Snipe hunt
A fool's errand tricking newcomers into hunting an imaginary creature.
A snipe hunt is a practical joke, a fool’s errand that has been played in North America since at least the 1840s. It tricks a newcomer into trying to catch an imaginary creature called a snipe. While real snipe are birds, the creature in the joke does not exist, and its description changes depending on who tells the tale. The prank works by leading the victim to an outdoor spot at night, handing them an empty bag or pillowcase, and telling them to wait quietly or make odd noises to attract the snipe. The other participants then leave, promising to chase the animal toward the victim, but instead they go home or back to camp, abandoning the newcomer alone in the dark to realize they’ve been duped—literally left “holding the bag.” This trick is a classic American rite of passage, especially common at summer camps and other outdoor gatherings like camping trips or hunting outings. In France, a similar joke is known as “hunting the dahut.”
- Type
- Practical joke / fool's errand
- Earliest attested
- 1840s
- Region
- North America
- Associated with
- Summer camps, Boy Scouts, outdoor activities
- Similar joke in France
- Hunting the dahut
- Similar joke in Spain/Portugal
- Cazar gamusinos
Lore & Background
The snipe hunt is a kind of fool's errand or wild-goose chase, meaning a fruitless errand or expedition, attested as early as the 1840s in the United States. It was the most common hazing ritual for boys in American summer camps during the early 20th century, and is a rite of passage often associated with groups such as the Boy Scouts. In camp life and children's folklore, the snipe hunt provides an opportunity to make fun of newcomers while also accepting them into the group.
Setting the stage for the prank is often done with imaginative descriptions of the snipe, similar to tall tales. For instance, the snipe is said to resemble a cross between a jackrabbit and a squirrel; a squirrel-like bird with one red and one green eye; a small, black, furry bird-like animal that only comes out during a full moon, and so on. According to American Folklore: An Encyclopedia, while the snipe hunt is known in virtually every part of the United States, the description of the prey varies: it may be described as a type of bird, a snake, or a small furry animal. In one version, the snipe is a type of deer with a distinctive call; the dupe is left kneeling and imitating the snipe call while holding the bag to catch it. In another variation, a bag supposedly containing a captured snipe is theatrically brought to the campsite after a group hunt; the snipe quickly 'escapes' unseen when the bag is opened.
Reader's Guide
The snipe hunt is significant as a longstanding American practical joke and rite of passage, particularly associated with summer camps and outdoor groups like the Boy Scouts. It serves as a hazing ritual that both mocks newcomers and integrates them into the group, reflecting broader themes in children's folklore and camp life. The joke's persistence since the 1840s demonstrates its cultural resonance, and its variations across regions—such as the Pennsylvania German Elbedritsche, the French dahut, and the Spanish/Portuguese gamusino—show how similar pranks appear in different cultures. The snipe hunt also illustrates the use of tall tales and imaginative descriptions to set the stage for the deception. Its legacy endures as a classic example of a fool's errand, where the victim is left 'holding the bag' after being duped into a fruitless quest.
Did You Know?
- The snipe hunt is attested as early as the 1840s in the United States.
- In France, a similar joke is called 'hunting the dahut'.
- The Pennsylvania German version of the legendary snipe is the Elbedritsche.
- In Spain and Portugal, a similar joke is called 'cazar gamusinos'.
More in Fearsome critters 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record