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The spring turkey limited hunting license application deadline is February 9. Hunters can apply online.

Changes have been made to license availability, hunting seasons, bag limits, maps and more. The Turkey Hunting Regulations brochure is available in two formats, Adobe PDF  (3MB) and an interactive version (includes video, search, links and magnification for easy reading).

Some of what's New for the 2012 season:

• New Late Season — A new season for turkey hunting increases opportunities for hunters and aids in management of wild turkeys in areas where there are conflicts with agriculture operations.  See page 4 of the brochure for details.
  
  
• Bag Limits Changed — Bag limits have been modified, allowing for each hunter to take up to five birds annually. Bag limits are different for each season. Hunters may harvest: two bearded turkeys in the spring (one with a limited license and one with an over-the-counter license), one either-sex turkey in the fall, and two beardless turkeys in the late season. See page 7 of the brochure for details.
  
  
• Unlimited Licenses in Units 101, 102 —  Conflict between wild turkeys and agricultural producers has prompted Colorado Parks and Wildlife to offer private-land-only hunts during the fall season in Yuma County (Game Management Units (GMU) 101 and 102). These licenses are available over-the-counter. See page 5 of the brochure for details.
  
  
• Public-land Hunting — Spring and fall hunting in GMUs 101 and 102 on public land has been combined, meaning licenses will now be valid in either GMU 101 or 102. This provides public-land hunters with more hunt options. See pages 2 and 4 of the brochure for details.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers are asking the public for any information that can help identify the person or persons who shot and abandoned a mule deer buck along Rio Blanco County Road 116, south of Rangely.

Only the buck's head had been removed, leaving the carcass in the field to rot.

"We appreciate the public's help with any information that can help stop this senseless waste," said District Wildlife Manager Terry Wygant. "Poachers steal from everybody and take opportunity away from legal hunters, and we will do all we can to stop it."

Investigators believe the incident occurred on or around the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 2.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Meeker Service Center at 970-878-6090, or if they wish to remain anonymous, they can call the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 877-COLO-OGT. Information about the case can also be e-mailed to game.thief@state.co.us.

Callers to Operation Game Thief are eligible for a $500 cash reward for information leading to a citation or arrest in this case.