As the year 2000 wound rapidly to a close we paid a return visit to Maxwell Game Refuge to see what was afoot. It was a bright day and the ground was covered with crisp white snow. Gone were the campers and fishermen…Read More

As the year 2000 wound rapidly to a close we paid a return visit to Maxwell Game Refuge to see what was afoot. It was a bright day and the ground was covered with crisp white snow. Gone were the campers and fishermen and all seemed quiet on this prairie refuge except for a few other tourists out for a cold winter drive.

As we drove around the bend from McPherson State Fishing lake toward the refuge we noticed a buffalo standing in the road ahead. Cautiously approaching the area, we stopped the car facing another vehicle also stopped. And then we were allowed an extraordinary experience -- the buffalo herd had just begun crossing from one side of the road to the other. Many of them passed within a foot of our car and I worried about my open window as I filmed these massive creatures. They seemed as worried and unsure about my presence as I was about theirs. In the recesses of my mind a primitive impulse arose to step out of the car and walk among them, to experience them without the protective metal cocoon in which I sat. Reason prevailed and I remained in the car, just imagining a time when buffalo owned these plains and humans were merely fellow travelers.

There was much to see on the nature trail. I think that I might have missed much of it in my younger days, especially if my children had been along. As it was just my husband and I taking the trek, we took…Read More

There was much to see on the nature trail. I think that I might have missed much of it in my younger days, especially if my children had been along. As it was just my husband and I taking the trek, we took our time, listened and observed things around us.

As the trail passed alongside Gypsum Creek I noticed a small song sparrow flitting around amid the gammagrass. What a sweet little bird.

Further along, as the path turned toward the creek again, my husband spotted a freshly dug animal burrow. There weren't any tracks nearby, so we couldn't tell what had dug this burrow, but it could have been any number of species that call the park home.

Two items brought to our attention by means of the guide pamphlet were an enormously large mulberry tree and a plaque outlining a profile on the surrounding soil.Close

One of the oddest tree fruits prevalent in much of Kansas is the Osage Orange, commonly known by the populace as Hedge Apples. Now, to me, both the words orange and apple imply something that can be eaten. However, there is no eating…Read More

One of the oddest tree fruits prevalent in much of Kansas is the Osage Orange, commonly known by the populace as Hedge Apples. Now, to me, both the words orange and apple imply something that can be eaten. However, there is no eating for the Osage Orange. Big, bright green and for the most part useless, these fruits fall from their trees in autumn. They are fascinating to look at. After doing a little research the only use for the fruit that I could find is that the pioneers used to cut them open and set them around their homes to repel flies.

Osage Orange trees, on the other hand, provide a good windbreak across the prairie and also an excellent habitate for wildlife. The trees are rather gnarly looking and are found all over Kansas. There are several along the Gypsum Creek Nature Trail and the brochure that accompanies the self-guided tour provides some information on the tree.Close

Atop the highest point at the refuge is an observation tower for locating where the wildlife might be grazing. The tower provides a wonderful view of the majority of the refuge. Even as late in the season as it was when we visited,…Read More

Atop the highest point at the refuge is an observation tower for locating where the wildlife might be grazing. The tower provides a wonderful view of the majority of the refuge. Even as late in the season as it was when we visited, several other visitors arrived at the tower while we were there.

Beside this two-story tower is a sandstone information booth with a plaque attached to one side. Here visitors are informed about the history of this refuge -- how it is dedicated to the first white child known to have been born in the area.

A glass case under the information booth displayed information about the refuge, but most of it seemed to be outdated and imcomplete. Though I was impressed with the refuge itself, I can't say much for the information provided to the public by the Parks Department.

The planets must have been lined up just right for us on October 22nd. First we got such a close look at the herd of elk and then on the nature trail we were surprised by a white-tailed deer. We were on the return route…Read More

The planets must have been lined up just right for us on October 22nd. First we got such a close look at the herd of elk and then on the nature trail we were surprised by a white-tailed deer. We were on the return route when I motioned my husband to stop for a moment to listen to the frogs croaking. Just then we heard a loud splash and both turned instantly to look behind us. Not 100 feet away a white-tailed deer was splashing through a marshy area of the creek. It bounced through the tall grass toward the southwest and then turned and stared at us for a moment before bounding off toward a nearby thicket. I was thrilled, as was my husband. Something so unexpected but hoped for. Isn't this why we get out of our cozy little houses to take a trek in the great outdoors? I know it's why I go. You can see in the photos that accompany this page how easy it is for deer to blend in with the grasslands and woods here in Kansas. I've circled the deer in each photo to make it easier for you to spot it. Even then, I think it is hard to pick it out. Close