Building up Preference Points

[Trenton G.]

Hey guys. I read a lot of hunting books and watch lots of videos, and thanks to this there are tons of hunts that I would absolutely love to go on someday. The problem is, it seems like some of these hunts require you to draw a tag through an application. I know that I can’t afford any expensive tags right now, nor do I have the time to go on the trips, but I figure that it can’t hurt to start buying preference points since the applications themselves aren’t all that bad. Then, when I finally can go on some of these hunts, I’ve at least increased the odds a bit of getting a tag by having some points accumulated. If you had $100 to spend on application points for different species, what would you spend it on? I’d prefer to spend them on tags that are tough to get, such as desert sheep, free range bison, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, etc. Maybe this is a bad idea, I’ve been reading some stuff by Chuck Adams and it’s getting me thinking. I should probably just focus on getting a deer first, but it's kind of fun to think about that stuff. Let me know what you guys think.

[sneakybow]

Well,  most of the preference point applications for the once in a lifetime tags like you mentioned will cost you over $100 to apply for, and to be honest unless you're really young you may never catch up to the point creep.  The application period for bonus points for Wyoming just closed yesterday. I paid $93 for another deer and elk point,  antelope would have been another $31.

I would recommend picking what state(s) you are interested in hunting and go from there. Nevada you have to buy a hunting license for $160 or so just to buy points, although each species is only $10 each, but odds are terrible.  Utah you can buy a NR license for $65 then apply for each species, ten or fifteen bucks each, heck I live in Utah now and can't remember lol. You'll never catch up with the points in Utah, but half of the tags go to max points and the other half are random. Always a chance I guess.  Idaho and New Mexico are true lottery systems, no points.  New Mexico though you have to front the tag cost to apply though.  Lots to think about,  but remember, you're playing the long game on moose, sheep, goats, and bison.

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[Trenton G.]

I knew it wouldn't be that easy. Dang it! I thought I would be getting ahead a little bit by starting early but looks like that's not even an option right now.

I didn't realize that you had to actually buy a NR license before even applying. I figured you just buy the point and go from there. I guess I need to rethink my approach a little bit to this whole thing. Thanks for the info!

[sneakybow]

I knew it wouldn't be that easy. Dang it! I thought I would be getting ahead a little bit by starting early but looks like that's not even an option right now.

I didn't realize that you had to actually buy a NR license before even applying. I figured you just buy the point and go from there. I guess I need to rethink my approach a little bit to this whole thing. Thanks for the info!

Not every state makes you buy a license,  but several do. Utah started their points system over 20 years ago,  so you are playing catch up, same with Wyoming, Nevada,  Montana, etc.  These systems aren't designed to give young guys getting in the game much of a chance. Heck, there are Nevada tags that you could have 23 points for and still have less than a 1% chance to draw. Not trying to discourage you,  but it's just the reality.

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[kadbow]

Points can make for a much better hunt even for the tags that are easier to get. If you ever want to hunt elk, mule deer or pronghorn start getting some points somewhere.

[gregg dudley]

I don't know enough about this topic to know if I am even doing the right thing myself.  I just sent Wyoming some more  money to stay in the point game for elk and antelope with the hope that I will have some reasonable opportunities for success when I have more time in a few years.

[sneakybow]

I don't know enough about this topic to know if I am even doing the right thing myself.  I just sent Wyoming some more  money to stay in the point game for elk and antelope with the hope that I will have some reasonable opportunities for success when I have more time in a few years.

Sounds like you are on the right track. By the time your chance to go rolls around you'll have enough points to unlock some better units and won't be wishing that you had bought points and didn't.

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[mec lineman]

I know absolutely nothing about preference points out west, i have only applied to Iowa for points.      I see you are from Michigan, i would strongly suggest you look up fellow trad ganger Jason Samkowiak of traditional bowhunting and wilderness podcast. He has some Excellent scouting videos available for your home state and it absolutely covers the basic woodsman skills that seem to have gone to the wayside.  Please check him out. Get that deer under your belt and discover all the possibilities of hunting deer closer to home

[Jon Stewart]

I am not a fan of buying preference points but I do it.  It cost me 8 years of hunting and $40.00 to draw  bear permit in the U.P.. Now I am going to be 70 and will probably not be able to hunt bear 8 years from now at 78. Michigan has several preference point systems going on. I think it is a money grab.  I think a hunter should be able to put in for a hunting license draw without paying to do it.

[Homebru]

For many of these states / hunts, you can't draw if you don't buy points.  It's more a matter of identifying where/what you want to hunt and sticking with it.

I have MI bear points (grew up there), WI bear points (lived there), NH Moose points (I know somebody that lives there). 

The only other states I've paid any attention to are CO and UT.  CO used to charge tag fees up front and refund if not successful.  That's a beast when you've got $5,000+ in fees out waiting for the lottery.  That's better now.

UT.  You can game the annual license.  It's a 365 day hunting licence from date of purchase.  You can buy your hunting licence in 2019 for the 2019 draw late and then put in for 2020 in 360 days (2 years draw on 1 license).

I did not draw bull elk in UT w/ 13 points.  At this point, I don't know that I ever will but I will continue to buy points.  My father-in-law drew limited entry bull with 18.  I have several species points in UT because I know someone that lives there and is a guide.  Several in the family have drawn bison tags on plain old dumb luck.  This year, I planned to buy a point for Mt Lion but, in a moment of weakness, applied and drew a NR UT Mt Lion tag with 9 points.

It's a game.  It sucks.  It's too "European" for my hunting tastes (a wealthy mans game).  In some states, it's very difficult to catch up.   However, if you don't play, you can't win and the odds are way better than PowerBall or MegaMillions.

If you even have a passing interest, my advice is figure out a way to put away a couple hundred bucks each year, pick a state / species and get in on the game.  It's the only way you can get in on it. 

homebru

[sneakybow]

For many of these states / hunts, you can't draw if you don't buy points.  It's more a matter of identifying where/what you want to hunt and sticking with it.

I have MI bear points (grew up there), WI bear points (lived there), NH Moose points (I know somebody that lives there). 

The only other states I've paid any attention to are CO and UT.  CO used to charge tag fees up front and refund if not successful.  That's a beast when you've got $5,000+ in fees out waiting for the lottery.  That's better now.

UT.  You can game the annual license.  It's a 365 day hunting licence from date of purchase.  You can buy your hunting licence in 2019 for the 2019 draw late and then put in for 2020 in 360 days (2 years draw on 1 license).

I did not draw bull elk in UT w/ 13 points.  At this point, I don't know that I ever will but I will continue to buy points.  My father-in-law drew limited entry bull with 18.  I have several species points in UT because I know someone that lives there and is a guide.  Several in the family have drawn bison tags on plain old dumb luck.  This year, I planned to buy a point for Mt Lion but, in a moment of weakness, applied and drew a NR UT Mt Lion tag with 9 points.

It's a game.  It sucks.  It's too "European" for my hunting tastes (a wealthy mans game).  In some states, it's very difficult to catch up.   However, if you don't play, you can't win and the odds are way better than PowerBall or MegaMillions.

If you even have a passing interest, my advice is figure out a way to put away a couple hundred bucks each year, pick a state / species and get in on the game.  It's the only way you can get in on it. 

homebru

What unit did you put in for for elk here in Utah? Some of the NR odds are depressing depending on the unit/ weapon. The any weapon tags are like unicorns. Utah pioneered the pay to play system seems like. I truly believe there are people here who are OK with only drawing a good tag every 25 years.  I hardly even hunt the general hunts here anymore, heck you have to draw general tags even as a resident for deer.  Elk otc archery in an any bull unit or spike only unit is about the only thing you don't have to draw. For LE units I would say to apply, but no way I would recommend to anyone to hunt Utah on a general tag/ unit.

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