Req 4c — Game Mammal Life History

This option builds directly on Req 3c, but now your subject is a native game mammal. That adds a management angle because game species are often studied carefully for population health, habitat use, seasons, and sustainable harvest rules.

Choose a Native Game Mammal Wisely

Pick a species that is both native to your area and recognized locally as a game mammal. Depending on where you live, examples might include white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit, elk, black bear, squirrel, or pronghorn.

Before you start writing, confirm three things:

• it is native to your region
• it is considered a game mammal there
• you can find reliable local or state sources

Cover the Same Core Topics as Req 3c

Your report should still explain:

• historical habitat before major human changes
• reproduction
• food
• natural habitat
• dependency on plants, animals, and humans
• how humans benefit from it and whether it benefits from human association

But for a game mammal, it is smart to also notice:

• habitat management
• carrying capacity
• hunting regulations and seasons
• how agencies monitor populations

Do Not Confuse “Game Mammal” With “Common Mammal”

A game mammal is not just any mammal people know about. It is a species managed under hunting laws or wildlife regulations. That means state wildlife agency pages are often excellent sources because they combine biology with management information.

Listing Sources Matters

Unlike Req 3c, this requirement explicitly tells you to list your sources. Do it clearly. A simple works-cited or source list is enough if it includes enough detail for your counselor to see where the information came from.

Good source details include:

• title
• organization or author
• website or publisher
• date accessed for websites

A different kind of field investigation comes next: building a tracking pit and letting mammals come to you.