Christy Signor, NDOW biologist, said the birds were trapped in order to reduce the overall population of turkeys in the Overton area, located near Lake Mead in Clark County. A second trapping in the same area may be conducted by the agency during February.

"There have been reported instances of turkeys causing damage to private fields and being nuisances by roosting on building roofs and soiling sidewalks and porches. We wanted to eliminate some turkeys while still maintaining a good population in the area for viewing and hunting," Signor said.

A total of 23 hens and five jakes (young turkeys) were trapped and transported to the XJ Ranch, approximately 50 miles south of Elko in the Ruby Mountain Range. No mature adult male turkeys, known as "toms," were removed from the Overton area.

Wild turkeys, which are not native to Nevada, were introduced in the Overton area in February 1990 when they were released by NDOW at Overton Wildlife Management Area. Those birds were Rio Grande turkeys, one of four subspecies of wild turkeys native to North America.

Last year 28 Rio Grande turkeys that were trapped in California were released on the XJ Ranch and they did fairly well with some young birds observed in the spring.

No turkey hunting will be permitted this year in Elko County. However, 15 tags to hunt turkeys are being issued by NDOW for spring turkey hunts in Moapa Valley, which includes Overton. Sixty wild turkey tags are also being issued for spring hunts at Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area in Lyon County, and 10 for hunting in Lincoln County.

Information about turkey hunting may be obtained from NDOW's web site at nevadadivisionofwildlife.org.