In Appalachian & Southern speech, a "snipe hunt" (or "snipe hunting") means a prank where someone is sent to catch a made-up critter. It’s a long-standing country joke played on kids and newcomers.
I never fell for goin’ out snipe huntin’ - but that ain’t ‘cause I wasn’t invited a time or two!
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I never fell for goin’ out snipe huntin’ - but that ain’t ‘cause I wasn’t invited a time or two!
Pronunciation
SNIPE HUN-tin
/snaɪp ˈhʌn.tɪn/
Meaning & Usage
- A prank sending someone to hunt a nonexistent animal (noun phrase)
At summer camp
Mae:
Where’s the new camper?
Earl:
Still out snipe huntin’ with a pillowcase.
- Any pointless task or trick meant to fool someone
Talking about errands
Mae:
What’d your cousin have you doin’?
Earl:
Nothin’ but a snipe hunt. I shoulda known better.
variations: snipe hunt, snipe huntin’
★ A real snipe hunt takes planning - flashlights, bags, tall tales, and a crowd gigglin’ behind the barn while the newcomer waits on a critter that ain’t comin’. ★
Origin and Etymology
"Snipe hunt" is documented across the American South, Appalachia, and the Ozarks from the late 19th to early 20th century. It parallels older British and European "fool’s errands," but in the South it evolved into a signature camp prank involving imaginary wildlife, nighttime mischief, and group storytelling. The real bird called a snipe is unrelated.
Usage Notes
Still widely recognized in Appalachian and Southern communities, especially at summer camps, church outings, and family gatherings. Outside the region, some know it through Boy Scouts or camp culture, but many Americans have never encountered it firsthand.
Used when the prank involves bags, flashlights, and waiting for a nonexistent animal.
Commonly performed by older kids or teens on younger campers.
Also used figuratively to describe any pointless or misleading task.
Real snipes exist, but the prank is about an imaginary creature.
No - the prank is unrelated to the real snipe bird.
Do people still pull this prank?
Yes, though less often now. It remains a beloved bit of Southern and Appalachian camp culture.
Why does it target newcomers?
Because the joke relies on someone who doesn’t yet know the local traditions.
Is it meant to be mean?
Usually not. It’s traditionally good-natured, though groups today are more careful about how it’s used.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 27). Snipe Hunting. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/snipe-hunting
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Snipe Hunting." HillbillySlang.com, 27 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/snipe-hunting.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Snipe Hunting." HillbillySlang.com. November 27, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/snipe-hunting.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
I never fell for goin’ out snipe huntin’ - but that ain’t ‘cause I wasn’t invited a time or two! 
