Utah draw question

[BigPig]

Please forgive the dumb question... What is the difference between the Limited Entry deer and the General Season deer point systems?

To be more specific... I applied for the Paunsaugant for the Limited Entry and I just bought a preference point for General Season deer.

So does this mean that if/when I do not draw the Pauns hunt I'll earn a point that then can only be used for LE hunts in the future?

So I will have 2 General Season deer points. What can/should I use them for?

I am confused because other states that I have applied in just use one point system where if you do not draw (or buy) a point, you have a better chance of drawing next year. Of course there are better hunts than others but they are all the same application. I am not used to the 2 separate applications for LE and GS hunts.

 

[SureShot]

The LE hunts have a bonus point associated with them and are drawn first. Bonus points increase your chances of getting a tag, but don't guarantee them for a long time. 50% of all LE tags are reserved for those with maximum points. So, eventually, you'll be guaranteed a tag if you don't get lucky beforehand.

After the LE tags are drawn, the general season tags are drawn. This draw has a preference point associated with it, which means everybody with the highest points gets drawn first, then it moves down to the next level of points and so on, until all of the tags are drawn.

If you put in for an LE hunt and bought a preference point for the general season, that means you have a chance to draw the LE hunt (and will get a bonus point if you are unsuccessful), but you won't be included in the general season draw even if you aren't successful in the LE draw. That means next year you will have one point for the LE draw and one point for the general season draw. They can't be combined.

 

[BigPig]

Got it. Thanks that is what I assumed but I wanted to confirm that. So on average how many points should you have to draw a good general season hunt?

 

[SureShot]

You're assuming there is a good general season hunt.

You should be able to draw a Northern or Northeastern tag with no points. They're usually undersubscribed on the initial draw. You also have a really good chance of drawing Central or Southeastern with no points, but 1 may occasionally be required. The Southern unit almost always has more applicants than tags, but you shouldn't need more than 2 preference points in the worst case scenario even for this unit.