It is the annual Snipe Hunt! and our Victim is...Umm I mean, Hunting Partner is a good friend, one of whom has never been Snipe Hunting. That would be Jack.
It was the perfect night...Very dark and overcast. Just a slight wind crossing our quarries lair, and just cool enough to see a hint of your breath.
Now, I know many of you are saying, "Just how do you Snipe Hunt?" Well, I am just the guy to tell you.
First of all, a Snipe is a delicious bird that we hunt in early spring. They mate mainly in the fall, so the season is in the springtime. Very Unusual, I do agree. Now, the area will be a farm field that was plowed and has a dead furrow (a trench about 16" wide and 10" deap). We set up a gunny sack in the trench where we have our Victim, Umm I mean our new hunter hold the bag.
The rest of us will circle around from the far side of the field and chase the snipe towards the Dead Furrow. When they find that depression, they will follow it right to the bag and run right in.
OR, At least that is what we tell our victim...Yes Victim!
You see, You don't hunt Snipe this way. While Jack is holding the bag, One person is setting about 75 feet away holding onto a string tied to the bag.
"Now Jack..the Snipe run extremely fast and you may not even see them. But, you will feel them hit the back of the bag. 1 bird is poor, 2 is normal and 3 is near expert. We have NEVER gotten 4 before. But remember, they won't stay in the bag for long so you need to close it fast and DON'T open it until we are home." " O O OK" Jack replies with anticipation and adrenaline.
"Ok we are going, get ready"...So I man the string and the others start circling..."Here they come!!!!" someone yells. I give it about 10 seconds...and I start to jerk the string tied onto the bag real hard.
"I GOT THEM, I GOT THEM", JACK YELLED. "GREAT, DON'T OPEN THE BAG, HOLD IT CLOSED TIGHT"
"I beat your record...I got 4 and maybe 5, they hit the bag so quick I barely had time to close it!"
" NO Way", someone chimes in.
Now every one is heading home, Jack is caring the bag, which is heavy, heading home. Me, I am in the dark still jerking on the string to make it seam like there is something ALIVE in the bag.
WE get home and in a close garage, and tell Jack to start pulling out his catch...first comes a Rock with feather glued to it, then there is a small chunk of wood with feathers glued to it. 2 more feather covered rocks and another feathery chunk of wood.
JACK, has been had!!!
We have done this hunt up to 3 times a year for the last 25 years. NEVER, has anyone caught on. Thanks to my Dad who sets the scene before hand really well.
We have many variations to this game including leaving a bragging cousin 3/4 of a mile away with no idea how to get back, and it was raining. We went back for him after all the beer was gone!
We have time for at least one more hunt before the field is planted. Wish us luck!
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