Finney Game Refuge - Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

FISHING
This 3,670-acre area gives the visitor a unique opportunity to view
the sandsage prairie of southwest
Kansas. Not only is the area noted
for its unique plant life, but it is
also home to the oldest publicly
owned bison herd in the state of
Kansas.-
HUNTING
Hunting is allowed in the refuge pastures by posted
notice only. Although more restricted than most public
hunting areas, the refuge provides some excellent hunting. In particular, both bobwhite and scaled quail are
present in huntable numbers, as well as dove, deer,
pheasant, and rabbit. Hunters have also had good suc-
cess taking coyotes. Pay close attention to all posted
regulations. Individual pastures may have additional
restrictions (i.e. north pasture open to shotgun and
archery only). Further hunting information can be
obtained from the area office.
HISTORY
The refuge found its beginnings in 1916 when
President Wilson granted 3,021 acres of the old Kansas
National Forest to the State of Kansas for use as a
game reserve. Since the original land grant another
649 acres were acquired bringing the property to its
present size of 3,670 acres.
SANDSAGE PRAIRIE
The refuge is one of the few remaining tracts of
native sandsage prairie in Kansas.
The presence of several tallgrass species typically
thought of as occurring only in the eastern prairies
help make this area truly unique. The sandsage prairie
provides a home for many interesting animals, including the lesser prairie chicken, spotted ground squirrel,
kangaroo rat, scaled quail, black-tailed jack rabbit, mule
deer, and western hognose snake.
BISON HERD
While the refuge itself has seen many changes in its
80-plus years of existence, the bison have remained the
primary attraction for visitors. Bison were first placed
on the refuge in 1924 when one bull and two cows were
transported from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife
Refuge in Oklahoma. Records indicate another ten or
so from a private ranch near Protection were added to
the Garden City herd in 1934. Since the late 1960s and
early 1970s, the herd size has been kept at approximately 100 adult animals.
REMNANT FOREST
Prior to state ownership, the refuge was a part of the
federally owned and operated Kansas National Forest.
The Kansas National Forest project began in 1905 as a
30,000-acre public reservation called the Garden City
Forest Reserve. The reserve was originally established
on a five-year trial basis for the purpose of determining
which species of trees were most suitable for propagation in the Great Plains.
Another 272,387 acres of Sandsage Prairie south of
the Arkansas River and west to the Kansas-Colorado
border were added to the reserve in 1908. With the
additional acreage, the reserve's name was changed to
the Kansas National Forest. By 1915 more than
800,000 seedlings were planted across the National
Forest.
Although the project was considered a failure, a small
remainder of the forest can still be seen in the northwest corner of our middle pasture. At this location, a
few surviving trees planted by the work crews of the
early 1900’s can be seen as a reminder of the Kansas
National Forest.
TOURS
Tours to see the bison and other attractions are
available upon request. Visitors are urged to call in
advance, the Friends of Finney Game Refuge, for tours
at (620) 276-9400. Self-guided tours are not allowed.
F inney
Game Refuge
THINGS TO REMEMBER
The bison are fenced in with a high voltage short duration electric fence. Visitors are urged not to come into
contact with the fence at any time as contact may cause
personal injury.
Vehicles are allowed in designated parking areas only.
No camping is currently allowed without prior written
permission of the area manager.
Consult area information boards or the area manager
for additional area rules and regulations.
27
4
Scott
City
Leoti
Tribune
96
Dighton
83
GREELEY
WICHITA
SCOTT
Ness
City
96
Finney
Game
Refuge
LANE
23
COLORADO
T
he Finney Game Refuge is
located approximately onehalf mile south of Garden
City along Business Highway 83.
Limited fishing opportunities exist at the sandpit
on the north end of the refuge. Channel catfish,
green sunfish, and black bass are present. Trout are
stocked October- March and channel catfish AprilOctober. To locate the sandpit, follow Sage Brush
Road west from Hwy. 83.
283
NESS
25
50
156
156
Jetmore
50
Syracuse
Lakin
Garden
City
270
HODGEMAN
56
HAMILTON
25
83
KEARNY
Dodge City
Cimarron
FINNEY
27
23
Johnson
154
Ulysses
270
160
160
190
GRAY
STANTON
GRANT
MORTON
283
144
190
270
83
154
54
FORD
Sublette
HASKELL
SEWARD
34
98
Meade
160
51
51
27
56
Hugoton
270
51
160
54
25
Elkhart
STEVENS
Liberal
83
Ashland
34
283
23
MEADE
CLARK
OKLAHOMA
183
General Area Map
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs
described herein is available to all individuals without regard to
race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or handicap.
Complaints of discrimination should be sent to Office of the
Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 1020 S Kansas
Ave. Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612-1327
09/03
Finney Game Refuge
785 S Hwy 83
Garden City, KS 67846
(620) 276-8886 (Area Office)
(620) 227-8609 (Regional Office)
MIDDLE
PASTURE
SOUTH
PASTURE
Private
Property
NORTH
PASTURE
LEGEND
Gate
Corrals
Parking Area
Office
Interior Fence (Electric)
Trail (Authorized Vehicles Only)
Gravel Roads
Paved Roads
Sand Pit
Range Land
Public Use Area (NO HUNTING)
Remnant KS National Forest
GAME REF U G E
FINNEY