Preference points?

[HuntInWild88]

Ok im new to this so could be a stupid question.

I know if you apply and dont get drawn you get a point. But then points are available to purchase later in the year.. so is it possible to obtain 2 points per year? One by application and not being drawn ans then by purchasing?

 

[NoWiser]

What state are you looking at? Not all give you a point if you don’t draw. Wyoming, for example. I do not know of any states where you can get 2 points in a year.

 

[SDHNTR]

No. You can either apply and if you do not get drawn, you earn a point. Or, you abstain from applying at all, and simply buy your point.

 

[Travis Hobbs]

The only state in the west that allows (2) points to be gained for one species in the same year is AZ with bison, (2) application periods per year.

States like Wyoming and Montana that allow points to be purchased later only allow you to gain 1 point per year.

 

[archp625]

No you can only get one point per year. The one exception at the top of my head is Montana. You can buy a preference point and bonus point all in one year.

 

[slick]

You cannot gain two points in MT in a single year.

The Preference points are totally separate of bonus points.

Preference points are for NR Big Game Combination tags only.

Bonus points are for Permits.


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[Kperricone]

My understanding with the Montana preference versus bonus point is that a bonus point is an added entry for a draw but it doesn’t actually accumulate with your preference points

 

[ramses342]

In Oregon you can get preference points for turning in poachers. I would flip on my grandmother for five preference points...Thats about the only why I have heard of to get more than one a year in Oregon. I heard last year they sold a some at the end of the year just to sell them, but you could only buy one if you did not buy one earlier in the year.

 

[slick]

My understanding with the Montana preference versus bonus point is that a bonus point is an added entry for a draw but it doesn’t actually accumulate with your preference points

See above.

Preferences points are only for drawing a non resident big game combination license.

Bonus points are only for permits.

The two are completely separate.

Ie: Hunter from Iowa wants to hunt elk or deer in Montana. They apply for 1 of 3 things.

NR Big Game Combo
-Elk & Deer, Fishing, Habitat etc.
NR Elk Combo
-Elk, Fishing, Habitat, etc.
NR Deer Combo
-Deer, Fishing, Habitat, etc.

The preference points are ONLY for the NR Big Game combo. If successful in drawing a Big Game Combo that gives you a General deer and General elk license to hunt General areas.

I would highly doubt anyone has more than 2-3 preference points in Montana.

Bonus points accumulate at 1 a year when applying for a permit. Let’s take 217-00 Elk.
You apply and accumulate bonus points yearly until drawn for that specific permit. This is IN ADDITION to drawing a NR Big Game Combo.

Preference points get you a tag to hunt.

Bonus points get you a permit to hunt a specific area/time period/species & sex.


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[Patton]

Big thanks on breaking that down, slick.

 

[Silveroddo]

Good grief, the more you learn about these systems the more convoluted they become. I'm new to the western hunting draw system and I knew I wasn't going to make it to Montana last year so I bought a point during the purchase period and put it in the back of my mind for next year, MT is still my back burner for the coming year but I logged into the fish and game site to look up my 1 point and make sure its there, and at that point realize that Bonus points and preference points are 2 different things and I apparently had the opportunity to buy both but didn't differentiate between the 2.
I just got done reading the Gohunt article on it and with slicks explanation I've just got one more question.
As a nonresident, first I need to have enough preference points to get the general tag, then and only then would a bonus point be of any use to give you more squared points in the limited entry drawing?
But mainly, you have to get the general tag first and foremost?

 

[Doc Holliday]

Also, preference points go bad after a year, so you never have more than two. You can buy one in July, and then a second one with your application. In the Spring. In other words dont buy a pref point unless you are going to put in for the next years season.

Bonus points on the other hand can be built up until you draw a LE tag

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[Silveroddo]

Thanks for the clarification on the the expiration side of it, I had heard that several times but didn't fully understand what it meant. Someone put a lot of thought into this.......

 

[TonySkyline]

What? I thought pref points build up over time to be used towards the harder to get into zones? Wooow I’m lost. Is MT the only state like that?


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[Silveroddo]

Its confusing that its a blended system, But to put it in perspective here it goes:

There are 17000 non resident big game combo licenses available
There are 4600 non resident deer combo licenses available
I didn't see if there was a separate pool for non resident elk combo, but I'm assuming its in the 17k for big game combo.
Per GoHunt:
In the nonresident general license draw 75% of the licenses are awarded based on preference points, the remaining 25% are awarded in a random draw
If You draw this tag you can hunt in the MT general units

Now, if you were able to draw the MT general tag you are eligible for the limited entry units. Your Bonus points give you additional chances to draw the tag, but all they are is a raffle ticket. As I'm reading it Montana allows up to 10% tag allocation to non residents per special draw unit, but that is not a guarantee of 10%, just up to. Also, bonus points are squared.

I never picked up on the difference between the two and how the system worked, or I'd have bought a preference point in addition to the bonus point at the time. However as was mentioned before, preference points expire so you need to factor that into your plan.

 

[TonySkyline]

So would it be a waste if I bought a pref point last year and I was going to plan on getting 1 more this year for a 2021 hunt? I was trying to get points to draw a rifle tag in the Missouri River breaks area for 2021 or later but if I’m understanding correctly getting pref points for a NR won’t help..
also if you do not draw a specific unit, can you just buy a pref or bonus point and not have to pay the crazy $1200 and keep waiting until you get drawn for the unit u want?


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[Riplip]

Also, preference points go bad after a year, so you never have more than two. You can buy one in July, and then a second one with your application. In the Spring. In other words dont buy a pref point unless you are going to put in for the next years season.

Bonus points on the other hand can be built up until you draw a LE tag

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This is incorrect, Preference Points don't expire (or go bad) in MT. You can only purchase PP's without applying for the combination license for 2 consecutive years. If you skip 3 years of applying for the combination license, all preference points are zeroed. Last few years it was 100% draw for general/combo tag with 2 points, however depending on point creep you may need more than 2 PP to draw in the future.

 

[Riplip]

So would it be a waste if I bought a pref point last year and I was going to plan on getting 1 more this year for a 2021 hunt? I was trying to get points to draw a rifle tag in the Missouri River breaks area for 2021 or later but if I’m understanding correctly getting pref points for a NR won’t help..
also if you do not draw a specific unit, can you just buy a pref or bonus point and not have to pay the crazy $1200 and keep waiting until you get drawn for the unit u want?


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No, if you want to guarantee that you draw the general tag then you should buy the point. Last year the NR draw odds for big game combo with 1 PP point was approx 55%. 2 points was 100%

 

[Doc Holliday]

This is incorrect, Preference Points don't expire (or go bad) in MT. You can only purchase PP's without applying for the combination license for 2 consecutive years. If you skip 3 years of applying for the combination license, all preference points are zeroed. Last few years it was 100% draw for general/combo tag with 2 points, however depending on point creep you may need more than 2 PP to draw in the future.

I purchased (my first ever purchase of any points with Montana) a NR combination pref point in Sept 2018 (Year 1), and again last year in July 2019 (Year 2). But when I log into my account it says I only have 1 preference point.

Guess I need to call them and see what the deal is. I am applying through my outfitter for this year and will purchase a point at application, but I am wondering why that 2018 Combo PP is not showing up

 

[fatlander]

I purchased (my first ever purchase of any points with Montana) a NR combination pref point in Sept 2018 (Year 1), and again last year in July 2019 (Year 2). But when I log into my account it says I only have 1 preference point.

Guess I need to call them and see what the deal is. I am applying through my outfitter for this year and will purchase a point at application, but I am wondering why that 2018 Combo PP is not showing up

That is odd. It should be there. I logged in to put in my application today, and the website kept crashing at weird part of the app I don’t recall in the past.

“Sponsor ALS #”. It won’t let me move forward without entering that and crashes when I put my own in.

I’m going to call the FWP tomorrow and see what the heck is going on.


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