Duck Decoys were an ancient method of attracting and catching birds for food.

The few records that remain from Hale Duck Decoy indicate that catches of over 1,000 duck a year (mainly Mallard, Wigeon and Teal) were made. The greatest catch we have on record is of 1,162 in 1875.

Types of Ducks

Hale Decoy consists of a shallow pool , surrounded by trees, which gives shelter from bad weather. Duck can rest there without being disturbed. There are 5 pipes which lead from the pool, which are sited so that the decoyman would have been able to approach at least one upwind.

The pipes at Hale Decoy are about 50 yards long, curving away from the pool into the trees. They had hoops stretched over them, which would have been covered by a net. Some of these hoops have been repaired, others replaced and yet others left in their original state. The pipes are about 20 foot wide and the hoops 12 foot high at the central pool end, diminishing to 2 foot wide and high at the other end.

Duck-Toller dog

Once the ducks had swum down the pipe, they were flushed to the narrow end by the decoyman and caught in a net or cage.