State Parks announces Grand Island waterfowl blind drawings

Beaver Island State Park, West River, Strawberry Island, Motor Island included

The Niagara Region of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation has announced the schedules for waterfowl hunting lottery drawings for the state parks on Grand Island.

This year, Beaver Island will participate in Waterfowl Youth Days on Oct. 5-6. The drawing for these dates will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Further information regarding Youth Days can be found at www.dec.ny.gov.

Draws for the remaining dates will be conducted every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Oct. 18 through Nov. 8 for the first half of the season, and Nov. 29 through Jan. 10, 2020, for the second half of the season.

Call-ins for the extended Canada goose season will occur on Mondays and Fridays, beginning Nov. 15 and ending Nov. 25, with one Tuesday call-in (Nov. 12) due to the Veterans Day holiday.

All draws, including the draw for the Waterfowl Youth Days, will be held at Beaver Island in the basement of the Falconwood, formerly known as the clubhouse/casino. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the draw will begin at 6:30 p.m. sharp. Enter in the back door closest to the parking lot, adjacent to the Falconwood. Duck season spans from Oct. 19 to Nov. 10 (first half) and Nov. 30 to Jan. 5 (second half). Goose season spans from Oct. 26 to Jan. 13. Goose season, unlike duck season, is no longer split into two halves.

To participate in lottery drawings, hunters must be present a valid New York state small game hunting license with a signed duck stamp, proof of completion of a waterfowl ID course, and proof of registration in the Harvest Information Program (HIP).

There are three ADA blinds that are handicap-accessible: blinds 31, 41 and 42. Blind 31 is located within Beaver Island State Park east end near River Lea. Blinds 41 and 42 are located on East River Road at Spicer Creek Wildlife Management Area (north of the cemetery). Waterfowl hunting is restricted to the wooden universal blind structure only.

For further information, call the Beaver Island Park Office at 716-773-3271. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.