Does anyone know what this thing is used for

A hay hook, also known as a bale hook, is an old farming tool used to grab, pull, and move heavy hay bales.

The tool usually has a wooden handle with a curved metal hook attached to it. Farmers push the hook into a bale of hay so they can lift or drag it more easily, since hay bales are often heavy and difficult to carry by hand.

What it was used for

Moving hay bales around farms and barns

Loading hay onto carts or trucks

Pulling bales from high stacks

In short:

A hay hook is a simple vintage farm tool designed to help farmers handle heavy bundles of hay quickly and efficiently.