Snipe Hunting Snipe Hunting
"You kids ever been on a snipe hunt," Uncle Johnny Fox asked.
"No," we all responded. Then one of the cousins asked, "what's a snipe?"
"A snipe is a bird that only comes out a night," said dad. "They can only be recognized because of their shiny tail feathers. They shine in the moonlight. They're not easy to catch, but they are very tasty."
The excitement was building as we listened further to uncle Johnny and dad describe the best way to catch Snipe. We learned that they came out well after sunset, and the best time to hunt for them was during a full moon. In the course of telling us the best way to catch a Snipe, Uncle Johnny provided one other important fact. "You know I was driving around the other night, and I spotted a group of snipe just south of Stickney...near the cemetery, I think"
Snipes are commonly found along western North America, and rarely do they appear in the Midwest. But we didn't know that. Their molted brown and blue plumage blends well with the marshlands they typically inhabit, but this was not the description that our elders described. Based on their portrayal we thought we were going after a silver feathered Roadrunner rather than a common marsh bird. Their meat has been likened to that of a woodcock, and since I never see woodcocks on menus, I can only assume that there are other birds which have better flavor. But again, this was something we didn't know either.
"Will we be going Snipe hunting?" asked one of us.
"Well, you're in luck...you kids will be going snipe hunting tonight," Uncle Johnny said.
"What do we have to do," one of us asked.
"Its easy," dad said. "'All you need are some sticks and a few gunny sacks. When you see one, you hit it over the head, and quickly place it into the gunny sack. Its important that you keep the gunnysack tightly closed once you've captured your Snipes. They are clever birds and will find every opportunity to escape."
And so we waited...waited until it was very dark outside...and the moon was hanging straight overhead.
Dad started up the station wagon and all of us piled into the car - the Smith children...the Fox children...Uncle Johnny...and dad. We drove what seemed like a long time, and finally we reached our destination. Sure enough it was grazing land that bordered the Catholic cemetery. We jumped out of the car, and with sticks and gunnysacks in hand, we were ready. Dad and Uncle Johnny lined us up, and then informed us that they needed to go back into Stickney. They forgot something but not to worry...they would be back shortly.
Dad and uncle Johnny hopped into the car, and soon it was traveling down the road. As we watched the car drive down the farm roads, we noticed that it had made a quick stop. But it was only a few seconds, and soon the car was out of sight.
Honestly, I was scared, and I don't think I was alone. Here it was...dark outside... it was around Halloween time... the moon was big and bright...and most of all we were right next to a cemetery. It was a crisp evening and very quiet until one of the cousins chirped up.
"Hey I think a Snipe just went by me," exclaimed one of the cousins.
"Where?" Asked another cousin.
"Over here," the cousin shouted.
Now the hunt began. We were more observant of our surrounding. We were already told that they were hard to see, and that they would be all around us. But if we looked closely, we could see their feathers and then...bam! We knock 'em out and quickly put them into the sack. Then we heard it...
"Aouhhhhhh"
"What was that?" Asked one of the cousins.
"It sounds like a coyote," responded another cousin.
"Aouhhh...aouhh..uhh...uhhh...aouhhhhh"
Then Robbie said, "I don't believe it. I bet its my dad and Uncle John."
We didn't know what to believe...should we be scared...should we believe Robbie that we were being set up. Besides, who would try to set up a bunch of kids with the oldest being 10 years old? But Robbie's explanation seemed to make sense. Soon we saw a car coming down the farm road, and like before it slowed and stopped for just a few seconds. It picked up its pace, and soon the lights were upon us.
"Did you catch any Snipe?", asked Uncle Johnny.
At that Robbie and several other cousins claimed that we were being set up, and while initially denying it...they soon confessed. Yes it was them pretending to be a coyote...and yes...there was no such thing as a Snipe. With that we made our way back to grandma Smith's house to relate the big adventure of the evening.
Story by Terry Smith