Central Florida Snipe Hunting

What you need to know & why you should try it.

The warm breeze blows down the St. John’s River basin as you step onto the bank. Killdeer whistle in every direction as you begin your walk through the flooded cattle pasture looking for beak-sized holes in the scattered cow pies. In a clump of grass ahead, first a rustle, then a shriek, a snipe erupts and takes flight, signaling the start of our favorite time of year: snipe season.

Snipe hunting in central Florida is a hybrid hunting style with similarities to both upland and duck hunting. While searching for these palm-sized birds, you’ll find yourself in remote marshlands and flooded cattle pastures along the bank of the St. John’s River. For the most part, these prime snipe spots are only accessible by boat, and given the vast hunting grounds, crossing paths with other snipe hunters is a rarity. In our experience, we find that groups of two to four hunters lined up roughly 50 feet apart yields the best results. Slowly and methodically, the line of hunters will work through an area to flush the wary birds out of dense grass and shrubs in ankle- to shin-deep water. Snipe are typically flushed in groups of three or less, and their erratic flight is preceded by one or two high pitch screeches. Keying in on these sounds is necessary, because relying on sight alone often results in a bird that is already out of range. Combining all these traits means that even the most experienced hunters can quickly empty one or two boxes of shells just to scratch out a daily limit of eight birds. 

While these birds are not much bigger than the palm of your hand, the table fare is outstanding. Following a successful hunt, our favorite riverside preparation atop a mini Weber grill comes in the form of a jalapeño popper. The recipe is simple: halved jalapeños, a special cream cheese mix, a little salt & pepper, and two bite-sized breasts for every snipe bagged, grilled to perfection. We’ve found there is little that rivals the satisfaction of enjoying the bounty of an exciting hunt on the banks of the St. John’s with great food and great company. This unique style of hunting is unlike anything else Central Florida has to offer, and we’re excited for you to join us. Check back on Monday for a new blog post!