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DAYS
Come on out and join the Kentucky Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and the BHA AFI Ft. Knox representatives on August 24th at 8AM for a habitat workday at Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area or OCRA and WMA. OCRA is located in Meade County just 30 minutes from downtown Louisville and offers spectacular vistas of the Ohio River as well as opportunities for hunting, fishing, and numerous other outdoor recreational opportunities.
Stewardship
At this grassroots event, we will be working with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to conduct a hack and squirt on two sections of the WMA. The purpose of the hack and squirt at OCORA will be to remove midstory soft mast producing trees such as red maple, sassafras and elm. These species compete with hard mast producing oaks, hickories and beech that are important to wildlife as a food source. Removal of the midstory will allow filtered light down to the forest floor, which is ideal lighting conditions for oak and hickory regeneration since they are intermediate in shade tolerance. In effect, our work will assure the continuation of these hard mast producers to remain dominant in the forest along with the growth of other herbaceous species for browsing and newly created habitat for the wildlife found there.
We will also remove eastern red cedar and other species in a portion of Otter Creek to be converted into a native warm season grass ecosystem. A native warm season grass ecosystem allows for quality habitat for native species such as bobwhite quail and cotton-tailed rabbits to have adequate cover, brood habitat and forage. Creation of a native warm season grass stand provides a diversity of landscape across OCORA and benefits game and non-game species within Kentucky.
Where to Meet and What to Bring
We will be meeting at the Otter Creek Office which is located at 850 Otter Creek Park Rd, Brandenburg, Kentucky 40108. We ask that all volunteers dress appropriately for the work, which includes long pants and boots. All volunteers must also bring plenty of water and bug spray. If you have a hatchet to help with the work, please bring it, but some will be available for those who do not own one.
If any of this speaks to you, and you want to help improve the wildlife habitat in our beautiful state, then come on out! Anyone is welcome at this event. You do not have to be a member of BHA but we hope that if you enjoy and value our public lands and public wildlife, then you will want to join after this event. Please RSVP below so we know you're coming!
WHEN
August 24, 2024 at 8:00am - 11am
WHERE
Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area
850 Otter Creek Park Rd
Brandenburg, KY 40108
United States
Google map and directions
850 Otter Creek Park Rd
Brandenburg, KY 40108
United States
Google map and directions
CONTACT
Derek Towles
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13 RSVPS
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