FILING - 11/30/2007

CHAPTER 3 - FURBEARERS AND SMALL GAME, EXCEPT MIGRATORY BIRDS
ARTICLE II -	SMALL GAME SEASON DATES, UNITS (AS DESCRIBED IN CHAPTER 0 OF THESE REGULATIONS), BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS, LIMITED LICENSES AND PERMITS

#321 -  Wild Turkey

A.	Daily Bag and Possession Limit

1.	The annual bag and possession limit shall be one bearded turkey in the spring season and one turkey of either sex in the fall season except as provided below.

a.	The limit shall be two (2) bearded turkeys in the spring for those persons who possess a limited spring license.  One turkey must be harvested on the limited license and in the limited area.  The additional bearded turkey must be harvested in an area without limited licenses.  Hunters who harvest two turkeys in the spring season shall not be able to harvest an additional bird in the fall. 

2.	In addition to the above bag and possession limits, a hunter may take one additional turkey with a Turn In Poachers (TIPS)  license as provided in #002(H)(11)(b).

B.	Applications for Limited Licenses

1.	Application requirements

a.	No person shall submit more than one (1) application per season.
b.	Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

2.	Drawing applications submittal

a.	Applications will be accepted only on the appropriate application form provided by the Division.
b.	Payment for limited licenses must accompany each application and must be in the form of a check or money order.  Payment shall include a $3.00 non-refundable application fee, a $.25 fee designated for search and rescue operations and a $.75 Public Education Advisory Council (PEAC) surcharge.  
c.	Spring season 
1.	Applications for limited licenses must be received or postmarked no later than midnight, on the second Thursday in February, annually, at the Colorado Division of Wildlife, P.O. Box 173781, Denver, Colorado, 80221.
d.	Fall season
1.	Applications for limited licenses must be received or postmarked no later than midnight, on the second Thursday in July, annually at the Colorado Division of Wildlife, P.O. Box 173781, Denver, Colorado, 80221.

		3.	Preference systems

a.	Preference Points: Preference will be given for correct applications for first choice hunt codes only and shall be subject to the following provisions:
1.	One preference point will be awarded to each person who qualifies for and fails to draw a limited license as a first choice in the drawing or who applies using a first choice hunt code established for the purpose of accumulating a preference point only. Provided further, however, that no applicant may accumulate more than two turkey preference points per calendar year. 
2.	Preference points will be used in future drawings for the same species and will continue to accumulate until the applicant obtains a license as a first choice or does not apply at least once during a five‑year period at which time all accumulated points become void.
3.	Applications receiving preference will be given priority over all applications with fewer points.
4.	Group applications will receive preference at the level of the group member with the fewest accumulated points.
5.	Unsuccessful applicants to the drawing will receive a refund check stub; this will provide accumulated preference point totals.
6.	Licenses issued to successful second choice applicants will show accumulated preference point totals.
b.	Mobility-Impaired Hunting Licenses - The Director may make licenses valid in certain GMU's available to qualified mobility-impaired hunters. 
1.	Applicants for mobility-impaired hunting licenses must have a mobility impairment resulting from permanent medical conditions, which makes it physically impossible for them to hunt without the assistance of an attendant.  Evidence of an impossibility to participate in the hunt without the assistance of an attendant may include, but is not limited to, prescribed use of a wheel chair; shoulder or arm crutches; walker; two canes; or other prescribed medical devices or equipment. 
2.	Applications for mobility-impaired licenses shall be made on the form available from, and submitted with the applicable license fee to, the Division of Wildlife, Limited License Office, 6060 Broadway, Denver, Colorado.  Hunters may apply from the Monday after the November Commission meeting through the last day of the spring season. 
3.	Applications for mobility-impaired hunting licenses shall contain a statement from a licensed medical doctor or a certified physical, occupational, or recreational therapist describing the applicant’s mobility impairment and the permanent medical condition which makes it impossible for the applicant to hunt without the assistance of an attendant.  Additional documentation may be required if necessary to establish the applicant’s eligibility for a mobility-impaired hunting license.  Once certified by the Division as mobility-impaired according to these regulations, applicants will not be required to submit the medical statement.  
4.	Ten (10) mobility-impaired hunting licenses will be available for the spring season, valid only on private lands in units 91, 92, 96, and 102.  The licenses will be valid for the season dates established for the authorized hunt code.  Mobility-impaired licenses may not be issued for ranching for wildlife properties unless otherwise provided in the ranch contract.  
c.	Youth Outreach Hunting Licenses – The Director may make additional youth outreach program turkey licenses available to qualified organizations sponsoring youth hunting activities.
1.	Youth Outreach licenses will be available for private land only.  There will be no more than 50 licenses issued annually under this subsection.
2.	Licenses will be approved by the applicable Regional Manager on a case-by-case basis in instances where an organization assisting youth hunters has coordinated a hunting opportunity specifically for this program and where all other avenues of obtaining a license have been exhausted. 
3.	Licenses are issued on a first come, first served basis to qualified organizations.  
4.	Organizations who wish to request a Youth Outreach license must submit the request in writing to the Division of Wildlife, Hunter Outreach Coordinator, 6060 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80216 no later than February 1 annually.
5.	Licenses are limited to youth hunters under 18 years of age.

C.	Special Restrictions

1.	Tagging Requirements

a.	When any person kills a turkey such person must immediately detach, sign, and date the carcass tag.  Such tag must be attached to the carcass of the bird while it is transported in any vehicle or while in camp or at a residence or other place of storage.
b.	Such tag, when so dated, signed and attached to the turkey lawfully taken or killed and lawfully in possession, authorizes the possession, use, storage, and transportation of the carcass, or any part thereof, within the state.
c.	If the carcass tag is inadvertently or accidentally detached from the license or is lost or destroyed, the licensee must obtain a duplicate carcass tag before he can lawfully hunt with such license.  The duplicate carcass tag may be obtained upon furnishing satisfactory proof as to the inadvertent or accidental nature of the detachment, loss, or destruction to the Division of Wildlife.

2.	Spanish Peaks SWA

a. 	Hunting during the spring turkey season shall be permitted only on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays on the Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Area, except as provided in subparagraph b of this subsection.
b.	For mobility-impaired hunters, hunting during the spring turkey season shall be permitted after the second weekend of the season on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, by special access permit only.  For the purposes of this subparagraph, the following restrictions shall apply:
1.	Applicants for mobility-impaired access permits must have a mobility impairment resulting from permanent medical conditions, which makes it physically impossible for them to hunt without the assistance of an attendant.  Evidence of an impossibility to participate in the hunt without the assistance of an attendant may include, but is not limited to, prescribed use of a wheelchair; shoulder or arm crutches; walker; two canes; or other prescribed medical devices or equipment.  Applications will be accepted until the last day of the spring turkey season.  Permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be limited to two (2) individuals during each Wednesday, Thursday, Friday time period during the spring season. 
2.	Applications for mobility-impaired access permits shall be made on the form available from, and submitted to, the Division of Wildlife, Limited License Office, 6060 Broadway, Denver, Colorado.
3.	Applications for mobility-impaired access permits shall contain a statement from a licensed medical doctor or a certified physical, occupational, or recreational therapist describing the applicant’s mobility impairment and the permanent medical condition which makes it impossible for the applicant to hunt without the assistance of an attendant.  Additional documentation may be required if necessary to establish the applicant’s eligibility for a mobility-impaired access permit.  Once certified by the Division as mobility-impaired according to these regulations, applicants will not be required to submit the medical statement.  

	3.	Higel and Rio Grande SWA's

	a.	Turkey hunting access during the spring turkey season requires an access permit.  Access permits will be issued for each property, from the Division Office in Monte Vista through a hand drawing.  Permit applications may be obtained from DOW, 0722 S. Road 1E, Monte Vista, CO  81144.  Group applications will be accepted.  No more than two (2) applicants per group.  Application deadline is January 31 of each year.  Successful applicants will be notified by mail.  The date, time and location of the drawing will be included on the application.

4.   Chancellor Ranch State Trust Property

a. 	Access is limited to property-specific permit holders and one non-hunting companion. Permits will be issued from the Colorado Division of Wildlife Lamar Office through a hand drawing. First priority for permits designated as “youth only” will be given to youth license holders.  If there are insufficient numbers of youth license holders applying, then non-youth license applicants will be given an opportunity. Permit applications may be obtained from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2500 South Main, Lamar, Colorado 81052, telephone (719) 336-6600, and via the DOW website by visiting www.wildlife.state.co.us. Group applications will be accepted. No more than two (2) applicants per group. Application deadline for the fall season is July 1 annually.  Application deadline for the spring season is January 31 of each year.  Successful applicants will be notified by mail. The date, time and location of the drawing will be included on the application.
b.	Access permits will be issued for the following seasons:
Spring Turkey season:  Hunting access is restricted to no more than fifteen (15) permitted hunters.

Fall Turkey season:  Hunting access is restricted to no more than fifteen (15) permitted hunters.

5.   Southwest Youth Turkey Extended Season

Youths under 18 years of age may hunt turkey in GMUs 52, 54, 55, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 82, 83, 411, 521, 551, 681, 682, 711, 741, 751 and 771  from the Saturday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after Thanksgiving, provided they possess an unfilled youth fall turkey license, comply with applicable regulations for the hunt in which they participate, and are accompanied by a mentor.  A mentor must be at least 18 years of age and comply with hunter education requirements.  The mentor may not hunt. 

D.	Season Dates and Units - Unlimited Licenses.

1.	Spring Seasons
Units	Hunt Code	Date Open	Dated Closed	Licenses	
003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014, 016, 017, 018, 019, 020, 022, 024, 028, 029, 031, 032, 033, 038, 039, 040, 041, 042, 046, 048, 049, 050, 051, 052, 053, 054, 055, 056, 057, 058, 059 except on the Beaver Creek SWA and the Table Mountain State Trust Land Lease, 060, 061, 062, 063, 064, 065, 066, 067, 068, 069, 070, 071, 072, 073, 074, 075, 076, 077, 078, 079, 082, 083, 084, 085, 086, 087, 088, 094, 104, 110, 112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 122, 123, 128, 130 S of US 50, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 140 except on James M. John and Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Areas, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 161, 171, 181, 191, 211, 214, 231, 301, 391, 411, 421, 441, 461, 481, 500, 501, 511, 521, 551, 561, 581, 591, 681, 682, 691, 711, 741, 751, 771, 791, 851 except the Bosque del Oso SWA, 861, 951.	TM000U1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	Unlimited	

2.	Fall Seasons
Unit	Hunt Code	Open Date	Close Date	Licenses	
003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014, 016, 017, 018, 019, 020, 022, 024, 028, 029, 031, 032, 033, 038, 039, 040, 041, 042, 043, 046, 048, 049, 050, 051, 052, 054, 055, 056, 057, 058, 059 except on the Beaver Creek SWA and the  Table Mountain State Trust Land Lease, 060, 061, 062, 064, 065, 066, 067, 068, 069, 070, 071, 072, 073, 074, 075, 076, 077, 078, 079, 082, 083, 084, 085 except on the Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Area, 086, 087, 088, 094, 104, 110, 112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 122, 123, 128, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 140 except on the James M. John and Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Areas, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 147, 161, 171, 181, 191, 211, 214, 231, 301, 391, 411, 421, 441, 461, 500, 501, 511, 521, 551, 561, 581, 591, 681, 682, 691, 711, 741, 751, 771, 791, 851 except on the Bosque del Oso SWA, 861, 951.	TE000U2R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	Unlimited	

E.	Season Dates and Units - Limited Licenses and Limited License Areas.  Limited licenses shall be valid only for the time period and game management unit(s) or area(s) indicated on the license.

1.	Spring Season. 	
Unit	Hunt Code	Date Opened	Date Closed	Licenses	
				Bearded Turkey Only	
2 	TM002O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	5	
15, 27 and 37 	TM015O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	5	
23	TM023O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	10	
30 - Youth only	TM030K1R	04/12/2008	05/25/2008	5	
34	TM034O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	5	
35, 36	TM035O1R	04/12/2008	05/25/2008	5	
43	TM043O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	30	
44	TM044O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	5	
59 - Beaver Creek State Wildlife Area and Table Mountain State Trust Land Lease only	TM059O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	25	
91	TM091O1R	 04/12/2008	 04/27/2008	25	
91, except on state wildlife areas	TM091S1R	 04/12/2008	 04/27/2008	10	
91	TM091O2R	 04/28/2008	 05/18/2008	25	
91, except on state wildlife areas	TMO91S2R	 04/28/2008	 05/18/2008	10	
92	TM092O1R	 04/12/2008	 04/27/2008	25	
92, except on state wildlife areas	TMO92S1R	 04/12/2008	 04/27/2008	5	
92	TM092O2R	 04/28/2008	 05/18/2008	25	
92, except on state wildlife areas	TM092S2R	 04/28/2008	 05/18/2008	5	
96	TM096O1R	 04/12/2008	 04/27/2008	35	
96, except on state wildlife areas	TM096S1R	 04/12/2008	 04/27/2008	20	
96	TM096O2R	 04/28/2008	 05/18/2008	35	
96, except on state wildlife areas	TM096S2R	 04/28/2008	 05/18/2008	20	
101	TM101O1R	 04/12/2008	 04/27/2008	5	
101	TM101O2R	 04/28/2008	 05/18/2008	5	
102	TM102O1R	 04/12/2008	 04/27/2008	25	
102	TM102O2R	 04/28/2008	 05/18/2008	25	
103, 107, and 109	TM103O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	75	
105	TM105O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/18/2008	40	
107, 109 – Youth only	TM107K1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	10	
124, 125, and 129	TM124O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	3	
124, 125, and 129, except on state wildlife areas	TM124S1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	7	
124, 125, and 129 – Youth only	
TM124K1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	2	
126, 146	TM126O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	15	
127, 132	TM127O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	5	
130 – North of US 50 	TM130O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	2	
130 – North of US 50 except on state wildlife areas	TM130S1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	5	
139	TM13901R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	5	
140 - Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area only	TM140O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	75	
140 - James John State Wildlife Area only	TM140O2R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	20	
444	TM444O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	10	
851 - Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area only	TM851O1R	 04/12/2008	 05/25/2008	25	
Total				694	

2.	Fall Season 	
Unit	Hunt Code	Date Opened	Date Closed	Licenses	
				Either Sex	
59 – Beaver Creek State Wildlife Area and Table Mountain State Trust Land Lease only	TE059L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	25	
85 - Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Area Oberosler Tract only	TE085L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	30	
85 - Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Area – Dochter Tract only	TE085L2R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	30	
85 -Spanish Peaks State Wildlife Area - Sakariason Tract	TE085L3R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	30	
91	TE091L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	20	
92	TE092L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	15	
96	TE096L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	35	
102	TE102L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	10	
103, 107, and 109	TE103L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	75	
105	TE105L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	40	
107, 109 – Youth only	TE107K1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	10	
124, 125 and 129 	TE124L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	10	
124, 125 and 129 – Youth only	
TE124K1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	2	
126, 146	TE126L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	15	
127, 132	TE127L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	3	
130 – North of US 50 	TE130L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	5	
139	TE139L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	5	
140 - Lake Dorothey State Wildlife Area only	TE140L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	50	
140 – James John State Wildlife Area only	TE140L2R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	10	
444	TE444L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	10	
851 – Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area only 	TE851L1R	 09/01/2008	 10/05/2008	25	
Total				455	

#321.5	RANCHING FOR WILDLIFE – TURKEY

A.	Implementation Authority

1.	The Director is authorized to implement the Ranching for Wildlife program, including the authority to determine ranch enrollment status, enter into cooperative agreements with ranches, establish and modify public and private season dates on each ranch, and establish and modify license allocations to each ranch including the subsequent distribution of licenses to the public and private share annually, and may establish additional Ranching for Wildlife operating guidelines subject to the following provisions.

B.	Ranch Entry And Maintenance 

1.	Ranches must have a minimum of 12,000 acres of privately owned land in one contiguous unit, except for Mountain Meadows Ranch, which shall be considered grandfathered for this minimum acreage.  Ranches that meet this 12,000-acre minimum requirement may include privately owned non-contiguous parcels in the program if the Director determines that their inclusion will contribute to meeting the performance standards for the ranch.

2.	Ranches must annually provide a minimum of thirty (30) public licenses, in total for all species for which there is a public season established.  Except that ranches located in Game Management Units east of Interstate 25 must offer a minimum of twenty (20) public licenses in total for all species if no female licenses for deer, elk, or pronghorn are allocated to the ranch.

3.	Ranches must develop a Ranching For Wildlife Management Plan that includes goals, objectives, and strategies for achieving such goals and objectives for wildlife habitat management, species management, and public hunting management.  The Management Plan must be approved by the Division prior to execution of a Cooperative Agreement for Ranching For Wildlife.

4.	Ranches may not charge public hunters an access fee for hunting.

5.	Except as agreed to in writing by the Division when necessary to meet the ranch performance standards or as mutually agreed and contained in the Management Plan, ranches must provide for equality of access in terms of geographical area and mode of transportation for both public and private hunters.  No closure or restriction of land or roads shall apply to public hunters that do not also apply to private hunters.

6.	Public hunts must be established at a time when the species to be hunted are present and available for harvest.  No public seasons shall be established during times when normal winter conditions would prevent access to most of the ranch, nor when normal migration patterns of the species to be hunted result in the species having migrated off the ranch.
7.	Ranches that establish coinciding or overlapping public and private hunts may not exclude public hunters from any portion of the ranch due to the presence of private hunters.

8.	The Ranch and the Division will mutually agree to ranch rules regarding access to and hunting on the ranch by public hunters.  The ranch rules will be provided to hunters prior to seasons on the ranch in accordance with other provisions contained in this Regulation.

C.	Cooperative Agreements, Enrollment, Denial Of Enrollment, Termination Of Enrollment 

1.	The Division is authorized to enter into Cooperative Agreements with ranches.

2.	Ranches may appeal enrollment decisions to the Wildlife Commission.

3.	Cooperative Agreements shall incorporate approved Ranching For Wildlife Management Plans as part of the Cooperative Agreement.

4.	The Division shall periodically evaluate ranches for enrollment and contract performance, and shall establish minimum performance standards for ranches enrolled in the program, including wildlife habitat management and improvement, public recreation opportunity and experience, and any factors intended to contribute to meeting turkey management objectives.  Such performance standards shall be incorporated into the Cooperative Agreement with the ranch.

D.	Turkey Season Structures

1.	Public and private spring season opening and closing date parameters.
a.	Private seasons may not begin before April 1, nor extend beyond June 1.
b.	Public seasons may only be established within the opening and closing dates of the regularly established spring season.
c.	Public hunting seasons shall be a minimum of ten (10) consecutive days.

2.	Public and private fall season opening and closing date parameters.
a.	Public and private seasons may not begin before September 1, nor extend beyond November 1.
b.	Public hunting seasons shall be a minimum of ten (10) consecutive days.

3.	Manner of Take
a.	The manner of take for spring or fall RFW turkey seasons shall be the same as that for regularly established spring or fall seasons.

E.	License Allocation 

1.	A maximum of 100 bearded turkey licenses in the spring season and 100 either sex turkey licenses in the fall season may be allocated to each ranch annually, and subsequently distributed to the public and private share according paragraph b. of this regulation.
  
2.	The public shall receive a minimum of forty percent (40%) of the total number of licenses allocated for each turkey season on each ranch.

3.	License allocation for each ranch shall be approved by the Division and recommended to the Director, based upon harvest objectives for the ranch jointly determined by the Division and the ranch, hunter crowding, enhancement of hunter harvest, and relative densities of the species on the ranch.

4.	Substitution of licenses of one species or sex for licenses of another species or sex shall not be permitted.

5.	Landowner preference shall not be used for any public or private Ranching For Wildlife license.

F.	Youth Licenses

1.	The Division and the ranch may formulate and implement youth hunting opportunities on any ranch through Division approved youth hunting programs.  The Division must approve the youth hunting program on the ranch prior to any season or license allocation for such youth hunts.

2.	A maximum of 15% of the total number of turkey licenses allocated for a ranch may be allocated as youth hunting licenses on each ranch, over and above the total number of licenses allocated for a ranch.

3.	Youth hunting seasons may occur at any time within the broad parameters for seasons within the Ranching For Wildlife program.

4.	Youth licenses shall be distributed to individual youth hunters by mechanisms of the approved youth hunting program on the ranch.  Youth licenses shall not count as either private or public licenses for purposes of calculating the relative share of other licenses allocated for the ranch.

G.	License Distribution

1.	Applications
a.	Applications for private hunter licenses stamped with the ranch name and season dates shall be available to the landowner for distribution.
b.	Public hunter licenses shall be available through application and selection from the Division during the annual limited license drawing process, except as provided in this regulation.

H.	Special Restrictions

1.	Unless otherwise provided in these Ranching for Wildlife regulations all hunters must comply with other applicable regulations, including, but not limited to, manner of take (except that private hunters may use any legal weapon during private seasons), hunting hours, application requirements and deadlines, bag limits, season participation, mandatory checks, OHV restrictions, and other generally applicable regulations for big game hunting.

2.	A copy of the mutually agreed upon ranch rules will be provided to all public hunters prior to their hunting season.  All public hunters will be required to sign a statement acknowledging that they have read, understand, and agree to comply with all ranch rules, before the hunter is allowed access to the ranch.
a.	Compliance with ranch rules is a specific condition of the Ranching For Wildlife public licenses and subsequent access to the ranch.  In addition to criminal penalties, non-compliance with ranch rules constitutes grounds for suspension and revocation of the license and/or being prohibited from further participation in hunting on the ranch, and/or in the Ranching For Wildlife program as a public hunter.
b.	Final determination on any legal action taken towards hunters found in non-compliance with ranch rules shall be made solely by officers of the Division.  This includes any citation that may be issued for non-compliance with the provisions of a license, or directing a hunter to leave a ranch.  Ranch personnel may not direct a hunter to leave a ranch without specific authorization of a Division officer.