MT bonus points question

forkhunter · Mar 10, 2013

If you returm your tag before the season for a partial refund, do you get to keep bonus points?

I am debating about applying, but there is a decent chance I would have to return the tag if I drew another hunt somewhere.

mnmthunting · Mar 10, 2013

Concentrate on States that You would REALLY want to hunt.
Why apply for Montana?

forkhunter · Mar 10, 2013

Thanks for the advice, but I would take it better if that is what I asked. MT doesn't sell out their tags. I have hunted in MT over 20 years not to mention that I grew up there. I know where to hunt on a general tag and will probably go becauae I am unlikely to draw anything else. I am not hurting anyone or "taking a tag" from anyone if this scenario plays out. I was just hoping that someone might be able to help me out instead of calling the fish and wildlife right before the app deadline.

I am always cordial on these boards, but I don't understand why everyone wants to offer me advice I don't need. It gets kind of old. If you can answer my question, maybe I can answer one for you in the future!!

Thanks

kilowatt · Mar 10, 2013

Have you done a search on MT regulations for the answer to your question? There must be something there talking about this exact thing. Other states do and are pretty clear on the rules or returning tags/points re-instated to your name.

Nevada you can get your points and MONEY back when you turn in the tag BEFORE the season starts as long as you have a Doctors note saying you are not able to hunt.

Not all states are the same so check out your MT REGS and it should have an answer for you, if not, then call HDQTS for info.

MT points system is one of the worst out there...not really a point system...only money in the F&G Bank account.

Brian
http://i25.tinypic.com/fxbjgy.jpg[/IMG]

toughelmer · Mar 10, 2013

Forkhunter,
I have the same question as you about forfeiting bonus points. I also have a problem with someone telling me or anyone else to hunt in a different state. All you were doing was asking a simple question and if a person can't answer don't say anything. I am going to try to call the fish and game tomorrow and report back. No matter what I hope you draw whatever your applying for.

delmag1942 · Mar 10, 2013

Presuming that you mean you are possibly returning your combination tag (general), it would not affect your bonus points. Bonus points only relate to the "secondary" deer and elk permits. If you had preference points (in relation to the combination tag), they would be gone.......but as you know, you really do not need them anyway. Clear up your question???

forkhunter · Mar 10, 2013

Yeah. That was my thought. I had to do it once a few years back, but I honestly can't remember if I got a point or not.... Thanks.

forkhunter · Mar 10, 2013

And, I love MT, but....... I have a heck of a time with their policies. Probably just need to spend more time looking at them.

30Hart · Mar 11, 2013

No, did this last year.

7thgenmt · Mar 11, 2013

Our "bonus points" are nothing more than the F&G extorting money from the hunters just so they can keep the same exact odds everyone else has.They amount t jack squatt,last year a 12 year old drew in an area I have 9 "bonus points" in.

forkhunter · Mar 11, 2013

>Our "bonus points" are nothing more
>than the F&G extorting money
>from the hunters just so
>they can keep the same
>exact odds everyone else has.They
>amount t jack squatt,last year
>a 12 year old drew
>in an area I have
>9 "bonus points" in.

The "squaring" of points should help this. I agree, the straight bonus point system doesn't do much for your odds. On the other hand, I think it is great that everyone has a chance. Believe me, I have applied for 20 years for limited entry elk and deer in MT. In the units I have been applying for, I should have drawn 1-3 of these tags and I have yet to draw either! We all know "that guy" who keeps drawing tags............

forkhunter · Mar 11, 2013

Another question:
Do you lose bonus points on a second choice unit in MT? I can't find that in the regs.

delmag1942 · Mar 11, 2013

You do not lose them on 2nd or 3rd choice.

wapiti111 · Mar 11, 2013

Hi Forkhunter, how are you.. I don't think we talked last year. How was your season. I had 652 again. Talk to you soon.

forkhunter · Mar 12, 2013

Wapiti, rough season last year. Tough hunting and I was sick. Shot you a PM yesterday in fact. Hope 652 was better than the rest of the breaks. Gimme a shout if you have time.
Shane

7thgenmt · Mar 12, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-13 AT 06:39PM (MST)[p]You dont loose them but odds of drawing anything worthwhile on a 2nd choice is nil.They squared the points last year and a kid with ZERO points drew over guys with max points,its another feel good bs move by the F&G to make you feel like you are actually getting something for the extra money.They need to make them PREFERENCE points,so the guys that have been waiting 10 years get drawn before the guy who applys his first time,then they would be worthwhile.As for the guy who keeps drawing...my uncle who was a F&G commissioner and still sits on their board and his immediate family have drawn about 8 hard to get limited entry bull tags over the last 10 years,its a crock.

forkhunter · Mar 12, 2013

>LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-13
>AT 06:39?PM (MST)
>
>You dont loose them but odds
>of drawing anything worthwhile on
>a 2nd choice is nil.They
>squared the points last year
>and a kid with ZERO
>points drew over guys with
>max points,its another feel good
>bs move by the F&G
>to make you feel like
>you are actually getting something
>for the extra money.They need
>to make them PREFERENCE points,so
>the guys that have been
>waiting 10 years get drawn
>before the guy who applys
>his first time,then they would
>be worthwhile.As for the guy
>who keeps drawing...my uncle who
>was a F&G commissioner and
>still sits on their board
>and his immediate family have
>drawn about 8 hard to
>get limited entry bull tags
>over the last 10 years,its
>a crock.

It's a tough call. I live in a state that is 75% preference. The point creep is getting incredible for harder to draw tags. In fact, because of it, a person starting out applying now will have a better chance at drawing a sheep tag in the next 50 years than they do the best deer and elk hunts. There are certainly pros and cons to each. Sometimes I think it would be best to throw it all out the window and go to no points.

wapiti111 · Mar 14, 2013

Shane, I did not get your pm. I did have to change my email/passwords awhile back thats probably why. 652 was a bust this year. I ate my tag. Numbers were down, spend alot of time in area. Got to know some more country in 652. Fourth tag
I have had, I think I have been just about everywhere now. haha.
Still love the area but just does not produce much anymore. It was my oldest sons first season last fall and he shot a good 4 point. we worked hard to find him one, made a fantastic bedded down 250 yard shot, that was so fun...Dad shot a great buck!!! While driving up to 652 with me. Funny story on that hunt. So seeing my sons first nice 4pt muley hit the ground and watching Dad take a great buck with 3 generations standing over them, it was a great season. Try sending me another pm with your email address. I have some pics. for you. I would post on here but Dad's buck will "stir" it up a little to much.My emaill was changed to wapiti111, you probably have wapiti11.

forkhunter · Mar 14, 2013

>Shane, I did not get your
>pm. I did have to
>change my email/passwords awhile back
>thats probably why. 652 was
>a bust this year. I
>ate my tag. Numbers were
>down, spend alot of time
>in area. Got to know
>some more country in 652.
>Fourth tag
>I have had, I think I
>have been just about everywhere
>now. haha.
>Still love the area but just
>does not produce much anymore.
>It was my oldest sons
>first season last fall and
>he shot a good 4
>point. we worked hard to
>find him one, made a
>fantastic bedded down 250 yard
>shot, that was so fun...Dad
>shot a great buck!!! While
>driving up to 652 with
>me. Funny story on that
>hunt. So seeing my sons
>first nice 4pt muley hit
>the ground and watching Dad
>take a great buck with
>3 generations standing over them,
>it was a great season.
>Try sending me another pm
>with your email address. I
>have some pics. for you.
>I would post on here
>but Dad's buck will "stir"
>it up a little to
>much.My emaill was changed to
>wapiti111, you probably have wapiti11.
>

Sounds good! I sent you an email. I did have your old info. Can't wait to see the pics! I have a couple questions for you too.