Home › New York › Public land › Fort Niagara State Park
New York state park
Fort Niagara State Park for hunters
Public hunting ground in Niagara County: access rules, WMU 9A seasons, permits, harvest and nearby land.
Photo: wonkanerd (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Fort Niagara State Park
Acres and location of Fort Niagara State Park
The records class Fort Niagara State Park as a state park with a hunting program in Niagara County. Regional staff for western New York (Region 9) look after it. The managing agency is the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Its 270 acres come from NY State Parks Property layer. That ranks 68th of the 83 state parks on our New York list.
From NYS Parks fort niagara state park; acreage NY State Parks Property layer (Total_acre); checked October 27, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Fort Niagara State Park
Open seasons on Fort Niagara State Park this year
46 dated seasons for 30 species reach Fort Niagara State Park, matched to WMU 9A, the Western duck zone and the South goose area.
| Species | Season | WMU or zone | Open | Close | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Fort Niagara State Park: access and site rules
Park hunting on Fort Niagara State Park runs under the OPRHP statewide hunting rules (6 NYCRR 372.7(q)):
- A NYS Parks regional hunting permit for this park is required, and only the designated hunting areas are open.
- Species, hunting areas, legal implements and dates all come from the permit.
- Tree damage, permanent blinds and permanent stands are all off limits.
- Respect posted Restricted Areas and answer park harvest requests.
Rules from the state guide, on Fort Niagara State Park
- Pink counts the same as orange; firearm deer and bear hunters need 250 square inches or a qualifying hat.
- Keep 500 feet from occupied houses and farm buildings with a gun (250 feet with a crossbow, 150 feet with a bow) unless the owner consents.
- Feeding deer or bear is prohibited at any time, and baited areas are off limits.
- Sunday is a hunting day under state law.
From NYS Parks fort niagara state park, NYS Parks hunting list, 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Fort Niagara State Park: what the park permit covers
Park page text: Waterfowl hunting is permitted in season. Fort Niagara State Park has a boat launch providing access to the Lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario, woodland hiking trails, swimming pools, a view of Lake Ontario, picnic grounds, playgrounds, waterfowl hunting, and 18 soccer fields. In winter, visitors can cross-country ski, snowshoe, and sled. The park is adjacent to Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site. Waterfowl hunting at Ft. Niagara, Joseph Davis, Wilson Tuscarora, and Golden Hill is by permit only during DEC & federal regulated seasons. Permits for all four parks are issued at a weekly …
NY State Parks Hunting Areas layer, the park page and DEC’s parks that allow hunting table; checked October 27, 2026.
Where to park at Fort Niagara State Park
Paper map to print: Hunting Map
Parking points and maps from NYS Parks fort niagara state park; checked October 27, 2026.
Fort Niagara State Park: species list
1 species group lead the list for Fort Niagara State Park, each linked to its species page.
Ducks and geese
Oct 10–Nov 1
Species from NYS Parks fort niagara state park; dates from the 2026-27 DEC guide; checked October 27, 2026.
Waterfowl places listing for Fort Niagara State Park
Duck and goose hunters will find Fort Niagara State Park on DEC's waterfowl places map. Duck dates follow the Western zone. Canada geese follow the South goose area.
| Property | Owner | Type | Special rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Niagara State Park | NYSOPRHP | State Park | Yes |
DEC map note: See State Park webpage for current rules and access information. Some parks may only allow boat access to public waterways.
DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl; checked October 27, 2026. Waterfowl zones.
Deer permits and harvest in the WMU over Fort Niagara State Park
9A is the Wildlife Management Unit over Fort Niagara State Park; it covers 462 square miles in Niagara and Erie. DMPs are unlimited in 9A for 2026. For bears, 9A falls in the Southern Zone area. Fall turkey dates for 9A: Oct. 17-30.
| WMU | Zone | DMP target | Avg. success | Chance, resident | APR | Weapons | Bear zone | Fall season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9A | Southern | Unlimited/bonus | 10.0% | 100% | No | All | Southern Zone | Oct. 17-30 |
9A deer numbers
Deer take in 9A: 2,326 in 2016, 2,918 in 2022.
| Season | Deer | 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 objective for 9A: 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.
Fort Niagara State Park and the public land around it
Fort Niagara State Park gets the large pin; the closest neighbor is Joseph Davis State Park, 3.4 mi south. The listed neighbors hold 22,186 acres between them.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Unit | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Davis | State park | 383 | 9A | 3.4 mi | south |
| Wilson-Tuscarora | State park | 481 | 9A | 10 mi | east |
| Buckhorn Island | State park | 576 | 9A | 14 mi | south |
| Spicer Creek | WMA | 34 | 9A | 18 mi | southeast |
| Beaver Island | State park | 759 | 9A | 21 mi | south |
| Motor Island | WMA | 19 | 9A | 21 mi | south |
| Hartland Swamp | WMA | 402 | 9A | 24 mi | east |
| Golden Hill | State park | 372 | 9A | 30 mi | east |
| Oak Orchard And Tonawanda | WMA | 8,350 | 8G | 31 mi | east |
| Iroquois | Wildlife refuge | 10,810 | 8G | 35 mi | east |
Points: NY State Parks Property layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Fort Niagara State Park: nearby towns and services
From Fort Niagara State Park, Lockport is 19 mi by straight line.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockport | Niagara | 19 mi | 20,394 | 238 |
| Buffalo | Erie | 27 mi | 276,617 | 510 |
| Akron | Erie | 33 mi | 2,886 | 12,653 |
| Medina | Orleans | 34 mi | 5,912 | 19,170 |
The county guide covering Fort Niagara State Park: Niagara County.
Fort Niagara State Park: businesses close by
Licensed guides based in Niagara County: 4, per DEC. DEC licensed guides
Nearest DEC desks for Fort Niagara 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.
Local deer numbers for Fort Niagara State Park
Niagara County as a whole recorded 4,068 deer in 2025.
| Year | Total | Adult males | Adult females |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,068 | 1,281 | 1,404 |
| 2022 | 3,430 | 1,538 | 1,389 |
| 2023 | 3,039 | 1,405 | 1,196 |
| 2024 | 4,027 | 2,015 | 1,509 |
| 2025 | 4,068 | 1,956 | 1,709 |
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.
Close to Fort Niagara State Park on the calendar
On the ground itself or nearby: 1 upcoming event, covering NWTF chapter banquet.
On the way
| Held on | Event | Distance | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 2027 | Niagara County Gobblers Banquet · NWTF chapter banquet | 1 | Youngstown | Get tickets | Source |
Fort Niagara State Park: nearest firing lines
It is about 5 miles from Fort Niagara State Park to Fin, Feather, and Fur Conservation Society, INC (3F Club), the closest range on the list.
From DEC, the operators’ pages and directory listings, checked October 27, 2026.
Fort Niagara State Park: first and last legal light
Big game legal light at Fort Niagara State Park brackets sunrise and sunset by 30 minutes; migratory birds open 30 minutes before sunrise and stop at sunset.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for big game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Northern bow opener | 7:07 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 6:37 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 | 7:39 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Southern regular opener | 7:15 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Southern late season | 7:39 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Late season close | 7:47 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:10 a.m. | 8:15 p.m. | 5:40 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. | 5:40 a.m. to 8:15 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.
Fort Niagara State Park in pictures
Fort Niagara State Park FAQ for 2026-27
Which WMU rules apply on Fort Niagara State Park?
WMU 9A; that puts it in the Southern Zone.
What deer season covers Fort Niagara State Park?
Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026, per the 2026-27 guide.
Is there an early bow season at Fort Niagara State Park?
The first bow window is Oct 1 to Nov 20, 2026.
Which animals are named for Fort Niagara State Park?
The list names ducks and geese.
What are the spring turkey dates for Fort Niagara State Park?
Spring season runs May 1 to May 31, 2027; hours end at noon.
When is bear season at Fort Niagara State Park?
Bear season runs Nov 21 to Dec 13, 2026 in WMU 9A.
When is duck season at Fort Niagara State Park?
Western Zone: first split Oct 10 to Nov 1, 2026.
How far is Fort Niagara State Park from a town?
Lockport (19 mi).
Where do I get the hunting permit for Fort Niagara State Park?
From the park office or the NYS Parks regional permit system; the permit sets areas, species, implements and dates.
What are the blaze orange rules at Fort Niagara State Park?
Firearm deer and bear hunters must wear orange or pink above the waist.
Can I hunt Fort Niagara State Park with just a hunting license?
Through the park's hunting permit and only in designated areas.
What size do the sources give Fort Niagara State Park?
Its size is 270 acres.
Fort Niagara State Park: confirm these before you go
Print the Fort Niagara State Park map, carry your license and tags, and read the posted signs at the parking area.
Sources: NYS Parks fort niagara 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: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0); born1945 (CC BY 2.0).