George Singleton writes of the old-timey days of the 'snipe hunt'

George Buster Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Hunting snipes for city folks was cold, silent task,” was originally published in the Jan. 27, 1994 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

The hard days of the Great Depression presented many problems to the country people of the area in which I grew up. But during these times, there were also some fine and wonderful times to be had among the young people of the farming communities of this area.

As I look back at some of those good times, I find myself wishing that the youth of today could experience some of the fun times that I was a part of during my growing up years.

All country families within the area had relatives, or kin folks as they were called, who lived in the larger towns and cities. These relatives always knew that when they visited their country kin, there was always plenty of home-grown food to be had and most always plenty of good clean entertainment.

That is not to say that these city kinfolk weren’t the victims of some of the practical jokes that were almost sure to be pulled on them during some of these visits. But through it all, good times were to be enjoyed and the city slickers always left looking forward to the next visit to the country.

During the cold winter months, possum hunting or hunting for hickory nuts or wild chestnuts was one form of local entertainment for the young folks. If a visitor or relative who wasn’t familiar with country goings-on happened to be among the visiting kin folks, it was almost a certainty that a night of snipe hunting was forthcoming.

Snipe hunting wasn’t talked about or discussed as the groups of young people would gather for a campfire outing or get-together. The reason was that those who had never been snipe hunting were the ones who were always the ones chosen to guard the sack that the snipes were to be caught in.

A snipe hunt would begin to be organized along about first dark. Usually, around this time of year when a group of young people got together a large bonfire was built. Once it was discovered that someone in the group had never been snipe hunting, plans would be quickly formulated for a hunt.

A large sack would be brought in to catch the snipes. Then, those who had never been snipe hunting would be chosen to guard the sack. The sack would be hidden in a large briar thicket with the opening of the sack held open with a stick of sorts. Those who had been chosen to guard the sack were told to lie on the ground near the sack so that when the snipe was driven into it they could jump forward and close the sack.

The rest of the group was supposed to go out into the field and drive the snipes toward the thicket and into the large sack. Those left to guard the sack had to be very quiet and not make any movement that would frighten the snipes away from the sack.

After the sack had been placed and those who were to guard it had been positioned, the rest of the group then left as though looking for a snipe. Several hundred yards would be put between the two groups. The drivers would find a nice comfortable place, most times in a draw or a ravine so that those left behind to guard the sack couldn’t hear them.

Here, they would build a small fire and enjoy themselves while those who guarded the sack waited in total silence, most times chilled to the bone from the cold ground and not being able to move around to keep their blood circulating.

Two or three hours would pass as the drivers entertained themselves, talking, laughing and joking about those who had been left to guard the sack. Finally, the drivers would spread out and begin to pretend to drive the snipes toward the thicket where the cold and chilled guardians of the sack waited.

A considerable amount of loud noise would be made by the drivers. When those driving reached the thicket, all wanted to know how many snipes had been caught in the sack. When the answer was reported as none, those driving began to accuse those left to guard the sack that they had made too much noise and had moved around too much. A new drive would then be organized and those who guarded the sack were cautioned again about the need for total silence and no movement whatsoever.

The drivers would return to their hideaway, all the time laughing about the misery of those left to guard the sack. After killing more time with fun and jokes, a second drive was started. Upon reaching the thicket, the question was asked again; where were the snipes that had been driven into the sack?

By this time, those new at snipe hunting had become confused and disheartened. Then, the joke would be finally revealed and explained. Much joking and laughter, along with a lot of kidding at those who had been left to guard the empty sack, would take place.

After the fun had begun to die down, another large fire would be started and the chilled guardians of the sack could warm their cold bones and enjoy the snacks and goodies that had been secretly brought along for the final get-together.

Many memories linger about these fun times from the years since passed. And today, when those of us who enjoyed this friendship and happiness get together, the happy times of taking our city cousins on a snipe hunt are most often relived. For those of us who remember, the memories will linger for always.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, was bitten at least twice by venomous snakes, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)