October 2024 • Nebraskaland 29
to be wondering if what we were doing
was even legal.
It is. Which is why we continued to
do what we were happy to do, hunt
for these challenging and tasty game
birds as they worked their way across
the marsh.
Then, as an added bonus, and
testament to the value of the
Rainwater Basin habitat, a lone
rooster pheasant took fl ight at our feet
while we looked for a downed snipe.
Minutes later, we were comparing
the size of each of them in our hands,
a spectacular conclusion to one of
our most memorable hunts ever.
Epilogue
A few days later, we returned to the
marsh, but the snipe had completely
disappeared, migrating through like
other bird species on their way south
for the winter.
Curious if we were alone in our snipe
pursuit, we researched this species and
found there was some interest in these
acrobatic fl iers and fi ne dinner guests.
Suggestions echoed our fi ndings.
Hunt with an open choke, such as
improved cylinder, and use No. 6 or 7
in steel or some other non-toxic loads.
The habitat was just as we had
found, shallow wetlands where the
birds could use their long beaks to hunt
while still standing on solid ground.
The last aspect remains the most
important of all: Be open to hunting
snipe. Yes, your friends are probably
going to make fun of you. Yes, you're
probably going to question what's
become of your life.
But, if you can ignore these factors
long enough to miss the fi rst bird that
zooms past, you'll be hooked.
You will become a sniper, too.
N
A common snipe after a hunting trip in the Rainwater Basin. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
HIP Number
The Migratory Bird Harvest
Information Program, or HIP, is
a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
program designed to measure
the harvest of migratory birds
for management purposes.
All migratory game bird
hunters must register annually
with the Migratory Bird
Harvest Information Program
in each state you hunt before
hunting ducks, geese, swans,
mergansers, coots, cranes,
snipe, doves or woodcock.
The phone number for the
Nebraska Harvest Information
Program is (877) 634-8687. You
can call Monday through Friday
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for help
registering for a HIP number.
You can also register for HIP
online at OutdoorNebraska.
NE.gov/HIP 24 hours a day.
