The version I most heard of was that the newbie would be left standing under a tree, alone in the dark, holding a bag, for hours, waiting for the snipe to fall into it. Of course, there are infinite variations!

There really is a game bird called a snipe, but "snipe hunts" do not involve the real bird!
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey