Bonus Points verses Preference Points

[Hiker]

Most western states use either Bonus Points or Preference Points, a couple uses both. Here's a quick explanation, if you're interested.



Preference Points vs. Bonus Points----Preference Points will give you preference over those with less points than you have and the ones with the most points will be guaranteed to draw before those with less points. When 100 people have the same amount of points and there is only 50 tags, they put their 100 names in the computer and it works like a lottery, 50 will draw a tag and 50 won't. The ones that don't draw will be awarded a point for next year, unless, like in Wyoming, you have to pay extra for a PP.
Bonus Points will give you another chance in the draw, for example if one person has 5 BP and another only has 1 BP, the person with 5 BP will get 5 chances and the person with 1 BP will only get one, so it is possible to draw your first year with the BP system and people with more BP's than them might not draw. In Utah, Bonus points are for LE and Premium hunts, Once in a Lifetime and Preference Points are for General hunts. Maximum BP holders will get half of the tags for that LE or Premium Entry area and the other half of the tags go into the lottery for everyone who has applied to get a chance at.
Wyoming's draw works a little different, as 75% percent of the tags go to the top point holders and 25% of them are put into the lottery for everyone to get a chance at.
Colorado has PP's for everything but on Sheep, Goat and Moose after you receive 3 PP's you earn a weighted point and that will better your odds for the next draw. Even though every year people draw sheep, goat and moose tags in Colorado with no weighted points and people with 5-6 weighted points don't draw...so it's still the luck of the draw.

[Deehntr56]

Speaking of preference points.....Wyoming time line is here...


Preference Points for Moose and Bighorn Sheep

For Nonresidents Only



To purchase a Preference Point, an applicant must be at least eleven (11) years old at the time of application and be at least twelve (12) years old by December 31 of the year of application. Applicants for a license must be at least eleven (11) years old at the time of application and be at least twelve (12) years old when hunting.



No person may apply for more than one (1) Preference Point for a Bighorn Sheep and one (1) Preference Point for a Moose in the same calendar year.



Applicants may purchase a Preference Point instead of applying for a license. The preference point fee is $75.00 for Moose and $100.00 for Bighorn Sheep. A fee of $75.00 (Moose) or $100.00 for Bighorn Sheep will be deducted from the license refund if not drawn. Applicants are reminded they cannot apply for both a license and a preference point.



Application to purchase a Moose or Bighorn Sheep Preference Point only must be made during the Preference Point only application period of July 1 - Sept. 30. Applicants who apply for a license and are unsuccessful will be awarded a Preference Point. Preference point fees will be deducted from your refund amount. Applicants who purchase a Preference Point only will not have an opportunity to draw a license in the current year.



Preference Points are accumulated by Sportsperson Identification Number. Preference Points are accumulated by species and are not tied to a specific hunt area. You are allowed to apply for different hunt areas from year to year. Generally, applicants drawn to fill hunt area quotas will be among those who have the highest preference points. No preference points will be earned when application is made for a closed hunt area or invalid hunt area/type.



An applicant may fail to apply for a license or fail to purchase a Preference Point for one (1) year without losing accumulated Preference Points. However, if an applicant fails to properly apply for a license or purchase a Preference Point for two consecutive years, the accumulated Preference Points will be deleted. Preference Points shall not be restored when an applicant causes more than one customer record to be generated, due to the following:

A different Sportsperson Identification Number was given on the application.
A different Sportsperson Identification Number was generated due to the sportsperson number field on the application being left blank by the applicant.
A different last name or first name was used by the applicant.
Such circumstances cause Preference Points to be accumulated under different Sportsperson Identification Numbers and ultimately deleted for failure to apply under the same Sportsperson Identification Number. Exceptions may be made for a name change because of marriage or divorce.




Preference Points for Elk, Deer and Antelope

For Nonresidents Only



The Department shall allocate not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the available nonresident Elk, Deer and Antelope licenses to a preference point drawing and twenty-five percent (25%) of the available nonresident Elk, Deer and Antelope licenses will be assigned to a random drawing in which all unsuccessful applicants from the preference point drawing shall be placed.



For party applications, the number of preference points for each applicant within the party will be averaged for the preference point ranking to be used for the ranking in the preference point drawing.



Purchasing Only a Preference Point can only occur from July 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009. Do not attempt to purchase a preference point only during any of the initial license application periods. You must wait until July 1st to purchase only a Preference Point. The price is $50.00 for Elk, $40.00 for Deer and $30.00 for Antelope ($10.00 for youth for each species). There is no application fee to purchase a Preference Point Only.



Remember, a Preference Point Only purchase is difference than an application for a license with the Preference Point Option. The Preference Point Option takes place during the initial license application periods. If you elect this OPTION when applying for an Elk, Deer or Antelope license, the fee, which you must remit with your application for a regular elk license, is $641.00 ($14.00 application fee, $577.00 license fee and $50.00 preference point fee). Regular deer license is $366.00 ($14.00 application fee, $312.00 license fee and $40.00 preference point fee). Regular antelope license is $316.00 ($14.00 application fee, 272.00 license fee and $30.00 preference point fee).



To purchase a Preference Point, an applicant must be at least eleven (11) years old at the time of application and be at least twelve (12) years old by December 31 of the year of application.

An applicant may fail to apply for a license or fail to purchase a Preference Point for one (1) year without losing accumulated Preference Points. However, if an applicant fails to properly apply for a license or purchase a Preference Point for two consecutive years, the accumulated Preference Points will be deleted.



The Preference Point system is designed to award a point for each unsuccessful draw attempt in a hard to draw area for individuals who elect the Preference Point Option and remit the additional Preference Point fees, yet not penalize those who wish to list an easier to draw area on their second or third choice. If a person draws on the second or third choice when electing the Preference Point Option, a Preference Point will be awarded even though a license is issued. If the person is successful in drawing his or her first choice, then all Preference Points are deleted but the preference point fee paid for that year is refunded. Drawing a second or third choice does not cause preference points to be deleted.



Some suggestions when applying for licenses with the Preference Point Option: Do Not apply for an easy to draw area for your first choice. If you do and are successful, then all of your accumulated preference points will be deleted and the odds of drawing a license in a hard to draw area may be greatly diminished for the next couple of years. For example, a person applying for Antelope might list area 57/type 1 as a first choice and area 26/type 1 as the second. Based on past years, drawing odds in area 57/type 1 are less than ten (10) percent but area 26/type 1 has been a 100 % draw on all choices. Under the Preference Point system, a person, if not drawn for area 57 would be issued a Preference Point for Antelope if he or she elected the Preference Point Option, and would also be awarded an area 26 Antelope license if the additional Preference Point fee was remitted as identified above.



To summarize, please remember there is a difference between Preference Point Only Purchases and an application for a license with the Preference Point Option. A Preference Point Only purchase application (no chance to draw a license) can only be submitted from July 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009. An application for a license with the Preference Point Option can only be made during the applicable initial draw periods.


If you have any doubt, please call (307) 777-4600 or go to our Web Site at http://gf.state.wy.us where the difference between Preference Point Only Purchases and Preference Point Options with License will be further explained.