Colorado Town Considers Hunting Licenses for Drones
OutdoorHub Reporters 07.18.13
The town of Deer Trail, Colorado might soon be offering hunting licenses for unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as drones. At $25 per license, the proposed ordinance is mostly a symbolic gesture. According to ABC 7, the issue was brought to the town board by Deer Trail resident Phillip Steel, who had concerns that drones flying overhead could be an invasion of privacy.
“We do not want drones in town,” said Steel. “They fly in town, they get shot down…basically, I do not believe in the idea of a surveillance society, and I believe we are heading that way.”
It is a belief shared by at least one of the town’s seven board members, who will be bringing the matter to a vote on August 6.
“I’m leaning towards yes,” said board member David Boyd. “I’m good with passing it as long as it’s safe.”
If passed, the ordinance will detail the firearms allowed to take a drone, ammunition, and “hunting” regulations. Currently, only shotguns in 12 gauge or smaller are being considered for “drone hunting.” Many of the town’s residents, however, doubt they will ever get a chance to shoot a drone like an oversized clay pigeon. Steel himself admits he had never seen a drone in the area. Also, damaging federal property is against the law. Despite the lack of hunting opportunities, many residents are getting behind the idea for its novel appeal.
“If they were to read it for the title alone and not for the novelty and what it really is, it sounds scary, and it sounds super vigilante and frightening,” said town Clerk Kim Oldfield. “The real idea behind it is it’s a potential fun, moneymaker, and it could be really cool for our community and we’ve needed something to bring us together, and this could be it.”
In April, the animal rights organization PETA announced it would use drones to carry out surveillance on hunters and anglers in the wild. The announcement has been met by widespread opposition from outdoorsmen and women, who believe that the organization will use the craft to harass law-abiding enthusiasts.
“The talk is usually about drones being used as killing machines, but PETA drones will be used to save lives,” said PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. “Slob hunters may need to rethink the idea that they can get away with murder, alone out there in the woods with no one watching.”
On internet forums and social media, hunters responded similarly to Newkirk’s remarks: start a drone hunting season. It seems that the town of Deer Trail might do just that.
The proposed licenses will last one year from date of purchase. No word yet on if there will be bag limits.
