Colorado town considering measure to issue licenses to drone hunters

This Sept. 2011 photo provided by Vanguard Defense Industries, shows a ShadowHawk drone with Montgomery County, Texas, SWAT team members. (AP/Vanguard Defense Industries)

Voting is underway in a small Colorado community that wants to issue licenses to drone hunters.

The measure in the rural Adams County town of Deer Trail is a tongue-in-cheek challenge to federal surveillance programs. Federal aviation authorities say it's a crime to shoot at drones, but some people in town call the vote a novelty response to show displeasure and raise money through permits.

Deer Trail's town clerk, Kim Oldfield, said voting was steady after polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday, and results are expected within hours of polls closing at 7 p.m. Oldfield says Deer Trail has 348 registered voters, but many of those are likely inactive.

The Colorado Municipal League says that more than 140 Colorado towns are holding municipal elections Tuesday.