Montana bonus pt question

[iahunter08]

If i have been accruing bonus points can i put in for a general unit without depleting my bonus pts or will they be used no matter what unit it is if you get a tag?

 

[Scrappy]

Best answer is nobody knows to include the Montana officials.

 

[CC]

Your points are only depleted when your first choice is used for a special draw area to the best of my knowledge. If your talking about points for the general tag, I can't speak to that.

 

[StopMakingSense]

Two different tags for elk...

Permit - This is bonus point driven and squared, so say in your 4th year applying you have 3 bonus points going into the draw you'll have 9 "raffle tickets" + 1 more for that year = 10 chances in the permit draw. As said before you only lose these if your first choice is taken for an elk permit which allows you to hunt in that limited entry zone + all general units. If you draw your second or third choice permit you do not lose your bonus points.

General Tag - This is still a draw but it's based on preference points, you DO NOT lose a bonus point if you draw a general tag. In years past you did not need a preference point to draw but this past year was the first year the Big Game Combo general tag actually had more applications then tags. People with 1 preference point were guaranteed a tag but lost that 1 preference point as they drew their general tag.

Hope that clears it up... confusing as always

=== My Current Scenario ===

So this year I'm headed in with 5 bonus points and selected that I want to apply for an Elk Permit and chose to apply if not successful for a Big Game Combo Tag (I purchased 1 preference point last year during the bonus & preference point purchase period from July 1st to September 30th) ... I put in for a pretty hard unit and I'll have 26 tickets going into the draw for the available tags (5x5 = 25 + 1 for this year) ... I most likely won't draw and then move over to the Big Game Combo General, most going in for the 17,000 NR permits available won't have 1 preference point and I'll draw that and lose my 1 preference point and gain a bonus point.

At the end of it I'll have my General Big Game Combo tag with 0 preference points and 6 bonus points. If I draw say a really nice NV, NM, or UT tag I'll most likely turn my general tag in before August 1st and get an 80% refund as I only do archery and won't make it up for the rifle season.

 

[iahunter08]

Thanks for the clarification

 

[realunlucky]

Two different tags for elk...

Permit - This is bonus point driven and squared, so say in your 4th year applying you have 3 bonus points going into the draw you'll have 9 "raffle tickets" + 1 more for that year = 10 chances in the permit draw. As said before you only lose these if your first choice is taken for an elk permit which allows you to hunt in that limited entry zone + all general units. If you draw your second or third choice permit you do not lose your bonus points.

General Tag - This is still a draw but it's based on preference points, you DO NOT lose a bonus point if you draw a general tag. In years past you did not need a preference point to draw but this past year was the first year the Big Game Combo general tag actually had more applications then tags. People with 1 preference point were guaranteed a tag but lost that 1 preference point as they drew their general tag.

Hope that clears it up... confusing as always

=== My Current Scenario ===

So this year I'm headed in with 5 bonus points and selected that I want to apply for an Elk Permit and chose to apply if not successful for a Big Game Combo Tag (I purchased 1 preference point last year during the bonus & preference point purchase period from July 1st to September 30th) ... I put in for a pretty hard unit and I'll have 26 tickets going into the draw for the available tags (5x5 = 25 + 1 for this year) ... I most likely won't draw and then move over to the Big Game Combo General, most going in for the 17,000 NR permits available won't have 1 preference point and I'll draw that and lose my 1 preference point and gain a bonus point.

At the end of it I'll have my General Big Game Combo tag with 0 preference points and 6 bonus points. If I draw say a really nice NV, NM, or UT tag I'll most likely turn my general tag in before August 1st and get an 80% refund as I only do archery and won't make it up for the rifle season.

edited because my reading comprehension isn't very good. 80% or keep deer tag and get refunded $ 315 for an elk tag

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[StopMakingSense]

Hope what I wrote down is correct, Montana confuses me every day even when I think I have it figured out I don't.

 

[CC]

Good explanation StopMakingSense. I couldn't speak for the Non Resident as I am lucky enough living in Montana that I don't have to draw a general tag. Just got one mailed last week I thought that is how it works, but didn't want to to give any false info. I am putting in for Utah so I am starting to learn your state system as well. They're all so different.

 

[StopMakingSense]

If you have Utah questions send over a PM!

I’m honestly just trying to write my understanding out to everyone so if someone thinks I’m wrong I can get challenged on it in an open forum. Montana is definitely one of the more confusing ones for me but I like their system as a whole.

 

[dtrkyman]

Can you buy a bonus point or have to put in the draw to get one? I am going in with only one bonus point and it took 3 or 4 to draw last time and may just buy a point if I can this year?

 

[Whisky]

You can now buy bonus points in MT without applying....

FWP uses a unique approach to provide all applicants at least one opportunity at drawing a license/permit, while still giving those individuals who have been unsuccessful in the past a chance to increase their odds of drawing a license/permit in the future.

Applicants applying for a license/permit who participate in the Bonus Point system, and are unsuccessful in the drawing, will earn one point. Individuals who missed the deadline to apply or did not apply for bonus points at time of application, may purchase one between July 1st and September 30th of the license year. The bonus points can be used in future years to place the applicants name in the drawing additional times. The number of additional chances is calculated by squaring the base bonus points. Unlike a preference system, a Bonus Points system does not guarantee a license/permit to the applicants with the most bonus points and first-time applicants still have a chance to draw a license/permit. Any bonus points accumulated will not be lost unless the individual draws the species they applied their bonus points to.

Bonus points essentially offer you additional drawing chances and are used for first hunting district choice only.
Existing bonus points will be mathematically “squared” prior to the drawing. That means if you already have 3 “base” bonus points those will be “squared” and you’ll then have 9 bonus points going into the drawing.
If you’re unsuccessful, you’ll be awarded an additional base bonus point for next year’s drawing. Bonus Points do not expire.
If you wish to participate in the Bonus Point program for licenses/ permits, at the time of your application, you must check “YES” on the Bonus Point questions and include the $20 (nonresident) or $2 (resident) Bonus Point fee per permit type.
If you did not apply for a bonus point you can purchase a bonus point from July 1st through September 30th. The fee to purchase a bonus point without applying is $15 per species for residents and the nonresident fees are $25 per species with the exception of Moose, Sheep, and Goat which are $75 per species. Note: You cannot apply and purchase bonus points in the same year.

Headlines
Friday, June 30, 2017

Starting July 3, hunters who did not apply for bonus points during this year’s big game drawings or who are new to hunting, can now purchase a bonus point until Sept. 30 to help in next year’s drawing.

This new feature at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks was set up by House Bill 623, introduced by Rep. Kerry White during the 2017 Legislature, and allows anyone who missed applying for bonus points to still participate in the program by purchasing a bonus point for the drawings.

The legislation also ensured any bonus points accumulated will not expire, allowing hunters the ability to plan better and still be competitive in the bonus point program. It does not provide additional opportunity to gain bonus points because you cannot apply for and purchase bonus points in the same year.

In Montana, every hunter who applies for a special license through a big game drawing can participate in the bonus point system for an extra fee. Bonus points essentially allow more opportunities to get licenses through the drawing.

The fee to purchase a bonus point without applying for a license is $15 per species for residents and the nonresident fees are $25 per species except for moose, sheep, and goat which are $75 per species. Hunters can purchase bonus points for species which they have not yet applied for. For instance, if you’ve never applied for a moose license, you can purchase a moose bonus point.

To purchase bonus points, go to fwp.mt.gov, Buy a license or to any license provider.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks :: Montana Bonus Points System

 

[Riplip]

Yes you can buy a Bonus Point without applying between July 1st - September 30, $25 for NR.

But remember when applying for a LE unit the bonus points aren't like preference points in other states whereas it takes a certain number of points to guarantee a draw. Bonus points are simply squared so you in essence have more chances to draw the more bonus points you have. If you are looking at a unit that averages 3-4 points and you want to hunt the unit this year I would definitely put in for the unit as your first choice as you have a decent chance to draw. If you look at draw statistics you will see that having the largest number of bonus points doesn't always guarantee a tag. For instance you will see that someone with 3 points will draw a tag and someone with 7 points won't. Bonus Points are only used/considered for your first choice, so if you don't draw your first choice you keep your points. Only downside is that if you only want to hunt the LE unit and and you draw the General tag but not the LE, you lose 20% of the fee. Hope that makes sense.

Link to statistics which will help.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks :: Elk Drawing Statistics

Good Luck