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This article provides a quick overview of the bonus points and preference points systems in the big game draw, explaining how they work, when to purchase, advantages of purchasing, party applications, and the 2018 drawing statistics.
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Maximizing Draw Success A quick look at Preference Points And Bonus Points
Bonus vs. Preference • Bonus Points and Preference Points are two different systems • Bonus Points apply to elk & deer permits, deer b, elk b, antelope, moose, sheep and goat • They DO NOT provide an advantage in drawing a non-resident elk/deer license • A hunter has to first draw a non-resident combo license (preference points) and then draw a elk or deer permit (bonus points) if needed
Preference Point System • Preference point system was established in 2011 • Designed to give non-resident hunters some predictability in the non-resident big game drawing system • Only applies to non-residents • Applies to Big Game Combo, Elk Combo and Deer Combo licenses does NOT apply to other drawings
When to Buy • Points can be purchased in conjunction with a license application on the year you intended hunt OR From July 1 – September 30 - applies to following year • Cost is $50 and is non-refundable • Can be purchased ONLY online • Can only purchase 1 point per year • Applicants must apply for a license every other year or points are lost • 2 points are the maximum that can be accrued
Advantage of Purchasing • 75% of licenses are awarded to applicants with the most preference points • If unsuccessful in the 75% drawing, applicants have a second chance to draw in the 25% drawing (if there are licenses left after the 75% drawing) • 25% of licenses are awarded to applicants without preference • Hunters with 2 points have a better chance at drawing a license than those with 1 or none
Party Applications • Parties must apply for the same license type – Big Game Combo and Elk Combos can apply together but Big Game/Elk and Deer cannot be combined • Preference points can be fractioned. Hunters who apply as a party share preference points– maximum of 5 hunters in a party
Party Application Example Example: Hunter 1 has 2 points Hunter 2 has 1 points Hunter 3 has 1 points Hunter 4 has 1 point Hunter 5 has 1 points The points are averaged: 2+1+1+1+1= 6 6/5=1.2 pts per hunter
2018 Draw • 9,007 hunters who applied for Big Game Combo licenses had at least 1 preference point • 17,000 total licenses x 75% = 12,750 licenses for pt holders • 4,117 hunters who applied for Deer Combo licenses had at least 1 preference point • FWP adds in leftover landowner tags and released deer tags from BG Combo before drawing licenses • In 2018, there were 1,035 leftover landowner tags and 3,345 released deer (split from combo) added to the starting quota of 4,600 • 2018 starting quota was 8,980 licenses x 75% = 6,735 licenses for pt holders • As a result anyone who had one preference points drew a license
Application Options • Hunters who know they want to hunt deer even if they do not draw an elk permit should apply with option #4. • This allows an applicant to keep their deer license while receiving a refund on the elk license • If a hunter wants to hunt elk even if unsuccessful in drawing a permit, he/she should apply for the non-resident Big Game Combo license or non-resident elk combination license and go through the draw. Option #2
Application Options Cont. • If a hunter elects to apply for an elk draw area, but is uncertain if they still want to hunt if unsuccessful in drawing, they should apply without the opt out • An applicant who draws a nonresident combination license but not an elk permit, can then submit a written request, along with their entire license, for refund of the elk portion OR • Return their entire license for an 80% refund (postmarked by August 1st)
Bonus Point System • Designed for hunters (resident and non-resident) to help their odds in drawing • Applies to all species permits, B licenses, Antelope, Moose, Sheep and Goat (does not pertain to non-resident combination licenses) • Can be purchased with license application or from July 1 – September 30 each year
Bonus Points Cont. • Bonus points DO NOT expire unless a permit is drawn • Non-resident cost to purchase from July 1 – September 30: • $25/species - non-refundable • Moose, Sheep & Goat points are $75/species – non-refundable • Can be purchased ONLY online
How They Work • Bonus points are squared prior to a drawing • For example: 3 bonus points are squared into 9 points giving an applicant 9 extra chances to draw a license • There is NO predictability to when a hunter will draw
Looking Up Draw Status • Allows outfitters to look up a client’s draw status in two different ways • Enter each hunter’s date of birth, phone number, zip code and residency status (up to 25 people at a time) OR • Upload a CSV file containing multiple clients
How to Search • Go to the Fish & Game website • Look for the MyFWP tab
Searching by CSV File cont. • Enter date of birth, phone number, zip code and residency (N= non-resident, R = resident) into an Excel spreadsheet • Save as a CSV file • Upload to the MyFWP hunter search site • Select the animal • Select search Sample Spreadsheet
Individual Search Cont. • Click “Enter Hunter Search Criteria” • Choose how you would like results to display • Select which information you’d like to view
Individual Search Cont. • Enter hunter’s DOB, phone number, zip code, and residency • Up to 25 hunters can be added at one time • Select the animal specified • Select search
Results Cont. • When incorrect information is entered for a hunter the following message will be displayed.