THE MISSISSIPPI SNIPE HUNT: A SOUTHERN TRADITION
Back in the good old days, when we didn’t have so many other forms of entertainment vying for our attention, we went Snipe Hunting. Back then every young man looked forward to his first Snipe Hunt. It was pretty much a rite of passage here in the deep south. Unfortunately, Snipe Hunting, like the Mississippi Snipe, has become an endangered species.
This cache seeks to revive the excitement of those fun Snipe Hunts of days gone by.
WHAT IS A SNIPE?:
Snipes are wading birds, characterized by very long slender bills, which they use in sewing machine fashion to find and eat invertebrates in the mud surrounding ponds and marshland. They primarily feed on insect larvae, but also eat flies, beetles, dragon flies, crickets, grasshoppers, ants, mayflies, butterflies, moths, and fingers.
Their primary habitat is swamps and marshland. However, the species of Snipe that lives in Mississippi prefers forests with small ponds.
Snipes are very difficult to see, much less catch. They have crypsis plumage, which makes them blend into their background like camouflage, allowing them to remain undetected by hunters. Additionally when the snipe flies, their erratic flight pattern makes it difficult for hunters to estimate a correct aiming lead. This is where the military word Sniper came from. It refers to a sharpshooter who is so skilled that he can even shoot a Snipe.
THE RAREST SNIPE:
Of the 25 different species of Snipe in the Scolopacidae family, the Snipeus Mississippius is considered the most beautiful, with its multi-colored plumage. Unfortunately, it is also the rarest and shyest of the Snipes, which means very few people have ever seen one.
The last surviving family of Mississippi Snipes is rumored to live in the Bienville National Forest near Morton, MS.
The exact location of their nest is an old family secret. However, in the interest of reviving the dying art of Snipe Hunting, I am going to give you the secret instructions for finding it. Just don’t tell my second cousin, Bubba, that I told you!
IMPORTANT SNIPE HUNTING RULES:
Snipe hunting with guns and other weapons is NOT ALLOWED here!
Snipe trapping is NOT ALLOWED here!
In the old days we used to bring a bag for the first time hunters to catch them in, while the rest of the hunting party stirred the Snipe out of his nest. But that’s not allowed here anymore either.
WHAT IS ALLOWED?:
You CAN go hunting for them with just your eyes and your ears. Not to shoot or capture them, but just to look at them and see how beautiful they are.
ABOUT THE HUNT:
If you carefully follow all of the instructions below, we guarantee you will have a fun and successful Snipe Hunt.
NIGHT CACHE: All Snipe Hunts take place at night. Therefore this is a Night Cache. As a matter of fact, you cannot find this cache during the day, because it requires flashlights. A good handheld GPS is also required to get you to the parking spot and to get you to the place where your flashlights will take over.
DISTANCE / TIME: The distance to the cache is just a little over a half mile. Which means you will hike just a little over a mile round trip. It took our testers about 35 minutes round trip to hike in, find the cache, and return to their vehicles. 95% of this hike is on a well maintained, flat gravel trail, but the last 5% of the hike to the cache departs from the gravel trail and is cross country through a pine forest. Wheelchairs could handle the 95% part, but not the 5% part.
TAKE FRIENDS: Do NOT hunt for this cache alone! Take a friend, or better yet, a group of friends. There is nothing quite as exciting as a Snipe Hunt with a group of friends. So bring a bunch of people with you and multiply the fun and safety!
ITEMS TO BRING: Flashlights and/or headlamps, mosquito repellent in season, hydration in season, a writing pen to sign the log, a handheld GPS (You will need a real GPS, because your cellphone connection might be low to nonexistent here)
WHAT TO WEAR: Good walking shoes, running shoes, or hiking boots. Long pants (95% of this hike is on a well maintained, flat gravel trail, but 5% is cross country through a pine forest, so wear long pants to protect your legs from any brush that might grow up here.
LOCATION: This cache is hidden in the non-management, public access part, of the Bienville National Forest. No permits are required for hiking in this area. However, no motorized vehicles are allowed on the gravel trail or in the woods.
PARKING: Parking Coordinates: N32 23.5234 W089 39.2954 Gravel parking is on the west side of highway 13 at the entrance to the forest trail. Do not block the entrance, park along the sides of the entrance.
THE SNIPE HUNT BEGINS:
1. Begin hiking on the gravel trail on the west side of the road where you parked. It will take you in a generally northwest direction. There is a gate there to block vehicles, but there is a walk-in entrance to the left of the gate.
2. Look for a fork in the trail around N32 23.5932 W089 39.3696. There is a gravel trail which forks to the left about a 1/10 of a mile up the main trail. Take the trail which forks to the left. This trail will take you in a generally westward direction.
3. When you start getting near N32 23.5841 W089 39.8613 start shining your flashlights into the woods on the left side of the trail.
HINT: Hold your flashlights at about eye level or higher. If you shine them in the correct direction you will soon see an eye reflecting back at you! The real fun of the hunt is about to begin, but don’t skip the next instructions. They are very important and necessary for a successful Snipe Hunt!
4. IMPORTANT: Most birds are sensitive to electrical frequencies, which is why various companies produce electronic devices for repelling birds. The Mississippi Snipe is an extremely sensitive bird. All electronic devices, including GPSs put out a minor electrical frequency which aggravates snipes and causes them to flee their nest.
You don’t want to blow your only chance of seeing this rare and beautiful bird! Also, if you’ve ever been hit in the face by a frightened and erratic flying Mississippi Snipe, you know how painful it is pulling their long slender beak out of your face. So PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR GPS just before leaving the gravel trail and entering the woods! You won’t need it anymore anyway! The reflective eyes will lead you all the way to the Snipe nest and then back to the gravel trail.
What? You’re AFRAID OF GETTING LOST?! Ok, those of you who are SCAREDY CATS can save a bookmark at the trail before turning off your GPS and entering the woods. You can always turn it back on AFTER you find the Snipe, IF YOU GET LOST!
5. VERY IMPORTANT: Once you leave the gravel trail and begin hiking in the woods, you are very close to the Mississippi Snipe’s nest. The Snipe will flee its nest when it hears you coming, unless you sing its song to it. No, I’m not kidding! This is vital. For a successful hunt you will need to sing out in a long drawn out, high pitched, but soothing voice “Coo Coo” about every three or four minutes. This relaxes the Mississippi Snipe and insures that he will stay in his nest. You might even hear him coo back at you.
6. Using your flashlights, leave the gravel trail and hike through the woods to the closest single reflective light. When you arrive at the single reflective eye go to the other side of the tree (put your back to the other side of the tree) and start shining your flashlight around at eye level. You will see the next single reflective eye somewhere within a 180 degree range in front of you. It might be directly in front of you, or it might be off to the left or it might be off to the right. Just shine your flashlight back and forth in front of you until you see it. Then hike to that reflective eye.
7. Using the method given in #6 above continue working your way from one single reflective eye to the next until you see THREE reflective eyes looking back at you. You will know that you have arrived when you reach the THREE reflective eyes. Look down, under some sticks and leaves, for the instructions for gently removing the Mississippi Snipe from his nest. Yes, you can hold him, if you keep cooing and are very gentle. Please replace everything exactly as you found it.
8. Worried about finding your way back to the gravel trail? Then turn around and follow the double reflective eyes back to the gravel trail. Just remember, follow the single reflective eyes to the Snipe’s nest. Follow the double reflective eyes back to the gravel trail. One in, two out!
9. By the way, did I mention the alligators that live near the Snipe’s nest? :-)
10. If you enjoy this hunt, please tell us about it, and give it a Favorite Point on this webpage.
11. Then continue the tradition by taking other folks Snipe Hunting here.