A snipe hunt is a type of practical joke or fools errand, in existence in North America as early as the 1840s, in which an unsuspecting newcomer is duped into trying to catch an elusive, nonexistent creature. The prank involves experienced people making fun of newcomers by giving them an impossible or imaginary task. The target of the prank is led to an outdoor spot and given instructions for catching the snipe; these often include waiting in the dark and holding an empty bag or making noises to attract the creature. The others involved in the prank then leave the newcomer alone in the woods to discover the joke. The snipe hunt is a kind of fools errand or wild-goose chase, meaning a fruitless errand or expedition, and it was the most common hazing ritual for boys in American summer camps during the early 20th century.

Although snipe are a real family of birds, the snipe hunt is a practical joke, and the mysterious snipe is sometimes described to those participating in the prank as a cross between a rabbit or a squirrel-like bird that can be very furry. In another variation, a bag supposedly containing a captured snipe is given to the newcomer, who is then instructed to release the bird into the wild.