The term snipe hunt may also be a reference to someone looking for an imaginary item that does not exist. The 'gamusino' is an imaginary animal creature with no defined description. In Spain a similar joke is called 'cazar gamusinos'. While the description of the prey differs from the North American snipe hunt, the nature of the joke is the same. Variations Ī similar practical joke in France is known as ' hunting the dahut'.

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. 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. 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. According to American Folklore: An Encyclopedia: 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. Setting the stage for the prank is often done with imaginative descriptions of the snipe, similar to tall tales. 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. 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.

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. The other group members leave, promising to chase the snipe toward the newcomer instead, they return home or to camp, leaving the victims of the prank alone in the dark to discover that they have been duped and left ' holding the bag'. Snipe hunters are typically led to an outdoor spot at night and given a bag or pillowcase along with instructions that can include either waiting quietly or making odd noises to attract the creatures. Although snipe are a real family of birds, the snipe hunt is a practical joke, often associated with summer camps and other types of outdoor camping, in which the victim is tricked into engaging in a hunt for an imaginary creature.

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