AZ "Points Only" Question

R

ramshorn

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I'm sure many of you have seen the advice in Garth Carter to not apply for "points only" in Arizona, in that you will be charged the entire tag fee, even though you do not receive a tag. This seems crazy, and I can't believe that Carter has this right.

The AZ regs say that they only draw against your credit card (assuming you're a credit card applicant) in the event you GET DRAWN. How is it possible that AZ would draw against your credit card for the full tag fee, if you are not drawing a tag.

I have seen other posters on this site repeat the above advice from Carter, but don't know the basis for their recommendation.

Who knows the facts? I've subscribed to Carter for many years, and like his publication, but assume that this is simply another one of the many issues for which we'll see a "correction" in the next addition.

ramshorn
 
You must buy a hunting license to get a point in Arizona, and same with Nevada. Your credit card will be charged the $100+ dollars for a license, plus a nominal fee for the drawing. Unless of course you draw a tag then the will add that charge on. You will only get a preference point if you buy a license.
 
2004 - 2005 Arizona Hunting Regulations 5
Hunting Information

Purchasing A Bonus Point Only

In the event you do not wish to participate in a big game
drawing for antelope, bighorn sheep, buffalo, deer or elk but
still wish to accumulate bonus points, you may ?purchase a
bonus point? for any or all of the genera named above.

***In order to purchase a bonus point, you must have previously
purchased a hunting license or apply for a hunting license
through the draw for the year in which the hunt will take place.
You must also include payment for the applicable hunt permittag
fee for that particular genus and include the $5.00
application fee.*****

When completing your application, you must choose the
bonus point hunt number established for that genus as your
first choice. A bonus point hunt number is established within
each applicable Commission Order. If you choose this hunt
number, you may not choose any other hunt number on your
application. If the bonus point hunt number is any choice
other than the first choice or any other hunt numbers appear
on the application, your application will be rejected. You
may purchase only one bonus point per species per drawing.
If you apply for a bonus point only using the established bonus
point hunt number, you may NOT submit another application
for the same genus. To do so will cause both applications to
be rejected as duplicate applications. If you apply to purchase
a bonus point only, you will NOT be entered into the drawing.
All applicants in a group must apply for the same established
bonus point hunt number. The application will not be included
in the random number drawing and the individual(s) on the
application will each receive a bonus point for that genus.
 
Guys... thanks for the information. I've read the Regs. too, and can't understand how anyone could interpret this information as meaning an applicant for "points only" would be charged for the price of the tag, even though they are not drawing a tag.

It seems to me as though the Regs. are stating that an applicant for "points only" would have to put up the tag fee, along with the license fee (if the applicant wanted to acquire the "point") and administrative fee, but that the tag fee would be returned, as is typical, once the tag was not drawn.

Perhaps you guys didn't see the advice in Carter's publication to NOT apply for "points only" in AZ because that approach would lead to your tag fee being held and not returned, even though you were not receiving a tag. In other words, the "points only" option, according to Carter, would cost you not only the license fee and administrative fee, but also the tag fee! I've seen this same position repeated by other posters on the board, and hoped to find some clarification either supporting or rejecting that interpretation of the Regs.

Thanks. Ramshorn
 
Clearly, the Bonus Point Only selection will cost the same price as the tag for that species. Look at the list of hunt #'s under General Elk in the regs. The first Hunt No. is 3000 and it says: "Bonus Point Only Fee: Resident $76.50, Non-resident $371.00"
That makes it pretty clear. It is a different approach than any other state I'm aware of, and I certainly didn't expect them to do it that way. I thought they would just charge the $5 application fee, but it appears they saw an opportunity to generate more revenue without having to issue any more tags. Because of other hunts, military obligations, work projects, pregnancies, etc. there are sometimes occasions where you DON'T want a tag for a particular year, but still want the bonus point. I guess you can do it now, but there's no relief from paying for the cost of the tag you won't be using.
 
I called AZ Game & Fish just to make sure that my understanding above was correct, and they agreed that if you apply for the Bonus Point Only, you will have to pay the tag cost. However, since you aren't actually applying for a hunt, you don't have to buy a hunting license to get and retain the point. Now if you are also planning on applying for other hunts, or if you plan to hunt small game, this wouldn't affect you, but if, for example, you're a nonresident just applying for a bonus point for one species, you would wind up paying only for the tag, without buying the license like you used to have to do if you wanted to retain the bonus point you earned from an unsuccessful hunt application. Sounds clear as mud, doesn't it? Hope I haven't just confused the issue.
 
Garth and his Service has offered some GOOD advice,"DO NOT".Az has messed up on Their 1st attempt,at "BUYING" B.P.for hunters ???Do like WE have ALL done for years,pay the $113.00,for ELK put in just 1 choice,a Early Bull hunt will do here,and for Deer,do the same.One choice in 13B.A "Bonus Point" is almost a Guarantee,but if drawn"Slim" chance,Just thank the "Tag GODS",and go on a hunt of a "LIFETIME" ---
 
As I look at AlwayBZHuntin's quotation from the regs above, it seems clear to me that the information given to me on the phone by Game and Fish that I mentioned above about NOT having to purchase a license to apply for a Bonus Point Only was WRONG. Sorry to mislead anyone. I think I'll just back out of this thread. I'm disappointed that our Game and Fish Department took this "Revenue Enhancement" approach to a simple request from Sportsmen who didn't want to draw a tag they couldn't use.
 
You know some sucker nonresidents will do it for sheep and bison. They are going to be pissed when they see the charges.
 

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