Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Hours of Operation

• Park is open year round.

Maps

• Disc Golf Map (pdf)
• Trail Map (pdf)
• Hunting Map (pdf)

Key BCA Criteria:

- Migratory concentration site

- Diverse species concentration site

- Species at risk site

The Joseph Davis BCA is part of Joseph Davis State Park. It includes approximately 1,400 feet of frontage on the Niagara River and 31 acres of underwater land. About two-thirds of the BCA is successional shrub land. Mature second growth forests are found in the eastern portion of the BCA and along the Niagara River shoreline. Other ecological communities represented in the BCA are old fields, open water and wetlands.

During spring and fall migration, songbirds concentrate along major rivers. The habitats along the Niagara River shoreline support an exceptional diversity of migratory songbirds during spring and fall migration. The vegetation, including several species of berry producing shrubs at Joseph Davis provide significant food sources for migratory birds. The fields host Northern Harrier, Horned Lark, Savannah Sparrow, Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlark. Species at risk include state threatened Pied-billed Grebe, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier and Common Tern and state species of special concern, Osprey, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawk, Common Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will, Horned Lark and Yellow-breasted Chat. Joseph Davis is also one of the best spots in the Niagara Region for wintering Eastern Bluebirds.

Download a copy of the BCA map.

Hunting Map
Hunting Permit & Questionnaire
Duck Blind Permit

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 Thursday evening draw at Ft. Niagara. Permitees are required to have a NYS hunting license, Federal HIP number, waterfowl identification certification, and a dog or boat for retrieval. Rules and restrictions from permit as follows:

DUCK BLIND PERMIT RULES
Fort Niagara, Wilson-Tuscarora, Joseph Davis, and Golden Hill State Parks

• All Federal and State regulations apply.
• A dog or boat is required for retrieving.
• Only one person per hunting group is allowed to draw at any time.
• All spent shell casings and any litter must be removed at the end of the hunt.
• The permittee is responsible for listing all of the blind occupants on the permit; substitutions are not allowed.
• All hunters must have a NYS hunting license, HIP number, and Federal "Duck" stamp.
• The permittee must have successfully completed a satisfactory Waterfowl Identification course.
• All blinds must be set up within fifty (50) feet of the blind number.
• The intent of this Permit is to allow shooting over water only, not over land.