Hale Duck Decoy, Nature reserve and duck decoy in Hale, England.
Hale Duck Decoy is a preserved waterfowl capture system consisting of a central pond with five extending pipes, each surrounded by a surrounding waterway. The intact infrastructure shows how gamekeepers trapped ducks and other water birds for centuries.
The system was built in the early 1700s, with records from 1754 showing repairs carried out by the local estate owner. It remained in use as a primary method for controlling waterfowl populations across the region for many generations.
The site demonstrates how people managed waterfowl populations using methods passed down through generations, with visitors today able to see how the landscape was shaped for this purpose.
Access is via a swing bridge that crosses to the main area, and a small shelter provides information on-site. The visit works best in calmer weather when you can clearly see the water channels and the structure of the pipe system.
The five-armed pipe system was designed so gamekeepers could approach waterfowl from several angles without being detected. This clever design makes the site a fascinating example of how hunting techniques were embedded in the landscape itself.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
