Along the Nile, and in the marshy areas near the sea, the Egyptians fished from boats and hunted ducks, geese and other wild fowl. When the river was in flood they also dug pits and pools, so that fish would be stranded in them when the waters receded.
They use to throw curved sticks which could kill or stun a bird. Some hunters used tame ducks to lure others birds to their boat. They also trained cats to retrieve the birds they hit.
Another method of hunting was to lure flocks of birds into large nets strung across the water or between the reeds.
Fishermen chased shoals of fish into shallow water then trapped them in nets. Large fish were hunted with spears, or were lured to baited sticks and lines, a bit like anglers use a rod or pole to catch fish today.
The wealthy also hunted on dry land. Popular prey included antelope, gazelle, and wild cattle. Some wall paintings show leopards, ostriches and lions being hunted from horse drawn chariots.
Some expeditions set out to hunt hippopotamuses and crocodiles, which could be a great danger to boats and farmers' cattle. The male hippo, which is a peaceful animal unless it is disturbed, was believed to represent Seth, the God of evil and wrong doing. [2]