Met with our contractor to start laying out timelines on our pond. Looking at 10-15acres depending on dam height and what the final shore line looks like. This is primarily going to be a recreational fishing/canoeing pond but we usually have very good duck numbers on our existing small tanks and I do enjoy duck hunting when I need a break from chasing WT. If we were to design some elements (not the whole thing) that would have an eye towards duck hunting what would you be sure to include in the design?

Sounds fun! Are there trees in the area or is it open?

It would be in a heavily oak wooded valley with a clean dam and a fair amount of shoreline being clean maybe 10-15ft so that it could be mowed. Some shoreline may be wooded and still brushy but we want it to be fairly fisher friendly. Planning to have a winding shoreline with some points and peninsulas vs clean lines.

A nice permanent blind. Good spot to sit and be dry and maybe have a blind breakfast. Good opening for your dog to get in and out of the blind too.
Green tree hunting is fun too, some water trees maybe.

If you can, I would put little fingers of water off the main body of water. Do them strategically so if there is any kind of wind, the birds could use these fingers to get out of the wind and feel safe still. If possible, this is where I would have natural vegetation grow up and keep those little fingers shallow so you can wade out to any part of them. Wouldn't make it ankle deep but I would make it waist deep. Deep enough they felt safe sitting in it for roosts and out of the wind.

For ducks. Build the pond then have them flatten out an area below the pond and levy it off pump into levied area with planted food source

Any oak trees over hanging the pond? If not, plant some. Oak trees dropping acorns in the shallow water would be a mallard magnet.

Build two, one for north and one for south winds.

Have a shallow part, preferably north end. 1 acre hole below it were you could release water w 3 foot levy would be money. That’s what I would do. Drain it, put water control in 1 acre - would be money. I’ve developed/ modified large and small lakes Wetlands. PM me if you need any advice.

Really appreciate the suggestions

To follow up on some of the comments:

Would definitely look to build two or more permanent duck blinds. Prevailing winds are north south and the pond is going to run east/west so could likely have a few on each of the long shorelines around different shore/vegetation features.

Could definitely incorporate some finger creeks off the main body with the wind in mind. Those tend to be some of my favorite fishing spots too for spawning bass

I think I could build a levee behind the pond and spillway area. I need to see how big and deep the creek is there to see if it needs to be on either side of that or if could be leveled. The general area is very rocky, so might not be able to plant very efficiently, but could definitely have some flooded oak timber.

We should leave plenty of oaks to drop acorns into the pond.

Lay it out with 10 acres big water with a levy separating another 5 acres you can adjust water levels on. Plant the 5 in millet each year. You will have ducks.
Btw. Put a well in. You will always have water.