Official Montana 2023 Draw Thread!

[DudeBro]

2022 changed to gotta apply consecutive (every) year or points are purged.

You're reading that backwards. The rule (straight from the regs) is "Any accumulated preference points are
lost if the applicant does not apply for a Nonresident Combination License in consecutive years." That means, if you fail to apply for 2 consecutive years, then you lose your points. If you apply one year and not the next, you retain your points. It's a little moot since you can only hold a max of 3 PP.

 

[Felton]

You're reading that backwards. The rule (straight from the regs) is "Any accumulated preference points are
lost if the applicant does not apply for a Nonresident Combination License in consecutive years." That means, if you fail to apply for 2 consecutive years, then you lose your points. If you apply one year and not the next, you retain your points. It's a little moot since you can only hold a max of 3 PP.

I agree with @kitandace77 it’s every year. You can buy a PP one year and not apply in that year but anything after that you have to apply or you loose your points.

If you already have a PP and you don’t apply you will loose it.

 

[kitandace77]

You're reading that backwards. The rule (straight from the regs) is "Any accumulated preference points are
lost if the applicant does not apply for a Nonresident Combination License in consecutive years." That means, if you fail to apply for 2 consecutive years, then you lose your points. If you apply one year and not the next, you retain your points. It's a little moot since you can only hold a max of 3 PP.

There have been quite a few other threads about this and I talked to multiple FWP people that confirmed you need to apply EVERY year now. Poor wording on their part and a lot of people lost points last year due to their lack of clarification/communication.

 

[DudeBro]

I agree with @kitandace77 it’s every year. You can buy a PP one year and not apply the year you buy that PP but anything after that you have to apply or you loose your points.

If you already have a PP and you don’t apply you will loose it.

That's not correct. Let's lay out an example.

2023: Start out with zero points. Buy a PP at application period and apply. Don't draw (because nobody w/ 1 draws).

2024: Do not apply. Buy PP only between July and December. Now I have 2 points.

2025: I must apply or lose 2 points. I can choose to buy a 3rd PP during the application period if I want to.

GoHunt also explained it here. "As of 2022, preference points are now $100 each and applicants must apply every other year or the state will zero any accumulated preference points."

This is all based on MT Code 87-2-115(4)(a). "(a) The department shall delete an applicant’s accumulated preference points if the applicant:
. . .
(ii) does not apply for a Class B-10 or Class B-11 license in consecutive years."

 

[Felton]

@DudeBro why don’t you try it out and tell us how it goes.

 

[FlareBlitz91]

I’m confused by all the people complaining about their party being dissolved for the released tags. It’s very simple, your party did not draw.

According to Mary at FWP earlier today:

2.2 points and higher = 100% draw success

2 points = 83.1% draw success

I’m in the unlucky 16.9%.

I’m also in that group. Eff me.

 

[DudeBro]

@DudeBro why don’t you try it out and tell us how it goes.

I did. It worked out exactly as I have described.

 

[trazerr]

That's not correct. Let's lay out an example.

2023: Start out with zero points. Buy a PP at application period and apply. Don't draw (because nobody w/ 1 draws).

2024: Do not apply. Buy PP only between July and December. Now I have 2 points.

2025: I must apply or lose 2 points. I can choose to buy a 3rd PP during the application period if I want to.

GoHunt also explained it here. "As of 2022, preference points are now $100 each and applicants must apply every other year or the state will zero any accumulated preference points."

This is all based on MT Code 87-2-115(4)(a). "(a) The department shall delete an applicant’s accumulated preference points if the applicant:
. . .
(ii) does not apply for a Class B-10 or Class B-11 license in consecutive years."

In the GoHunt comments from the article you linked. They admitted to being wrong and are changing it in another article.



Also, the last sentence in your quote means every year.

 

[Tahoe1305]

I did. It worked out exactly as I have described.

That’s true. We both did for last year (PP only) and then this year draw….didn’t lose points.

If the rule changed in 2023 then I wouldn’t call it tested.

 

[Rifleman86]

There have been quite a few other threads about this and I talked to multiple FWP people that confirmed you need to apply EVERY year now. Poor wording on their part and a lot of people lost points last year due to their lack of clarification/communication.

This was one of the changes that took place when the outfitter PP was added and PP cost increases to $100. Max of 3 PP and you had to apply every year, unlike previously where it was every other year.

 

[Rifleman86]

That’s true. We both did for last year (PP only) and then this year draw….didn’t lose points.

If the rule changed in 2023 then I wouldn’t call it tested.

Yes it doesn’t go into effect until this year. If you didn’t apply in 2022 you didn’t lose your points. It’s part of the reason creep increased a bit.

 

[trazerr]

That’s true. We both did for last year (PP only) and then this year draw….didn’t lose points.

If the rule changed in 2023 then I wouldn’t call it tested.

So you bought a point after the 2022 draw then? You didn’t apply in 2022? If that’s the case then yes you would keep that one point you bought in late 2022 since it was after the 2022 draw. This is exactly what I did.

 

[Brewster33]

Hey Gang! Im new the the site but wanted to celebrate after drawing for elk this year. Im a nonresident, but my wife and I just bought some property in Manhattan and hope to make the move in the coming years.

 

[trazerr]

I agree with @kitandace77 it’s every year. You can buy a PP one year and not apply in that year but anything after that you have to apply or you loose your points.

If you already have a PP and you don’t apply you will loose it.

This is correct as buying a PP comes after that years draw. If you didn’t apply for a combo the next year after that then that 1 point would go bye bye. Just like what happened to this guy and others on here.

 

[Tahoe1305]

So you bought a point after the 2022 draw then? You didn’t apply in 2022? If that’s the case then yes you would keep that one since it was after the 2022 draw. This is exactly what I did.

This make sense! Thx.

 

[trazerr]

This make sense! Thx.

Welcome ha the new Montana language with this PP change is tough to get right.

Montana is nice in that you can bring in 2 points for the next season. For example, I bought a point in late 2022 as I didn’t apply in early 2022 and didn’t have any points to begin with (first time going for MT). Early 2023 I applied for deer combo and selected/purchased a 2nd point so I had 2pts for the 2023 draw.

Now, if I would have bought a point in late 2021 (instead of late 2022 like i actually did) and not have applied for a combo in 2022 then that point would have been bye bye when going into the draw 2023. That’s what they mean by you must apply consecutive years (every year) or the points you have before that disappear.

 

[Dos Perros]

Looks like its NR doing all the complaining

I think the NR's are complaining about the R's complaining about the NR's complaining. At least that's what I'm doing.

 

[bmart2622]

Yeah, it gets old. Ive never seen some much whining about drawing a tag you put in for

 

[rangerdug]

I'll just take my NR Combo tag and hunt. Won't complain about a thing!

 

[Dos Perros]

It kinda does make sense that the states should have their shit together, or at least not be a complete dumpster fire year in and year out.