 Maxwell Wildlife Refuge near Canton, Kansas is home to one of the few surviving wild buffalo herds. There are about 200 buffalo and 50 elk on the refuge. Each fall there is an auction of surplus buffalo. In 1859 a small herd of buffalo were driven into the area around the Maxwell homestead. The Maxwell family wanted to preserve a piece of prairie, with a roaming herd of buffalo, for future generations and in 1943, the Henry Maxwell estate donated 2,560 acres of land to the Kansas Forestry, Fish, and Game Commission for the creation of the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge dedicated to bison and other prairie species. Public access to the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge includes occasional tram tours, horse back rides in spring & fall (must have own horse) and the 50 year old observation town where these photos were taken. Special events at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge include the Prairie Days festival on the first weekend in June, and the Mountain Man Rendezvous on the Prairie on the first Friday and Saturday of October. Fishing and primitive camping are available at nearby McPherson State Fishing Lake.
Maxwell
Wildlife Refuge website Another wild buffalo herd
is at the Red Buffalo Ranch
copyright 2005-2008 by Keith Stokes |
