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I have never really understood the joke in sending someone on a snipe hunt. The thing is, people do hunt snipe where I live, just a kilometer or so from my house, in fact--I sometimes meet hunters down near the marsh that have gotten one or two when they hunt them in season during the fall, usually at the same time they're hunting ducks. So, honestly, where's the humour? To me, it's like sending someone on a dove hunt or a duck hunt. I can sort of see it if it were analogous to a 'wild goose chase' because snipe, like wild geese, are fairly wary when hunted, but otherwise--? Or does it fall into the mockery of stupid people catagory, the joke being that there are people so dumb that they don't even know that a snipe is a marsh and shore bird and can be talked into looking for them in the woods? (Like looking for an eagle in a cave, I guess.)

As I said, it's a mystery to me. If anyone can explain this one, I'd be grateful.

(Looks baffled and confused.)

You sure got me...

Biddybot wrote:Or does it fall into the mockery of stupid people catagory, the joke being that there are people so dumb that they don't even know that a snipe is a marsh and shore bird and can be talked into looking for them in the woods? (Like looking for an eagle in a cave, I guess.)

As I said, it's a mystery to me. If anyone can explain this one, I'd be grateful.

That's exactly what it is. Not many people know what a snipe actually is, let alone where to find one. Most people I've met haven't even heard of a snipe, for all they know a snipe is a furry critter that's found in the forest. Because of this it's become a pastime for those who know better to send people running into a forest looking for snipe, knowing that the poor suckers are on a wild goos chase. The best part is that since most people don't know what a snipe is, you can discribe it any way you want to before sending people into the woods looking for them. And that is the fun part of a "snipe hunt", the joke's on the sucker who actually thinks he'll find snipe.

Okay, thanks, aerius. That confirms my suspicions.

My own bafflement came mainly from having a hard time believing that most people don't know what a snipe is--always thought it was at least as familiar a bird as a tern, nighthawk, woodcock, etc. Not robin and pigeon-familiar, but pretty familiar. Guess I thought wrong.

Also makes me wonder about whether the statistics about hunting and birding (bird watching) being so popular aren't in truth exagerated. If they were as popular as claimed, then in any representative group of ten you should get at least one one guy who knows better speaking up and ruining any gag snipe hunts...

I actually know a guy who once fell for the propwash gag... (As in, take this bottle and go get some propwash.)

When I read the title of your thread, I thought it was sniper hunts...

Biddybot wrote:I have never really understood the joke in sending someone on a snipe hunt. The thing is, people do hunt snipe where I live, just a kilometer or so from my house, in fact--I sometimes meet hunters down near the marsh that have gotten one or two when they hunt them in season during the fall, usually at the same time they're hunting ducks. So, honestly, where's the humour? To me, it's like sending someone on a dove hunt or a duck hunt. I can sort of see it if it were analogous to a 'wild goose chase' because snipe, like wild geese, are fairly wary when hunted, but otherwise--? Or does it fall into the mockery of stupid people catagory, the joke being that there are people so dumb that they don't even know that a snipe is a marsh and shore bird and can be talked into looking for them in the woods? (Like looking for an eagle in a cave, I guess.)

As I said, it's a mystery to me. If anyone can explain this one, I'd be grateful.

Being experienced in the field of sending people on snipe hunts, I believe I can explain.

The traditional prank of a snipe hunt is sending someone out in the woods in the middle of the night with nothing but a bag, and telling them to do some utterly ridiculous thing to get the snipe to come to them so they can catch it.

Of course, REAL snipe hunting does exist, but, you do that with a shotgun instead of a paper bag.

a snipe is an animal?

Enforcer Talen wrote:a snipe is an animal?

Yes.
Learn something everyday

Honestly, I didn't even think snipe actually existed. I thought the point of the joke was that you send someone out in the woods at night to hunt something with a bag that isn't real.

Mark S wrote:Honestly, I didn't even think snipe actually existed. I thought the point of the joke was that you send someone out in the woods at night to hunt something with a bag that isn't real.

No, they exist, but just good luck catching one with a bag while climbing a tree going 'Ooot ooot oot'.

Nathan F wrote:

Mark S wrote:Honestly, I didn't even think snipe actually existed. I thought the point of the joke was that you send someone out in the woods at night to hunt something with a bag that isn't real.

No, they exist, but just good luck catching one with a bag while climbing a tree going 'Ooot ooot oot'.

I thought it was going out with the bag and calling "SnipeSnipe Snipe!"

Until I pointed out to them that wasn't a snipe a bird? That's what the book I read said... And they got Pissy.