How to Hunt Snipe on Public Land

To this day, my first snipe hunt is one of my fondest childhood memories. I was a pre-teen rising through the ranks of Boy Scouts, and found myself on my first extended weekend away at camp with the entire troop.

“Take this brown paper bag and sit quietly under this tree,” the older Scout whispered as I carefully crawled into a comfortable position and prepared myself for a long wait. “Shine your flashlight on the ground and click it on and off to lure in a snipe,” he added.

After a few practice sets, I was ready for a wily snipe to run in for me to bag. The older Scout must have felt the same because he soon slinked off to “flush a snipe my way.” I hunted intently for the next 10 minutes or so until my concentration was disrupted by hoots and hollers coming from the direction of the campfire. I abandoned my post and bolted back toward the others, expecting to see my first wild snipe being plucked and roasted over the open fire. The jig was finally up, and I was left holding the bag. I can still hear their gut-busting laughter echoing through the camp.

A few years ago, I reconnected with the snipe accidentally, while fly fishing for bowfin along the edge of a weedy cove on Lake Champlain. After a few mysterious flushes, I began to recognize the long bill and body shape, like that of a slimmed down woodcock, and soon realized I was stirring up snipe. I returned on opening day and finally “caught” my first snipe. The joke’s on those other Scouts now. I got the last laugh with a bird in the bag!

Snipe are indeed real birds, and chasing them with a shotgun is easily some of the most enjoyment I’ve experienced in wingshooting. They erupt from cover as hard as any upland bird and whiz away in an erratic flight pattern that will test the nerves of even the most experienced shotgunner. Snipe inhabit difficult terrain that will cause you to question your sanity upon entering it, but there’s something special about trudging through the muck to flush a diminutive bird. It’s a challenge not for the faint of heart.

Whether you set out to target them specifically or add a few bonus “marshdoodles” to your duck bag, an abundance of public-land snipe hunting adventures awaits anyone who is curious enough to try it out. Unless you’re afraid of a little backwater bushwhacking and a few funny looks at the parking lot, I can’t think of any reason why you wouldn’t want to pursue these birds.

PERFECT PUBLIC PURSUIT

The snipe (technically Wilson’s snipe) is found throughout North America, with a hunting season in every state, with the exception of Hawaii, and Canadian province. There are populations of resident birds in their northern breeding grounds, and every fall they migrate down into wintering areas in the southern and coastal states. With long seasons, large bag limits (commonly five to eight birds), and little to no pressure, snipe hunting is sure to provide numerous opportunities for wingshooters targeting this overlooked and underrated little game bird.

Whether you choose to chase them on your own or with a couple buddies, you will have little problem finding public parcels to hunt. Great places to start are the same marshes, swamps and wetlands that are popular for duck and goose hunters, although you may want to save your swampy saunter until after the ’fowlers have returned from the morning flight. Any time of day is ideal to go, as snipe will forage in the mud and loaf in cover throughout the day. Snipe also make an excellent addition to any upland bird, waterfowl or small-game hunt should you inadvertently stumble onto prime snipe-holding habitat.

Another advantage to snipe hunting is you need not invest in new gear. Throw on your knee-highs or hip boots along with your favorite hunting vest, and you’re outfitted for snipe. Any gauge shotgun will do, although the smaller bores shine for these birds. Snipe are small and delicate birds, and they can be taken with common small-game loads of No. 7 to No. 9 shot. I prefer to use steel or other non-lead ammo (No. 8 Boss Bismuth is my current go-to snipe load) for that eco-friendly feeling and for staying in compliance during mixed-bag waterfowl hunts.

Always check the regulations for the area you plan to hunt, but a regular or small-game hunting license and Harvest Information Program number should be all you need to stay on the right side of the law. Certain wildlife refuges and other state and federal lands may require additional stamps and access permits. They may also have non-lead ammo requirements, specific season dates or other stipulations.

HOME IN ON HABITAT

A migratory member of the shorebird family, snipe are most often associated with freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and wetlands. They are creatures of edges and transitions; in this case, where the waterline meets vegetation. Weather and water depth will have the largest influence on whether snipe will be in optimal cover. The proximity of the cover to the water’s edge is the other major factor that contributes to locating birds. Areas with wide, flat gradients and large transitions with cover and exposed mud near the waterline are snipe gold mines. Keep your eyes peeled for flushing snipe, but also for their tracks, scat, probe holes and feathers to indicate you are where you need to be.

Finding snipe habitat may not be the trickiest part of the endeavor; rather, finding how, where and when snipe are using the area is the challenge. Snipe prefer moist and muddy ground where they probe for insects and invertebrates. They don’t mind getting their feet a little wet, but you won’t find them in more than a few inches of water. They won’t be close to bone-dry ground, either.

The next piece of the puzzle is vegetation and cover: not too thick, not too thin and not too tall. Snipe don’t mind walking around, but they’ll usually stick close to cover. They prefer shorter grasses and reeds to thicker cattails and woody shoreline shrubs. I find most birds in a strip that extends about 20 feet from the water’s edge. Of course, snipe will use less-than-ideal cover, too, so don’t sling your shotgun when walking through the thin stuff. I’ve taken plenty of birds that jump up from what looks like nothing, albeit they flush at longer ranges. Wet years when water levels are up can push snipe onto higher ground and thicker cover. You may need to walk a bit farther from the water’s edge to find where the soft stuff has pulled in birds.

With prolific public hunting opportunities from coast to coast, finding snipe habitat in your state shouldn’t be much of an issue. Focus on public ground with swamps, lake shores, flooded fields and muddy riverbanks. Much of the Midwest contains larger waterfowl refuges and waterfowl production areas that are sure to produce snipe throughout the season. Because these areas are routinely drained, flooded and otherwise managed to control water levels, they may contain mud flats and wet meadows that could become hot spots for snipe hunting. Don’t forget to check into privately owned land with public access such as walk-in areas, Conservation Reserve Program lands and properties enrolled in the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, as snipe are also readily found in flooded farmlands, wet field edges and drainage ditches.

Spring is a great time to start scouting for resident birds, and you’ll know you’re in the right place when you hear the eerie and enchanting “winnowing” of the male snipe during mating season, and witness his aerobatic aerial displays. Once you find snipe, you’ll likely continue to see resident birds and migrators using the same habitat throughout the season. With weather and variable water levels, what holds snipe one year could be devoid of them the following. Snipe hunting comes down to water levels and proximity to cover since they follow the soft ground.

SMART STRATEGIES

Identifying snipe on the wing is sure to be the most intimidating aspect for new hunters of the bird. Where you find snipe, you’ll likely also encounter other shorebirds such as sandpipers, killdeer, yellowlegs, dowitchers and others, but there are a few rules of thumb to ease your anxieties. I recommend taking a walk in your local wetland during the off-season to sort out the shorebirds and familiarize yourself with the distinct sights and sounds of the snipe.

If you see a bird on the ground that allows you to walk up on it and does not flush, it’s most likely not a snipe. Snipe tend to stay out of sight, hold tight in cover and flush hard like their woodcock cousins; their coloration and body shape is similar, too. Snipe often make a mid- to high-pitched, scratchy scaipe sound as they take flight. They can get up in a hurry, zigging and zagging before kicking in the afterburner. Snipe often don’t flush far, allowing for careful follow-up shots, and you can occasionally bump them a time or two before they retreat to the safety of another adjacent waterbody.

While public-land access may be free and easy, getting into and around snipe holdouts can sometimes require fancy footwork. Birds of muck and mire, snipe inhabit challenging terrain that seeks to knock you off your feet, from submerged sticks and snags to boot-stealing slop and ankle-twisting vegetation. It’ll test your balance and burn your thighs, but snipe hunting is pretty straightforward.

The simple approach is to walk through cover at a controlled, slow to medium pace. Your presence and movement will put enough pressure on nearby birds and force them to flush. You’ll likely put them up from where they are resting, but given a little space, they may run ahead. Pay attention to changes in cover like points, clearings and edges ahead of you where birds will be forced to fly. Whether I’m hunting solo or in a line with buddies, I like to walk the edges of cover in a way that pressures snipe to fly over water, making for improved sighting and shooting conditions, along with shorter recoveries.

Walk the cover and stay ready, scanning the 15- to 30-yard zone ahead of you. Snipe typically get up within 15 feet, most often directly in front, but occasionally to one side. Like with many other game birds, it’s best to wait a second or two to let a snipe get some air under it while you acquire the target. Believe me when I say you have more time than you think. You may put up single birds, pairs or small bunches. When snipe are thick, it may seem like every other footstep results in a flush.

Marking downed birds can be tricky for the dogless hunter, as the snipe’s rusty brown, black and tan coloration often blends with cover. This is why it can be beneficial to push birds over water for easy pick-ups. I carry a blaze-orange bandana to drop where I took my shot before moving to my mark and then working in outwardly expanding circles.

Snipe can be successfully hunted without a dog, but you’re bound to have more fun and make shorter work of flushing and recovering birds with a four-legged partner. Snipe can be flighty and may not hold long for pointers, but a flushing dog will be perfectly suited for quartering ahead of hunters as they walk through cover. Any dog that you trust to recall and move within shotgun range will fit the bill.

In case you’re still not totally sold on snipe hunting yet, you might be surprised to learn they can also be hunted over decoys. Don’t be shy about shooting a few strays that buzz your duck spread. Or grab some dedicated snipe decoys, set them on shore, take cover and wait for the fun to begin.

If you’re allured by the obscure and dare to be different, snipe hunting is bound to satisfy your craving. With a widespread abundance of birds, long seasons, large bag limits and endless access for hunters, it’s time to try one of public land’s least-pursued hunting opportunities—for real.

SNIPE SPOTS

• Four top places to plan a hunt.

Snipe are readily found throughout North America, and chances are good you’ll be able to locate a wet spot near you to try hunting them. For anyone looking to get into a bonanza of birds, here are a few of the nation’s best snipe destinations.

FLORIDA

Florida might be the mecca for marshdoodles, where hunters can find them in big numbers as they stack up in their southern wintering grounds. Head to the east-central part of the state to visit the St. Johns River Water Management District. Several sites are open to hunting, including Upper St. Johns River Marsh Wildlife Management Area, with more than 120,000 acres of rivers, canals, fields and floodplain marshes to explore. Also nearby is the 6,300-acre T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area with high-quality wintering wetland habitat for snipe. Beyond that, the state manages more than 6 million acres of wildlife management areas, most of which are bound to have some water and the potential to hold snipe during the season.

NORTH DAKOTA

The Prairie Pothole Region of the Upper Midwest is prime country for bagging birds, and North Dakota should be ground zero to launch into snipe hunting. I recommend heading to the northeast corner of the state, focusing on the Devil’s Lake Wetland Management District, home to 258,000 acres of shallow wetland and soggy grassland habitat spread across more than 200 federally owned waterfowl production areas. From larger lakes and muddy marshes to sodden grassy flats and tiny puddles, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get your feet wet on your first snipe hunt.

KANSAS

The Sunflower State offers top-notch snipe hunting on its abundant public marshes. At almost 20,000 acres, Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area is a robust, water-controlled wetland complex of impoundments, canals, pools and islands where snipe are common. Also nearby is the McPherson Valley Wetlands Wildlife Area that contains several dozen separate wetland and marshland units open to hunting. Lastly, there are more than 1 million acres of private land enrolled in the Walk-In Hunter Access Program, so chances are good you can get into birds somewhere on someone’s back forty.

NORTH CAROLINA

Hunters should seriously think about traveling to eastern North Carolina to hunt the coastal marshes and brackish backwaters to intercept the snipe migration. Get started on the state game lands throughout the region that offer hunters access to tens of thousands of acres of marshes, rivers, impoundments and flooded fields. The region also boasts a handful of national wildlife refuges open to hunters (permit required), such as the 158,000-acre Alligator River NWR or the 110,000-acre Pocosin Lakes NWR.

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• This article was featured in the 2024 issue of Public Land Hunter magazine. Click to subscribe.

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