The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE SNIPE HUNT

THIS IS A KIND OF GAME OR INITIATION WHICH I LEARNED THIS
YEAR. WHILE IT SEEMED FAIRLY WELL KNOWN, THE ONLY WAY IT
CAN BE DONE EFFECTIVELY IS IF FEW PEOPLE IN THE GROUP KNOW
ABOUT IT. IT HAS TO BE DONE IN A FAIRLY LARGE GROUP
FOR THE BEST RESULTS.
THE IDEA OF A "SNIPE HUNT" IS MAKING THE NEW MEMBERS (IF
IT'S USED AS A FORM OF INITIATION) BELIEVE THEY ARE REALLY
HUNTING FOR "SNIPES," WHICH CAN BE ABSOLUTELY ANY KIND
OF ANIMAL THE IMAGINATION CAN MAKE UP. THE SENIOR MEMBERS
OF THE GROUP MAKE THE NEW MEMBERS FIRMLY BELIEVE THEY ARE
ALL REALLY LOOKING FOR "SNIPES." THE TIME I LEARNED ABOUT
IT, THE SENIOR MEMBERS OFFERED A REWARD TO THE ONE WHO
CAUGHT THE MOST "SNIPES," IN A GIVEN TIME PERIOD. BEFORE
THE HUNT BEGAN, THE SENIOR MEMBERS STATIONED A FEW OF
THEMSELVES ALONG THE PATH IN A WOODS TO MAKE NOISES AND
ACT AS SNIPES IN THE DARK. THE END OF THE HUNT WAS AT THE
END OF THE PATH WHERE THE NEW MEMBERS WERE AMBUSHED BY A
GROUP OF THE OLD MEMBERS PREVIOUSLY STATIONED.
MANY THINGS CAN BE DONE TO ADD TO THE FUN, SUCH AS
PROHIBITION OF FLASHLIGHTS (SNIPES STAY AWAY FROM ANY
KIND OF LIGHT) OF SENDING SENIOR MEMBERS TO GUIDE THE
HUNTING PARTIES, AND AT THE SAME TIME ACT AFRAID IN THE
DARK, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 09-00-1968