Preference Points Vs Bonus Points

[buckdropper]

Can someone tell me what is the difference between a bonus point and a preference point. A buddy of mine just got his paper work for Utah and saw that he had two bonus points for Utah, he thought he had been applying for preference points? What is the difference?

 

[400bull]

There are basically two differences between preference points and bonus points. First of preference points are given out to individuals that applied for a general season deer hunt (Southern, South Eastern, Northern, North Eastern, and Central units) and were not successful. Tags for these units are given to those individuals with the most preference points first.

Bonus points are give to individuals that applied for a Limited Entry or a Once in a life time tag. Fifty percent of the tags for these units will be given to individuals with highest bonus points; the remainder of the tags will be given to everyone else that did not draw a tag from the initial fifty percent.

I hope that this helps out.

400bull

 

[woodruffhunter]

400 Bull has it right. However, some states (at least Wyoming) does their "bonus points" a little different. Utah reserves 50 percent of its limited entry tags for applicants with max points.

Wyoming reserves 75 percent of its tags for those with max points.

Jason

 

[buckdropper]

Thanks for the info 400bull

 

[2_Point]

Bonus points also give you more more chance in the LTD and OIL draws for each point you have. So if you have 8 points you get 9 chances in the draw (8 for the points and 1 for the current application).

 

[400bull]

2_point,

The thought that bonus points give you more chances to draw a LTD or a OIL is realy miss-leading. What happens here is the DWR gives you a random number for each bonus point that you have pluse one for applying that year. The lowest of those numbers is the one that they use to draw your tag on. After they have followed this proccedure with every one that has applied, they put all the numbers in a numerical order. If you where lucky enough to get a low number you get a tag. If not you waite untill next year and try all over again. A lot of hunters think that they get a number entered in the drawing for each bouns point that they have.

400bull

 

[BigPig]

All else equal what gives you a better chance, a bonus or preference point?

 

[steelie]

400bull - it's not really mis-leading ,think of it this way, if you have 8 points instead of 1, then you'll have 8 times the chance of getting a low #. The reason it is done this way is so your name will only be in the drawing pool once, that way they will not pull your name twice and have to cross check and redraw. Statistically it is the same as having your name in the drawing pool 8 times.

 

[2_Point]

Steelie, you are exactly right. More chances to obtain a lower number. The "Draw" is for the lowest number then hope you are low enough to get a tag. Not like it really matters for me, I am going on 16 years without so much as a turkey tag. I could have 100 chances and I still wouldn't pull a tag.

Good Luck In the Draw to All

 

[400bull]

I just wanted to make sure that everyone understood that only one number was entered in the drawing. Not every number that you received. You are correct in saying that statistically the odds are the same.

As for which system is better. That is a tough question because each one has its pros and cons. The preference point system awards all the tags to the hunters with the most preferences first points and then works it way down. This works out great for those that have been putting in with unsuccessful notices coming back. For the hunters that are putting in for the first time, they will be lucky to get a tag. The bonus point system awards most of the tags to the hunters that have been putting in for several years. But it also gives the new comers a chance at drawing a tag.

I personal like the bonus point system better then I do the preference point system. Simply because everyone that applies for one of these tags has a chance at drawing one. This is a question that could open up a whole new bag of warms because alto of people have strong opinions on this.

400bull

 

[BigChicken]

What bugs me about Utah's General Draw is that in order to earn a Preference Point, I have to apply twice. First go-around I enter my "first choice" and by failing to draw earn a Preference Point. Second go-around, I have to apply again, or purchase OTC, for an available tag from a less popular region. (If you don't jump through these hoops you may never get to hunt the popular regions because you'll never earn a Preference Point).

I wish I could just enter all regions as "choices" and receive a tag in the mail, if that tag isn't my "first choice" then I will have earned a Preference Point for the next year.

Does this not bug anyone else? Perhaps everybody on this site is a Dedicated Hunter and can pick your region without a draw?