The Game Types of Oklahoma
7. THE MIXED - GRASS - ERODED PLAINS TYPE
Definition
The Mixed - Grass - Eroded Plains Game Type includes some 8,500 square miles generally located across the western one-fourth of the State, excluding the Panhandle counties. A mixture of both tall and short grass species characterizes the original vegetation pattern with variation in the composition on the western and eastern edges where this type merges into the other two associated grasslands. There has been some difficulty in setting up a condition here comprising the bulk of what some authors have classified as Mixed Grass Ecotone Type and still maintain some consistency as to game habitat conditions. Throughout, where doubt existed as to the true nature of the condition, topography served as a determining factor in the present work. The Mixed - Grass - Eroded Plains Game Type is characterized by a mixed grass composition and a definite ravine relief which is generally wooded. It is part of an extensive area of similar vegetational conditions extending as an overlapping of tall grass species from the east, with short grass species from the west northward across the United States.
In the southwest part of the State, and also in Major and Blaine counties are extensive areas of the Mixed - Grass - Eroded Plains Game Type are covered with mesquite (Prosopsis glandulosa), which, for the most part, has been mapped separately on the type map. Scaled quail were once found in the southwest portion of this condition in considerable numbers.
Climatic Characteristics
The Mixed - Grass - Eroded Plains Game Type lies entirely within the climatic province characterized as subhumid, mesothermal, and deficient moisture at all seasons. The Mixed - Grass - Eroded Plains Game Type lays between the 22 and 30 inch rainfall belt, and, roughly, has from 190 to 220 frost-free days a year. There are, however, wide differences in temperature, situated as it is across the state from North to South. Precipitation, as snow and rain, are of importance here as seriously affecting such game species as bobwhite and mourning doves. The snows usually occur late in winter, from the last of February to March after the winter foods have been seriously depleted. Too, since most of the cover is located in ravines and bottoms, sudden floods and deep snows are detrimental. Drought periods are serious throughout the type in preventing the development of sufficient protective cover and sometimes winter food. However, it appears that bobwhite coveys are well adapted to the lack of live water since they are often found from two to three miles from water holes.
Here at present the vegetational composition is composed for the most part of short grass species, buffalo grass (Buchloë dactyloides), and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), with side oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) abundant in places. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), where moisture is sufficient and grazing not excessive, is an important species in the type.
Physical Characteristics
Topography has a great influence on game populations within the Mixed - Grass Eroded Plains Game Type. Practically in all cases small game cover is confined to the deeply eroded ravines and brushy canyons, typical of these shaley erodible soils of western Oklahoma. Representation of the better portions of the Mixed - Grass - Eroded Plains Game Type are found on the Cimarron watershed in Harper, Woodward and Major counties. In Woodward county the Cimarron river has cut its bed some 400 feet below that of the south lying North Canadian river, which has resulted in pronounced relief. The heavy textured soils and geological materials encourage erosion by the high percent of run-off in precipitation. Throughout the eastern Roger Mills, western Custer and Washita, and southeastern Beckham county, the Mixed - Grass - Eroded Plains Game Type is best illustrated by the rough broken land.
With the exception of the mountainous areas, most of the soils are developed from fine grained sandstones, shales and clays of permian age. The presence of gypsum is characteristic of much of the broken land.
Land Use Characteristics
The flat lands of this type are about 75 percent under cultivation, while the rough broken land is probably not more than 10-15 percent in cultivation. The average farm size is around 450 acres, being larger than on more easterly located types. Approximately 40 percent of the farm families are tenant farmers, of which around 30 percent remain on the same farm one year or less. Most of the streams are silted and vegetation choked out on flat lands and, due to the large acreage under single operation, conservation methods are not as closely observed here as elsewhere. Much of the land is now abandoned due to the past drouth and low farm prices. The principal crop in the north is wheat and in the south cotton and grain sorghum.
Wildlife Characteristics
The principal game species found within this type are mourning dove and bobwhite quail. Cottontails are abundant along stream borders and jack-rabbits and coyotes offer much sport to those running hounds. Furbearers are abundantly represented only in that section of the wooded ravines. Raccoon and mink are extremely scarce throughout.
Bobwhite populations here show a definite seasonal shifting. Studies carried out here show that birds nesting on the uplands move to the canyons or better adjacent types for the winter months. This often results in local concentrations and sometimes in serious loss. Lesser Prairie Chickens were once found in abundance on the Mixed - Grass - Eroded Plains Game Type, particularly where it adjoined some of the sandy grasslands. It is doubtful if even under the most moderate grazing pressure they could establish themselves again because almost any use destroys the taller grasses and cover which seem essential to their survival.
Most recommendations on this type probably should be in conjunction with ravine and stream improvement on the ranchlands. The widespread establishment of farm ponds throughout this type offers much in the way of game habitat improvement.
About the plates
Plate XVIII - Mixed grass mesquite plains.
Plate XIX - Showing the well wooded stream courses in the Mixed Grass-Eroded Plains Game Type, Washita County.
Plate XX - Showing the deeply dissected plain of the Mixed Grass-Eroded Plains Game Type.
Comment: bhoagland@ou.edu
Page problems or Web-related comments to: Dan Hough
This document is a product of the Oklahoma
Biological Survey
University of Oklahoma Disclaimer
