Snipe hunts are a popular American pastime in which unsuspecting participants are sent on a wild goose chase to find a fictional bird called a snipe. This activity has several synonyms, including fool's errand, wild goose chase, and red herring. Fool's errand refers to a task that is purposeless or fruitless, while a wild goose chase denotes the pursuit of something futile or illusory. A red herring means a distraction or a misdirection intended to conceal something else. Regardless of the term used, a snipe hunt is a fun and harmless prank that has been enjoyed for generations by friends and family.