Snidget-hunting

"Snidget-hunting was reprehensible in many ways. Every right-minded wizard must deplore the destruction of these peace-loving little birds in the name of sport."

- Kennilworthy Whisp, Quidditch Through the Ages

Snidget-hunting was a wizarding broom sport, first becoming popular in the early 1100s. The objective of the sport was to catch a Golden Snidget by any means possible, often killing the bird in the process. A wizard who managed this task would generally be rewarded with a bag of gold. The sport has been illegal since the 14th century.

History
When Snidget-hunting was first invented is uncertain, but it first became popular in the early 1100s. By the end of that century, the sport was mainstream enough to be represented in popular art, with one tapestry in particular having survived until the 1990s. The Wizards' Council of the time made attempts to stop the sport, but were generally unsuccessful, and Kennilworthy Whisp, author of Quidditch Through the Ages, held the scholarly opinion that the Council saw little wrong with the sport, despite the fact that it led to the greatest number of Muggle broomstick sighting of any other pursuit.

During a match in 1269, the sport of Snidget-hunting was first combined with the sport of Quidditch. Council Chief Barberus Bragge, who had attended the match in question, essentially turned the game into a game of Snidget-hunting by releasing a Golden Snidget onto the field and offering 150 Galleons to whichever player could catch it. Following the overall success of this venture, the rules of Quidditch were subsequently changed, making a new position who role was to attempt to catch a Snidget during the normal game, which would end the match and award his team 150 points if done.

Despite its popularity, during the mid-14th century, in response to the near-extinction of the Golden Snidgets, Chief Elfrida Clagg declared Snidget-hunting illegal. A replacement ball was subsequently created to allow Quidditch to continue to be played legally. Despite the killing of the Snidget being made illegal, however, a more mild form of the sport still existed by the 1990s, though this version merely for the sake of humanely catching wild Snidgets to be relocated to Snidget Sanctuaries.

Appearances

 * Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them
 * Quidditch Through the Ages
 * Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup