Years ago, up until the 1800s, there was a species of bird called a Snipe. Yes, there actually was a bird called a Snipe.
Hunters back then had a single shot Musket. They could fire only one shot, then it took a few minutes to reload.
If these birds saw or heard any signs of danger or people out hunting them, they wouldn't land and if they were on the ground, they would get up and fly away and they would not come back for a really long time.
A person who who hunted Snipe was referred to as a: "Sniper".
The term sniper is still used in law enforcement and military today.
The Sniper had to hide really well in the woods so these birds would not see them and fly away.
Snipers in the Army today say, "One shot one kill". That's one of their mottos.
This was true for a Snipe Hunter back then to, he only had one shot. If he didn't shoot the bird with that one shot, his day of hunting was over.
Today, most Species of Snipe, possibly even all of them are extinct. If there are any left, they are highly endangered.
In Boy Scouts, they have a joke that the really dumb People fall for. They take someone on a Snipe hunt. They give that person a bag and walk far out into the woods. Then, the prankster tells the idiot, "You wait here, I'll run over here into the bushes and Chase out the Snipes. When you see them running out, take the bag and catch the Snipe in the bag.
The victim is anxiously waiting to see a bunch of Snipe come running out of the bushes hoping he can catch at least one.
But, the prankster very quiet sneak away and goes back to camp. He just wait to see how long it takes before the victim figures out that he has literally been
"Left holding the bag"! This is also the how we got that Expression.
