I have had a fig bush in the yard for a number of years.  Each year it dies back to the ground and restarts each spring.  Last year I started getting interested in figs and after the 1st couple of frosts in the fall I bent it over and buried it in wood chips.  I am starting to think that covering the figs and kiwi each winter may be the ticket here to avoid the freeze back and also keep them from getting frost nipped in the spring.  That being said, what varieties would the forum suggest for central OK zone 7/6?  Thank you

Chicago Hardy comes to mind quickly as a surefire one for you, and a rich, dark fig. Also, there are large Brown Turkey and Texas EverBearing trees here in my town which are old enough that they must have have survived some harsh zone 7 winters. I know there are supposed to be many others, but I will let other members tell you from their experience. There should be a fairly wide range for that zone.

Also, fig tissue increases in winter hardiness as the diameter increases. I can't remember where, but there is even some specific study results on this, correlating diameter and temp for survival of certain varieties. That means you should protect for the first couple of years, then once it reaches a certain size at the very least the main trunk will survive each year. 

If you have a garage , basement etc and ever consider pot culture you can grow just about any type of self pollinating
type of fig.

Hi maedmonson,
I go by "better safe than sorry" and protect the trees during the winter.
If your tree keeps on getting back to the ground, it is that your zone is consistently cold in the winter.

The strain you already have seems to need some help.
Because it didn't totally die - that for me does mean that it can handle the cold of your region.
Do you know what strain it is ?
Brownturkey is cold hardy. Try 3 different strains , protect them in the winter, and find out which one performs better.