Nearly 100 Nebraska wild turkeys head to Montana

In the late 1950s and early '60s, Nebraska reintroduced wild turkeys from other states to its landscape after the big birds had been wiped out decades earlier during the nations westward expansion.

The reintroduction was so successful that turkeys have again become common border-to-border, and Nebraska is now able to pay the favor forward to another state.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission led an effort this week to trap wild turkeys on a ranch near Whiteclay in northern Sheridan County for relocation to Montana.

The turkeys were held overnight Thursday and picked up by Montana state wildlife staff Friday morning for release in the Great Falls area.

A total of 91 birds were caught, including 13 males or toms, the commission said in a news release.

Game and Parks employees lured the birds to three roughly 400-square-foot netted enclosures and closed each door with the pull of a cord. A cadre of volunteers, largely consisting of Chadron State College students, then helped them process the birds.

Each turkey was checked by a veterinarian and placed in a cardboard box provided by the National Wild Turkey Federation. The boxes of birds were stored in a livestock trailer until the journey west.

Although they can be tricky to catch in the enclosure, the birds usually become rather docile once caught, said Todd Nordeen, the commission's big game research manager who led the relocation effort.

Nebraska has used wildlife from other states for reintroduction efforts within its borders, including bighorn sheep that were captured in Montana and brought to Nebraska.

Nordeen said Montanas state wildlife division is seeking turkeys with characteristics of the Merriams subspecies. The distinct wide white band found across the tail feathers of those birds is predominant among northwestern Nebraskas turkey population.

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Nearly 100 Nebraska wild turkeys head to Montana