe hunting opens after dusk on the Friday before Memorial Day every year and it’s a tradition that’s been kept alive for generations. Surprisingly enough, in all the years we’ve been out hunting we’ve yet to bag one of the buggers. I realize it’s the one species of wildlife that is not under the management of any state game department (that’s why a license isn’t required to hunt them) but I think the world would benefit from a class or two on how to track and identify a snipe. Instead we’ve come to rely on intuition and family tradition to pass this on to future generations.
As far as I know the snipe species varies like all other animals but legend holds that the rainbow-colored snipe is the most vicious and, contrary to what you might believe, is very hard to spot in the wild. It’s for this reason that I would never suggest going snipe hunting alone. Always bring an adult and two very firm and dry sticks for clicking together (and defense if necessary). I’m not sure if the clicking helps attract or repel the snipe, but past hunts would suggest maybe both.
In the event that you should see a snipe, be prepared to capture it. Stunning it with one of your calling sticks is recommended before handling any snipe as they are usually antlered and have very sharp claws. A simple pillow case will do the trick (be sure to take the pillow out of it first). Lastly, be sure to lace up your running shoes, because snipes are also very fast. Whether you are pursuing or being pursued you don’t want to be caught in flip-flops.
There are no books written on the topic of snipe hunting, so hopefully you’ve found these few tips to be somewhat helpful. I think the most important things to remember about snipe hunting are to be safe and have fun. Happy hunting!