Drone hunting licenses selling out in Colorado town

A small town in Colorado hasn't yet voted on a proposed ordinance that would allow them to shoot down government drones, but that hasn't stopped hundreds of people from sending their license fees to the town clerk.

Resident Philip Steel wrote the ordinance, which would offer residents drone hunting licenses for $25 dollars, allow them to shoot down drones flying under 1000 feet, and even pay a bounty on the bagged government UAVs.

"The Town of Deer Trail shall issue a reward of $100 to any shooter who presents a valid hunting license and the following identifiable parts of an unmanned aerial vehicle whose markings and configuration are consistent with those used on any similar craft known to be owned or operated by the United States federal government."

Residents won't vote on the ordinance until October 8, but Deer Trail's town clerk Kim Oldfield has been inundated with more than a thousand requests for the licenses. By comparison, Deer Trail's population is just 550.

Oldfield said she stopped counting two weeks after reaching 983 requests with $19,006 worth of personal checks for the licenses -- funds which, if the measure is approved, would be distributed to the town's community center.

Steel began selling novelty versions of the license for $25, and once he sold 100, donated a portion of the $2,500 to the town during the monthly board meeting. The novelty licenses come with the disclaimer, "License may not be recognized by tyrannical municipal, state or federal governments."

The Federal Aviation Administration, however, has already warned that people who fire at drones could be prosecuted or fined, arguing that shooting down a drone could endanger the public and property.