The Game Types of Oklahoma

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 Due to the wide diversification in game habitat in Oklahoma, an understanding of the character and extent of these conditions today is essential to those who expect to successfully manipulate game populations to the best interest of the people. Oklahoma is so situated within the nation as to enclose that portion of the continent where the eastern forests merge with the prairies and plains of the west. This is reflected in the presence of game species typical of both the eastern forests and the western grasslands within the confines of the state.

 A review of the existing studies of the biological and physical land features showed that any one study within itself was not adaptable to practical game management problems. A map of more detail, as well as one with more varied emphasis was needed. So included within the survey outlines were facilities for mapping the game habitat of Oklahoma.

The map presented with this book is a result of actual field mapping correlated with prior studies concerning vegetation, geology, soils, climate, and land use in relation to game populations, and is, we believe, in sufficient detail for wide application in future game studies. Game habitat conditions in this work have been classified under three general headings. A total of twelve types have been defined of which five are forested, four are shrub grassland, and three are agricultural grassland types (Table 1).

 It will be noticed throughout this report that particular topics are dealt with at some length under certain types and but briefly mentioned in others. Generally this results from the workers not being able to obtain information of equal detail for all type conditions. Rather than omit a discussion of importance simply because it was not available throughout, we have included such information here without regard to strict outline in hopes that it may be available at a later date.

 The Game Type Map presented with this report is a generalized one, being scaled down from field copies which are one-half inch to the mile and in considerable detail.

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This document is a product of the Oklahoma Biological Survey

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