NDOW releases wild turkeys in Churchill, Lander, Lincoln counties

Monday, March 8, 1999 | 2:11 a.m.

The Nevada Division of Wildlife last month released 176 wild turkeys at seven sites in Churchill, Lander and Lincoln counties. The goal is to boost turkey populations around the state.

The turkeys are of a subspecies called Rio Grande and were trapped by Nevada and Texas wildlife officials near Stirling City, Texas.

Rio Grande turkeys have proven to be the most adept at adapting to Nevada's harsh conditions and terrain.

Wildlife biologist Stan Stiver said one goal is to boost populations significantly enough to allow hunting.

"Another reason we've been bringing turkeys to the state is that we've found that land owners really like them," he said. "They manage their land for the turkeys, which in turn benefits many other wildlife species."

The first attempt to relocate wild turkeys in Nevada took place in the 1960s, though that effort with a different strain of bird was largely unsuccessful.

The agency began releasing Rio Grande turkeys in 1986. The birds, estimated at 3,000 statewide, can now be found in 13 of Nevada's 17 counties.

Though the birds tend to favor lowland terrain, wildlife experts hope they will eventually expand to adjacent hill countries generally dominated by dense stands of pinion and juniper trees.

Stiver said Utah has had encouraging results with Rio Grande turkeys being released into similar woodland habitats.

"Nevada has limited amounts of what can be considered good turkey habitat," Stiver said. "It will be interesting to see if they expand into the uplands."