Now, I can’t see you, but I trust you, because we are all honest ethical hunters. So I want a raise of hands from all of you if this has ever happened to you. One evening at your dad’s, uncle’s, or maybe your cousin’s house you’re asked to go snipe hunting. Being the outdoorsman or woman that you are, you eagerly say yes to this new experience. You are led to the woods with a gunny sack and a flashlight to round up these magical birds only to come home empty-handed, wet, cut up from the briars. and above all else, mad, because your family is making fun of you.
Of all of those reading this right now, 95 percent of you had better have your hand in the air. Go ahead, nobody can see you; put them in the air. I guarantee mine are raised to the ceiling. However, snipe do exist, and people, me included hunt them.
The common snipe that we hunt is a migratory bird about the size of a quail. The snipe, related to the woodcock, prefers to live in areas where the water table is just below the surface. With its long bill, this habitat allows it to search for worms and other small creatures. The color of the snipe (white, gray, and brown) makes it a very difficult bird to spot, which can be frustrating to those snipe hunting.
Shotguns are just about the only way to kill a snipe. No sack needed. Bring along a whole lot of shells, for you’ll need them. Some hunters prefer to hunt with dogs, but I would rather jump-shoot them. It’s hard to find a good snipe dog in my neck of the woods.
Snipe are an early riser, out hunting for worms before returning to the bushes to hide. For about an hour at dusk, they venture out again in search of food. The trick is to be at your snipe hunting ground before first light. The birds will not be out yet, but you can enjoy the sunrise.
A 12- or 20-gauge shotgun with an improved choke is the best choice. As far as shells go, I like to use No. 8s or skeet loads carried in my orange hunter’s vest. My pants are simple, but I do like to wear chaps because of all the briars we’re liable to walk through. Don’t forget a good pair of waterproof boots. he tall grass can be pretty soggy from all the dew. A good hat with a bill is a must to shield your eyes from the rising sun.
The best setup for snipe hunting is a two-man team. One hunter will take the left side, from 9 to 12 o’clock, and the other from 12 to 3. With each snipe hunter knowing what ground to cover, you’ll minimize the chances of someone getting injured. The best scenario is if one hunter shoots left-handed and the other right… but that rarely happens.
As you may know, the dove is one heck of a hard bird to hit. The ballots are still being counted to determine whether the snipe is even a tougher target to hit. A snipe accelerates to 45 mph in the first two seconds (that’s 66 feet per second). You should get two shots off, maybe three. The first chance will be during the initial acceleration run and then again at the first part of the climb, where they reach about fifty feet. Then they might turn back around for a fly-by. If the bird happens to circle back around, you might get a third shot. You notice that I’m talking about taking three shots. That’s because you rarely hit one on the first shot. Not too make you feel bad, but I doubt you are that good of a shot to kill your limit of eight birds with eight shells.
If you’ve ever hunted pheasants or had a flock of turkey take flight in front of you, your heart probably began to pound a little faster as the daylights were just scared out of you. Believe it or not, the takeoff of a snipe compares to that of a pheasant. The little birds tend not to move until you practically step on them. Expect to get the bejeezus scared out of you throughout the day.
Some days you won’t see a single bird. Snipe are migratory, so sometimes they’re there, sometimes not. Other days, there’s a convention of the winged creatures. You bag about the same number either way. Each bird will give you about two ounces of strong-tasting breast meat.
In order to get your limit, you’ve probably shot a box of shells or more, walked ’til you have blisters, been scared to death, and felt your shoulders hurting and your ears ringing. But now you can say that you’ve been snipe hunting. By the way, if you do get a limit of snipe this year let me know. I’d love to hear your story.
Tell us what you think about snipe hunting in the comments section below.
