Help me understand the most confusing state. MT.

[InkedElkSlayer]

Between the regs and the prices, I think Montana does a great job of disincentivizing out of state hunters. If I lived there, I'd be a fan .

For sure. I looked up the NR deer combo last night in the 2022 regs. I just can’t believe what people are paying as a NR for general tags

 

[cornfedkiller]

You need to read the new regs. Starting this year if you bought preference points two years in a row without applying they're zeroing those points.

For real? You can't just keep buying points year after year without applying for a tag?

EDIT: Just looked up the regs, and let me know if I'm understanding this correctly.. I can buy just a preference point between July 1 and December 31 (2022), but then next year (2023), I have to apply for a license or I lose it?

And I can buy another preference point with that application next year and have 2 going into that (2023) draw?

 

[matchbook454]

You need to read the new regs. Starting this year if you bought preference points two years in a row without applying they're zeroing those points. May be why you're only showing 1 point. If you don't apply for a license this year you'll lose the other one

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Where is this in the regs? I cannot find this?

 

[Erict]

The actual regulation is HERE - go to part 6.

The 2022 online regulations book says:

Preference Points
► Preference points prioritize a nonresident combination license applicant with more preference points over an applicant who has holds fewer preference points.
► If you elect to purchase a Preference Point select “YES” on the preference point question. The additional $100 fee will be added to your total.
► Accumulated preference points will be used during the current drawing whether you purchase an
additional preference point or not. Any accumulated preference points are lost if the applicant does not apply for a nonresident combination license in consecutive years, or if you are successful at obtaining a combination license.
► Outfitter clients are eligible to purchase second preference point for an additional $100 at the time
of application. Licenses issued using this point are only valid for hunting with an outfitter.
► No one may hold more than 3 preference points.


The 2022 online regulations book does NOT say anything about PP "expirations".
Was it intentional? It seems logical that the law in effect at the time of purchase applies to those PP. Pre-2022, the law for PP is "The department shall delete an applicant's accumulated preference points if the applicant does not apply for a Class B-10 or Class B-11 license for 3 consecutive years." or "unless the applicant obtains the license applied for".

Say I bought a PP only in 2020, bought a PP and applied in 2021 but didn't draw. I now have 2 PP going in to 2022, and those 2 PP in theory should be good until I fail to apply for 3 consecutive years or until I draw.

Maybe someone has called MT FWP and asked about this.

 

[matchbook454]

The actual regulation is HERE - go to part 6.

The 2022 online regulations book says:

Preference Points
► Preference points prioritize a nonresident combination license applicant with more preference points over an applicant who has holds fewer preference points.
► If you elect to purchase a Preference Point select “YES” on the preference point question. The additional $100 fee will be added to your total.
► Accumulated preference points will be used during the current drawing whether you purchase an
additional preference point or not. Any accumulated preference points are lost if the applicant does not apply for a nonresident combination license in consecutive years, or if you are successful at obtaining a combination license.
► Outfitter clients are eligible to purchase second preference point for an additional $100 at the time
of application. Licenses issued using this point are only valid for hunting with an outfitter.
► No one may hold more than 3 preference points.


The 2022 online regulations book does NOT say anything about PP "expirations".
Was it intentional? It seems logical that the law in effect at the time of purchase applies to those PP. Pre-2022, the law for PP is "The department shall delete an applicant's accumulated preference points if the applicant does not apply for a Class B-10 or Class B-11 license for 3 consecutive years." or "unless the applicant obtains the license applied for".

Say I bought a PP only in 2020, bought a PP and applied in 2021 but didn't draw. I now have 2 PP going in to 2022, and those 2 PP in theory should be good until I fail to apply for 3 consecutive years or until I draw.

Maybe someone has called MT FWP and asked about this.

Thanks for the help. Well, looks like I just burned $50 last year as I bought a PP but wasn’t planning to hunt for a few years.

 

[sambo3006]

I'm also wondering about the wording of the red highlighted text in the post above. It is poorly written in my opinion. It could be interpreted to mean that if you don't apply for a license every year you lose your points. I didn't draw last year but I got a preference point. I was planning to put in this year, but I have decided to burn my Colorado points instead. I hope that I can buy another point this year and use them next year but I'd like to be sure. If I have the chance today I'll try to call to get some clarification to make sure.

 

[sambo3006]

Update:
I called the FWP licensing # and the lady told me that if you purchased a preference point that it counted the same as applying for a combination license for the year. And she said that if you go two consecutive years without applying for a combo license or point, then you lose your accumulated points.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Lol what? I’ve been applying in MT for 8 years and I think it’s confusing.

Two different classes of points (bonus and preference)
The preference points are for elk or deer or both (weird)
Some percentage of general tags automatically go to folks with 0 points
You’re not even considered for a permit unless you first draw the general (which I guess begs the question, do you still get a bonus point if you don’t draw the general?)
You can buy points sometimes
But not if you applied
But when you apply you can tho
And the FWP can just willy nilly decide to issue a whole bunch of extra tags whenever they want if they feel like it

That’s weird and confusing.

You left out you can buy 2 PP in one year if you apply with an outfitter....

 

[Erict]

Update:
I called the FWP licensing # and the lady told me that if you purchased a preference point that it counted the same as applying for a combination license for the year. And she said that if you go two consecutive years without applying for a combo license or point, then you lose your accumulated points.

I do not believe the information she gave you to be correct, or it is not stated correctly. You have 1 week left - if I were you, I would a supervisor to confirm that and get it in writing.

Year 1 you can apply for a combo license w/PP (Mar 1-Mar 31). If not drawn, you have 1 accumulated PP,
OR
Year 1 you can apply for a PP only (July 1-Dec 31). You will have 1 accumulated PP.

Year 2 you MUST APPLY FOR A LICENSE or your accumulated PP will be deleted.

Remember, "Any accumulated preference points are lost if the applicant does not apply for a nonresident combination license in consecutive years". So, Sambo bought a PP only Year 1, and decides to buy a PP only Year 2. Sambo has not applied for a combo license in consecutive years, so Sambo loses his accumulated PP.

Simply put, once you have a PP, you must apply for a combo license every year thereafter or your "accumulated" PP will be deleted.

 

[sambo3006]

Erict,
I asked her specifically about that wording and that is what she told me. It does seem a little sketchy though.
I applied for and failed to draw a combination license last year but got a preference point. I think I should be able to purchase another preference point this year and apply for the combo tag next year. That is what I plan to do, for better or worse. My vacation time I can get from work and the Colorado dates work this year, and it would most likely not work again for several years (I have to work every third weekend).
Hopefully I will be hunting Colorado this year and Montana general season next year but if not, I'll survive.
Have a good day!
Sam