FILING - 11/30/2007
Basis and Purpose
Chapter 3 – Small Game - Furbearers

Basis and Purpose:

Turkey harvest limit quotas and seasons are established to maintain healthy populations while at the same time providing recreational opportunity.  Turkey regulations have been modified to update harvest limit quota numbers and season dates for 2008.  Ongoing population analysis and management necessitates or makes possible reductions in turkey harvest in some Game Management Units and additional turkey hunting opportunity in others.  These regulations have been modified to promote healthy turkey populations and provide for proper turkey management and recreational opportunity in accordance with the best available science.

GMU 30
Turkey hunting has never been allowed in GMU 30 since introduction efforts began in the early 1990’s.  Since that time, the turkey population in this unit has increased to a level that can support very limited harvest.  Populations are generally stable and/or increasing.  The unit has been opened to limited youth spring turkey hunting.  It is anticipated that limited harvest will not have a significant impact on the population, and will provide a unique, quality experience to encourage youth turkey hunting.  

GMU 31
Turkey hunting in GMU 31 has been strictly limited since transplants began in the 1990’s to allow the flock to grow to a sustainable size.  During that time the flock has increased dramatically and has been used as a source flock for transplants across the Western Slope.  Between 2004 and 2007, over 200 turkeys have been transplanted into other populations, and the flock continues to increase in size.   There is significant demand for increased turkey hunting opportunity, and this population can readily sustain increased harvest; therefore, it has been added to the list of units which can be hunted with an unlimited over-the-counter license in both spring and fall.

GMU 35
A spring turkey season has been created for GMU 35.  GMU 36 had a turkey season as a group with units 15, 27, 36, and 37.   Both GMU 35 and 36 have received several turkey transplants in the last five years and the turkey population has been increasing.  The creation of a new turkey unit in 35/36 is intended to increase turkey hunting opportunity and spread hunting pressure out in the existing turkey unit 15, 27, and 37.

GMU 512
Presently, the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA; GMU 512) does not allow hunting of turkey in either the spring or fall season.  Therefore the USAFA has requested that GMU 512 be removed from the list of GMUs that can be hunted with an over-the-counter license for both the spring and fall season. 

Colorado River Closure
During the fall season all turkey hunting has been closed in those portions of units 32, 40, 41, 42, and 421 within ½ mile either side of the Colorado River from the Una Bridge east of Debeque downstream to the Utah state line.  These portions of the river have been open during the spring turkey hunt.  This regulation was instituted immediately after the introduction of turkeys into these units and was intended to protect hens during the fall seasons when they may be legally harvested, resulting in an accelerated increase in population.  
The turkey populations in these units have increased greatly since the transplants and the populations are stable and/or increasing.  Access into major portions of these areas is difficult and, in some cases, requires a boat.  For these reasons, harvest along the Colorado River should not adversely impact this population and will provide increased hunting opportunity; therefore, the existing closure has been removed.

Southwest Region Youth Turkey Additional Days
In an effort to provide additional youth turkey hunting opportunity in the Southwest Region, these regulations give youth fall turkey hunters the Thanksgiving week to hunt turkeys.  

Youth Outreach Turkey Licenses
Private landowners have shown increasing interest in allowing organized youth turkey hunting activities on their land throughout Colorado during the spring turkey season.  These regulations are intended to allow for additional youth hunting where such opportunities exist.

The statutory authority for these regulations can be found in § 24-4-103, C.R.S., and the state Wildlife Act, §§ 33-1-101 to 33-6-209, C.R.S., specifically including, but not limited to: §§ 33-1-101, 102, 104, 105, 106-108, 115, and 121; §§ 33-2-104, 105, 106, and 107; § 33-3-104; §§ 33-4-101, 102, 102.5, 103, 116, 116.5, 117, and 119; § 33-5.5-102; and §§ 33-6-107, 109, 112, 113, 113.5, 114, 114.5, 117, 119, 120, 121, 124, 127, 128, 129, 131, 205, 206, 207, and 208. 

EFFECTIVE DATE - THESE REGULATIONS SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2008 AND SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNTIL REPEALED, AMENDED OR SUPERSEDED.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE WILDLIFE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO THIS 8th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2007.
APPROVED:
Thomas M. Burke
Chairman

ATTEST:
Robert W. Bray
Secretary