Sandsage Bison Range Wildlife Area
Finney County – South of Garden City
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Sandsage Bison Range & Wildlife Area is a 3,760-acre public wildlife area located approximately 0.5 miles south of Garden City on the west side of Business Highway 83 in Finney County.
The area protects one of the few remaining tracts of native sandsage prairie in southwest Kansas. Dominant vegetation includes sand bluestem, giant sandreed, sand lovegrass, and sand sagebrush. This habitat type supports a variety of prairie wildlife species and is managed to preserve native grassland conditions.
The area is also home to one of the oldest publicly owned bison herds in Kansas.
Species commonly observed on the area include:
- American bison
- Mule deer
- Lesser prairie chicken
- Scaled and bobwhite quail
- Spotted ground squirrel
- Kangaroo rat
- Black-tailed jackrabbit
- Western hognose snake
- Coyote
Wildlife viewing opportunities are best during early morning and late evening hours.
Visitors should maintain a safe distance from all wildlife. Bison are large, powerful animals and should not be approached.
Hunting is allowed by posted notice only and may be more restrictive than other public wildlife areas.
Game species include:
- Bobwhite quail
- Scaled quail
- Dove
- Pheasant
- Deer
- Rabbit
- Coyote
Certain pastures may have additional restrictions (e.g., shotgun and archery only). Hunters must comply with all posted regulations and possess appropriate Kansas licenses and permits.
For current regulations and season dates, consult the Kansas hunting regulations summary.
The fishing pond and sand pit are currently dry and will not be stocked until there is a reliable amount of long-term water.
When sufficient water is present, the pond is stocked seasonally with:
- Channel catfish
- Rainbow trout
To access the sand pit, follow Sagebrush Road west approximately 0.5 miles from Business Highway 83.
A valid Kansas fishing license is required.
Guided tours of the bison herd and prairie ecosystem are available by reservation through the Friends of Sandsage Bison Range.
For more information visit the first tab on the home page:
To schedule a tour, call (620) 290-8776.
Advance reservations are encouraged.
Area Manager: Jake Faulkender, Public Lands Manager II
Phone: 620-276-8886
KDWP Region 3 Office phone: 620-227-8609
Location: The Sandsage Bison Range & Wildlife Area (formally known as the Finney Game Refuge) is located approximately 0.5 miles south of Garden City on the west side of Business Highway 83. This 3, 760 acre area provides visitors a unique opportunity to view the sandsage prairie ecosystem of southwest Kansas. Not only is the area noted for its unique plant community, but it is also home to the oldest publicly owned bison herd in Kansas.
The North Pasture is closed at the moment (Approx. 1300 Acres)
- 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.
- Visitors must enter the property from a designated Parting area - informational kiosk located at each entrance
- Do not crawl over or through Fences/Gates
- Vehicles are allowed in designated parking areas only.
- No camping is permitted.
- Consult area information kiosk or the area manager for additional information concerning rules and regulations.
- Closed pastures are where the bison are residing at that moment.
- Pasture closures can be found at all Kiosks as well as the Website (Maps)
- Archery/Shot shell only in the designated areas highlighted on the kiosk maps as well as property layout map already on the website.
Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.
Sandsage Bison Range & Wildlife Area was established in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson granted 3,021 acres of Kansas National Forest holdings to the State of Kansas for use as a game preserve. An additional 649 acres were later added, bringing the property to its current size of approximately 3,760 acres.
Prior to state ownership, the area was part of the federally owned and operated Kansas National Forest. The project began in 1905 as a 30,000-acre public reservation known as the Garden City Forest Reserve.
The reserve was established on a five-year trial basis to determine which tree species could successfully be propagated in the Great Plains. In 1908, an additional 272,387 acres of sandsage prairie south of the Arkansas River and extending west to the Kansas–Colorado border were added. The expanded reserve was renamed the Kansas National Forest.
By 1915, more than 800,000 seedlings had been planted on approximately 1,000 acres. Although the project was ultimately considered unsuccessful due to climate and soil conditions, remnants of the original plantings remain. A small stand of surviving trees can still be observed in the northwest corner of the middle pasture, serving as a reminder of the Kansas National Forest experiment.
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Bison were reintroduced to the range in October 1924, when one bull and two cows were transferred from Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
Additional animals were added in subsequent years:
- 1925: One bull from the Beatty Ranch near Lakin, Kansas
- 1929: Ten head originating from the herd of Charles Goodnight
Since that time, the bison have remained a primary feature of the wildlife area.
Herd size has fluctuated based on pasture conditions and management objectives. Historically, numbers have reached between 80 and 100 head. Due to extreme drought conditions, the herd was reduced in 2012 to 10 head.
Currently, in 2026 the herd is at 31 total animals 10 of which are yearling calves. Future expansion is dependent on pasture conditions and long-term range management goals.
- Type of Facility: Parking Lot
- Location of Facility: 37.912174 -100.889377
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- Type of Facility: Pier
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: 37.956085 -100.892058
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- Type of Facility: Vault Toilet
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: 37.956619 -100.892646
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- Type of Facility: Fishing Area
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: 37.956667 -100.892981
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- Type of Facility: Information Center
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: 37.949048 -100.880998
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