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State park · 2026-27
Beaver Island State Park: a hunter's guide for 2026-27
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this state park in Erie County, 759 acres.
Photo: wonkanerd (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Beaver Island State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Beaver Island State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Golf Course LotParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Clubhouse Events LotParking · 0.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Little Beaver Nature Trail kayak launchBoat ramp · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Lot #5Parking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- GateGate · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Private ParkingParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Where Beaver Island State Park is and who runs it
Beaver Island State Park sits in Erie County, filed as a state park with a hunting program. Region 9 of DEC covers it, along with the rest of western New York. It is managed by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. 759 acres are on record from NY State Parks Property layer. Sorted by acreage, the 83 state parks put it 47th.
From NYS Parks beaver island state park; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Beaver Island State Park
Beaver Island State Park pinned with nearby tracts
The nearest public land to Beaver Island State Park is Motor Island WMA, 0.9 mi away to the east. Combined: 11,601 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | WMU | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Island | WMA | 19 | 9A | 0.9 mi | east |
| Spicer Creek | WMA | 34 | 9A | 5.2 mi | northeast |
| Buckhorn Island | State park | 576 | 9A | 6.8 mi | north |
| Joseph Davis | State park | 383 | 9A | 18 mi | north |
| Hampton Brook Woods | WMA | 78 | 9H | 19 mi | south |
| Knox Farm | State park | 667 | 9F | 20 mi | southeast |
| Fort Niagara | State park | 270 | 9A | 21 mi | north |
| Wilson-Tuscarora | State park | 481 | 9A | 24 mi | north |
| Evangola | State park | 743 | 9G | 26 mi | south |
| Oak Orchard And Tonawanda | WMA | 8,350 | 8G | 27 mi | east |
Points: NY State Parks Property layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Beaver Island State Park regulations, plainly
Hunters on Beaver Island State Park follow the NYS Parks statewide hunting regulations:
- Permit first, then the designated areas: that is how hunting on Beaver Island State Park works.
- Implements, dates, species and areas are printed on the permit.
- Only portable stands the permit allows, set without tree damage; no permanent blinds.
- No hunting in posted Restricted Areas; harvest reports go to the park on request.
State law reminders for Beaver Island State Park
- Fluorescent orange or pink (250 square inches above the waist, or a hat at least half orange or pink) is required for anyone hunting deer or bear with a gun.
- Firearms may not be discharged within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, farm building, school, playground or church without permission; bows 150 feet, crossbows 250 feet.
- No baiting for big game, upland birds, turkey or waterfowl, and no salt or mineral licks for deer or bear.
- New York allows hunting on Sundays in every county.
From NYS Parks beaver island state park, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Beaver Island State Park hunting areas, species and implements
NYS Parks writes: Waterfowl hunting is by permit only in season. , home to the Grand Island Historical Society and built by William Cleveland Allen, cousin to Grover Cleveland who visited the family farm on several occasions. In winter, visitors can snowmobile by permit, cross-country ski, snowshoe, sled or ice fish. Waterfowl hunting is allowed in-season by permit. **As a reminder, there is no hunting on Grass Island** (managed by DEC) The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has announced that lottery drawings for Waterfowl Hunting Season have been scheduled.
Park hunting files: Hunting Rules · Beaver Island Hunting · Beaver Island Hunting Rules
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
WMU 9A facts for Beaver Island State Park
The WMU map puts Beaver Island State Park in 9A; 9A spans 462 square miles of Niagara and Erie. 9A has unlimited Deer Management Permits in 2026. Southern Zone bear rules cover 9A. The fall turkey window for 9A is Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Deer zone | DMP goal | Success rate | Odds (resident) | APR | Implements | Bear | Turkey (fall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9A | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 10.0% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
Deer take in WMU 9A
9A yielded 2,918 deer in 2022; the WMU tables stop at 2022.
| Year | Total | Adult bucks |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,326 | 1,016 |
| 2017 | 1,858 | 889 |
| 2018 | 2,143 | 943 |
| 2019 | 2,391 | 1,132 |
| 2020 | 2,849 | 1,201 |
| 2021 | 2,668 | 1,143 |
| 2022 | 2,918 | 1,365 |
DEC's bear plan for 9A reads "Maintain infrequent bear presence".
WMU facts from the 2026 DMP table, the 2026-27 DEC guide, DEC deer take reports and the DEC bear harvest dashboard; WMU from the DEC WMU layer; checked October 27, 2026.
Every season window on Beaver Island State Park
30 species have open dates on Beaver Island State Park this license year; the table holds 46 rows and a live open-or-closed column.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | Starts | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | September antlerless | WMU 9A | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9A | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth deer weekend | WMU 9A | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Regular Season | WMU 9A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Bowhunting (holidays) | WMU 9A | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late Muzzleloading (holidays) | WMU 9A | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Early Bowhunting | WMU 9A | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Youth Firearms Bear Hunt | WMU 9A | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Regular Season | WMU 9A | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Bowhunting | WMU 9A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Late Muzzleloading | WMU 9A | Dec 14, 2026 | Dec 22, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall Season | WMU 9A | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Spring Turkey Hunt | WMU 9A | Apr 24, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring Season | WMU 9A | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth Pheasant Hunt | WMU 9A | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular (cocks only) | WMU 9A | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9A | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Black squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9A | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | WMU 9A | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Western Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Scaup | 2-scaup window | Western Zone | Dec 22, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September season | South goose area | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 25, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | South goose area | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 11, 2027 | |
| Snow goose | Regular season | Western Zone | Nov 24, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Western Zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth days | Western Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Veteran waterfowl | Veteran days | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Hunting | WMU 9A | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Rails | Hunting | WMU 9A | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Hunting | WMU 9A | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Hunting | WMU 9A | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 1, 2026 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | WMU 9A | Oct 25, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Mink | Hunting (Southern Zone only) | Southern Zone | Nov 10, 2026 | Apr 7, 2027 | |
| Snapping turtle | Hunting | Statewide | Jul 15, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
Season rows from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, matched to the DEC WMU, duck zone and goose area layers; checked October 27, 2026. All New York seasons.
Ducks and geese at Beaver Island State Park
DEC lists Beaver Island State Park among its places to hunt waterfowl. Use the Western zone duck calendar. Canada goose dates: South area.
| Map entry | Owner | Type | Special rules? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Island State Park | NYSOPRHP | State Park | Yes |
Listed note: Waterfowl hunting on Beaver Island State Park and managed Niagara River blinds is by permit only. See State Park webpage for current rules, lottery. and access information.
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl; checked October 27, 2026. Waterfowl zones.
Beaver Island State Park game species
The source names ducks and geese on Beaver Island State Park.
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Nov 1
Species from NYS Parks beaver island state park; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Getting into Beaver Island State Park: parking and maps
Map download: Hunting Map
Parking points and maps from NYS Parks beaver island state park; checked October 27, 2026.
Beaver Island State Park: town and county harvest
Erie County deer, 2025: 6,401.
| Year | County deer | Adult bucks | Adult does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,742 | 2,495 | 2,565 |
| 2022 | 6,182 | 2,583 | 2,655 |
| 2023 | 5,742 | 2,809 | 2,134 |
| 2024 | 6,327 | 3,171 | 2,376 |
| 2025 | 6,401 | 3,256 | 2,546 |
DEC deer take by town and county (towns 2007-2019), county deer take 2021-2025 and DEC bear take by town; checked October 27, 2026.
Beaver Island State Park hunting-hour table
Sun times below are calculated for Beaver Island State Park; the game column adds the big game half hour and the bird column stops at sunset.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and bear | Waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Southern bow opener | 7:11 a.m. | 6:59 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Northern regular opener | 7:38 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:14 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:38 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:45 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:11 a.m. | 8:14 p.m. | 5:41 a.m. to 8:44 p.m. | 5:41 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. |
Hours rule from the DEC guide sunrise and sunset page; sun times calculated for the county centre (NOAA method), checked against the guide’s Albany table; checked October 27, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Beaver Island State Park: nearby towns and services
Buffalo is the nearest town with its own page, 6.9 mi from Beaver Island State Park.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | Erie | 6.9 mi | 276,617 | 510 |
| Lockport | Niagara | 19 mi | 20,394 | 238 |
| Akron | Erie | 23 mi | 2,886 | 12,653 |
| Medina | Orleans | 34 mi | 5,912 | 19,170 |
Beaver Island State Park falls inside these county guides: Erie County.
Beaver Island State Park: businesses close by
9 licensed guides are registered in Erie County, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
DEC offices closest to Beaver Island State Park
Towns and populations from Census 2024 estimates; businesses from store locators and listings; DEC offices and licensed guide counts from DEC. Checked October 27, 2026.
Beaver Island State Park: nearest firing lines
Nearest range to Beaver Island State Park: Mohawk Rifle and Pistol Club, roughly 3 miles. DEC has no firearm range, and no local public range is close.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Beaver Island State Park in pictures
Beaver Island State Park: short answers
How long is spring turkey on Beaver Island State Park?
May 1 to May 31, 2027, with shooting until noon.
When does bear hunting open near Beaver Island State Park?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 (regular Season).
When does waterfowl open at Beaver Island State Park?
It is in the Western Zone; split one Oct 10 to Nov 1, 2026.
Which town page is closest to Beaver Island State Park?
Buffalo, about 6.9 mi away.
Can I hunt anywhere in Beaver Island State Park?
No, only the designated hunting areas.
What colors are required at Beaver Island State Park in gun season?
Orange or pink, 250 square inches, when hunting deer or bear with a firearm.
How does access work on Beaver Island State Park?
Get the regional hunting permit for this park; it lists areas, species and dates.
What does Beaver Island State Park measure?
About 759 acres by the source used here.
Which WMU rules apply on Beaver Island State Park?
WMU 9A, in the Southern Zone.
When does the main deer season run on Beaver Island State Park?
WMU 9A: regular Season Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026.
When can I bowhunt deer on Beaver Island State Park?
Bowhunting opens Oct 1, 2026 (WMU 9A).
What game is found on Beaver Island State Park?
Ducks and geese top the list.
Beaver Island State Park: what to double-check
After a deer, bear or turkey on Beaver Island State Park, report it: paper tags within 48 hours, e-tags right away in HuntFishNY.
Sources: NYS Parks beaver island state park · NYS Parks state parks · DEP GIS · DEP GIS · NYS Parks StatewideHuntingRegulationsinNYStatePa · DEC GIS; regulations from the 2026-27 New York Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Checked October 27, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).