Conservation Corner: February 19, 2001

Snipe Huntin'
by James L. Cummins

It was about this time of year last year. I was in Yazoo County hunting rabbits with my friend Howard Brent and Congressman Ronnie Shows at Howard's place - Panther Tract. I have been hunting with Howard at this beautiful place for over ten years.

This time last year, the ground still was not too wet so rabbits were able to stay in holes in the ground. However, several of us noticed a few snipe by the lodge. We began pursuing them and had very good luck so I thought I would share the experience.

Although snipe are not the easiest bird to hit, they are easy to locate. When is the best time of year to hunt snipe, you ask? It is during the months of January and February when most of the other seasons are closed. Snipe like wet, fairly open areas such as pasture or areas of open ground in heavy vegetation, including marsh. They like to be able to view their surroundings to avoid predators. Wet, open areas adjacent to a lake, river or marsh with standing water is ideal habitat. From the Tombigbee River bottom to the Mississippi River bottom to the Gulf Coast marsh, much of this type of habitat occurs throughout Mississippi.

Snipe are a lot more available than many think. They are also not hard to hunt. Of all the game birds that are flushed (i.e., quail, pheasant, grouse, etc.), snipe are best suited to the hunter without a well-trained bird dog. As a matter of fact, breeds that point (i.e., pointers, setters, etc.) are not desired for hunting snipe since they do not hold well for a dog. Furthermore, they usually will fly out of range when spooked.

A well-trained retriever, which my golden is not, that will heel very well can be extremely valuable for retrieving downed birds. The natural camouflage of a snipe allows it to "become invisible" on even a closely cut pasture damaged by the drought of 2000. However, if the hunter will mark the downed bird and walk straight to it and ignore other snipe that are flushing, he or she will usually find it. Although it is hard to pass up a potential double or triple, the time gained from marking your bird will pay off in the long run.

By far, the simplest and most common technique for hunting snipe is for hunters to walk through good habitat until the bird flushes. In the open areas that they prefer, they're not hard to see and hear when they flush. If a snipe flushes and flies out of range, watch it carefully and mark the spot where it landed. It will usually be where you spotted it and at times there will be multiple birds at the location.

In addition to snipe bringing back memories of the "good ole bobwhite days," most Mississippians will find their taste is familiar. There is not much difference between a dove and a snipe. Anyone with a good dove recipe should have no trouble creating a tasty snipe meal.

Snipe may not be as common as quail hunting, but they are very much desired by those who have found the challenge of this late season game bird.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.