The Big Hunt

Well campers, what a special day. The Sunday before Memorial Day is a tradition around these parts for the famous "Camp Winnamucca Yucca Annual Snipe Hunt". This year is no different. Even though we don't have the usual big teams with just one camper but were confident that Jeff will come home a winner. We took Jeff out to the "Happy Hunting Grounds" where there had been many Snipe sightings this Spring. This is one of the prime Snipe grounds in all of North America. We deposited Jeff with the necessary equipment; a large stick, a strong reinforced net and game bag and whistle. He was also equipped with the Snipe Call that he had made in his crafts class last night with counsellor Lawrence. Jeff had opted for the nose whistle with the serrated edges with the grating stick to create the matting call of the wild North American Snipe. Camper Jeff had been well prepared for the hunt, including all of the dangers of meeting the wild Snipe on it's own turf. We also reassured Jeff that hidden counsellors would be standing by with snipe hunting rifles and emergency first aid kits just in case he was bitten or scratched. Jeff was very impressed by how well the counsellors hid, he did not see any of them the entire day or throughout the night. Although Jeff thought he heard plenty of Snipe, he was never able to get his hands on one. Disappointed, the counsellors decided to let Jeff hunt another day or days until he got his Snipe. We certainly don't want a disappointed camper on our hands. We suggested that for the second day, he rub himself up in the dung of the very rare Easter Bunny Beetle in heat. Fortunately for Jeff, we happened to have some on hand from a previous hunt. Jeff thought it looked and smelled just like dog poop but we assured him it was the real deal. In the early morning at breakfast we trained him in vocalizing Snipe calls to use in consort with his Snipe call he made in crafts. We also, of course, recommended he walk backwards on all the trails to fool the Snipe into thinking he was leaving instead of coming. We are very confident that with these new skills, equipment and smells, Jeff can't help but come home with a trophy size beast. We told him that we would get the barbecue grill ready and Cookie said that he had already made his famous "sage and pinion nut snipe sauce". When Jeff marched off, backwards of course, he had a big confident smile on his face, so did the counsellors.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the great Snipe Hunt of 2010 update. Will Jeff catch the big one? Stay tuned.