Amid the hustle and bustle of Hutchinson, a mass of geese, ducks, wild turkeys, swan and deer share a 25-acre home. The Gopher Campfire Club’s wildlife sanctuary sits along the north bank of the Crow River, between Riverside and Masonic/West River Parks.

The parks on either side of the sanctuary make great places to have a quiet picnic lunch, followed by a visit to the enclosed wildlife area. A road around the native animal refuge allows nature enthusiasts to view it on foot, while biking or just driving by. The Luce Line Trail, a hike-and-bike trail, runs along the south edge of the sanctuary, next to the Crow River. An estimated 14,000 geese share the sanctuary and refuge with ducks, wild turkeys, swans and a number of deer.

Native bird species include mallards, wild turkeys, pintail ducks, wood ducks, along with the Greater Canada geese, snow geese and blue geese. Only one species, the mute swan, is not native to the area.

The sanctuary itself will be beautified and updated along with city construction along the Crow River, eventually matching the city park that envelops it.

The Gopher Campfire Club is responsible for the wildlife sanctuary and prides itself in maintaining this slice of nature within the city that showcases native animals. President Keith Berwald said the group is eagerly awaiting its 100th anniversary in 2009. The club ranges between 750 and 800 members. Memberships are $30 per year, or $300 for a lifetime.

The club has its main facility on Lake Byron about seven miles northeast of Hutchinson on McLeod County Road 7 (Bear Lake Road).

The public is welcome to an array of attractions, featuring an annual family fishing contest and wild game feed. Shooting events include league trap shooting, sporting clays, rim fire rifle shooting, IR-50 shoots and a pistol league. An activity children can enjoy is learning how to build a bluebird house. For more information on Gopher Campfire activities, call (320) 587-4868.