A snipe hunt, a form of wild-goose chase that is also known as a fool's errand, is a type of practical joke that involves experienced people making fun of credulous newcomers by giving them an impossible or imaginary task. The origin of the term is a practical joke where inexperienced campers are told about a bird or animal called the snipe as well as a usually preposterous method of catching it, such as running around the woods carrying a bag or making strange noises such as banging rocks together. Incidentally, the snipe (a family of shorebirds) is difficult to catch for experienced hunters, so much so that the word "sniper" is derived from it to refer to anyone skilled enough to shoot one.
* Please if you know my children do not tell them that snipes are not real.
They are still under the impression that they are very real!! It is a rite of
passage every youngster must do at one point in their young life. I did it
at 4-H camp, great memories :)
The boys said their very favorite part of our trip was when Grandma Shelley,
and her friend Debbie took the kids snipe hunting one night. It was a hoot!!
Untitled from Amy BArron on Vimeo.
Untitled from Amy BArron on Vimeo.
A group shot of the snipe hunters. The two 2 year cousins were asleep.
