Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area

WMA Overview

Size: 2221 acres
Location: Meade
Contact: (502) 942-9171 office, Trail & Fishing Hotline (502) 942-5052
Elevation: minimum 390 feet, maximum 690 feet.
Entrance GPS coordinates: Latitude N 37.9247, Longitude W -86.0381
Area Habitat: open land 8.91%, forest 81.49%, wetland 9.10%, open water 0.45%.

Regulations

Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county, except:

Deer Season Restrictions:

  • Muzzleloader: Closed.
  • Modern Gun: Quota Hunt Only.
  • Youth Gun: Closed.

Rabbit: Open December 1-31, except during Deer Quota hunts.

Quail: Closed.

Other Restrictions: User permit required. A person shall not enter the area during the deer quota hunt without a valid quota hunt confirmation number. All small game and turkey seasons closed during the quota deer hunt. Hunters may not use rifles or ball or slug ammunition to take furbearers and may not use a rimfire gun to take small game unless participating in the deer quota hunt. Trapping season is Open from January 1 through the last day in February.

Shooting Range: A person shall not target practice, sight in a firearm, or discharge a firearm in any area except the shooting range. Shooting multiple projectile shells is not permitted on Tube Ranges. Club Ranges are off-limits unless authorized by an approved event with a club range safety officer. A person shall not discharge a firearm within 100 yards of a residence or occupied building, whether or not the building is on the WMA.

Prohibited Activities

  • Damage a tree or shrub (No installation of targets on trees or shrubs)
  • Dump trash or litter (Clean up targets and spent shells)
  • Deface or destroy a signs
  • Pose a risk to persons or property (Shooters responsible for ensuring adequate backstop)
  • Engage in an activity which could unreasonably interfere with other uses or users of the area

Directions & Description

The area is 6.2 miles from the intersection of KY 448 and KY 1638, in Brandenburg, and 2.7 miles from the junction of KY 1638 and the Dixie HWY (U.S. 31 W). Terrain is steep to rolling with bluffs overlooking the Ohio River and Otter Creek. Fishing access includes 5 miles of Otter Creek and 2.4 miles of the Ohio River. Multi-use trails are present. Refer to trail map for designated uses.

A $3 per person daily access fee will be charged for entry to the area. Available activities currently include picnicking, hiking, bird watching, disc golf, wildlife watching and geocaching. A person may buy a $30 annual permit for these activities. Children under 12 may access the area for free. Primitive and RV camping reservations can be made at Otter Creek Campground- Firefly Reservations . A $7 additional daily fee is required for high impact activities: horseback riding, mountain biking, archery range and shooting range. The rifle range (for single projectile firearms only; no shotshells or pistols allowed), and pistol range (for pistols only; no shotguns or rifles allowed) are open Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-sunset & Sundays noon-sunset (Closed Mondayโ€™s for routine maintenance). A person may buy a $70 annual permit for high impact activities.

Call the Trail and Fishing Status hotline, or Area office for closures or events.

Anglers and hunters must pay the daily access fee, and must possess a valid fishing or hunting license and appropriate permits. Otter Creek offers excellent stream fishing for smallmouth bass and rainbow trout. Anglers must possess a trout stamp to keep rainbow trout.

Hunters may pursue squirrels, rabbits, furbearers, turkeys and deer. Squirrel and furbearer hunting is open under statewide regulations.

Deer hunting with archery and crossbow equipment is open under statewide regulations. Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area will be closed to all other activities during the firearms quota deer hunts. Motorized, off-road vehicles are not allowed on the area.