Pref. point fee confusion

txhunter58 · Feb 9, 2010

Here is what the 2010 brochure says about PP fees:

2.Hunters will be automatically assessed $25 for a preference point unless
they opt out by selecting the appropriate check box on the big game drawing
application. If this option is checked, the applicant will not receive a
preference point unless they have purchased one of the following: an annual
fishing, small game, resident combination small game and fishing,
furbearer license in the previous year or a big game license in the previous
year or current limited license for the same species for which they may be
seeking a point. The $25 preference point fee is also waved for youths,
lifetime license holders, free senior annual fishing license holders and
Colorado residents who are in the military on active duty outside Colorado.

To me this sounds like you will be charged the $25 fee automatically even if you had a tag last year, unless you check the box to opt out. Am I misreading it?

So even though I had an elk tag, if I apply for a tag this year and don't draw, I will be charged $25 unless I check the appropriate box? And since I had an elk tag, even if I check the box to not pay the fee, I should still get a point?

Also, in the past, if I had any big game tag the previous year, I was not charged the fee for either deer or elk. This year, it sounds like you would only be exempt from the fee for the species you had the tag for?

This sounds much more complicated than it has been (as well as more expensive) Sounds like to be safe, you will be charged $25 per species unless you draw a tag.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

oldmossback · Feb 9, 2010

Yea I read that also and that is confusing as hell? Maybe give them a call? If you or anyone decifers this cluster please let us know.

huntinfanatic · Feb 9, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Feb-09-10 AT 06:59PM (MST)[p]in your paragraph of the rule it says, "or big game license in the previous year". to me that sound like u wont have to pay the $25 and you'll still get your point this year since you had an elk tag last year, this is if u check the box. being that u drew a tag this last year u should check the box since your guaranteed the point for free.

txhunter58 · Feb 9, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Feb-09-10 AT 07:40PM (MST)[p]that is what it sounds like to me, but I am scared to check a box that says "opt out of pref point" in case they screw sometihing up and I don't get my point.

I am going to email them with that specific question.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

huntinfanatic · Feb 9, 2010

i'll ask a representative from CDOW on friday up at the expo.

Moosey69 · Feb 10, 2010

If I remember right you do not pay an extra $25 when you apply, you just front the whole license fee and the $25 is deducted from your refund anyways. So I would for sure not mark the the box to give me a refund and not get the point if you had a license last year anyways. DOW has always refunded me the correct amount in the past and I don't remember them having a box to check if you had a license the year before, so don't take a chance of not getting your point.

txhunter58 · Feb 11, 2010

OK. I emailed the Colroado DOW and this is the answer I got:

David, you will not be charged the $25.00 fee because you had a Big Game
license last year. DO NOT check the box on the application if you want a
point. I agree it is confusing. I hope this helps answer your question,
JIM

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

Califelkslayer · Feb 12, 2010

Why I love MM. I know most regs/draw processes/odds for the States I apply in BUT when there's a question, you get quality, quick answers here.

SDBugler · Feb 16, 2010

Thanks for posting the DOW's response. I had the same question.

ilbowhunter2 · Feb 20, 2010

What about the part of the question regarding the fee for a different species? I had an elk tag last year, will I be charged $25 for a mule deer point this year?
>
>Also, in the past, if I
>had any big game tag
>the previous year, I was
>not charged the fee for
>either deer or elk. This
>year, it sounds like you
>would only be exempt from
>the fee for the species
>you had the tag for?
>

kilowatt · Feb 21, 2010

Well I did the apps for my friend and I yesterday for deer and so hope that I got it right on the apps.
The

DO NOT check the box on the application if you want a
point.
Why did they even put that in there it never was two years ago, another way for someone to make a mistake.

I did not check the box so hope that we get our point after the $25.00 deduction from refund when we don't draw our 1st and only choice..need more points to draw it.
Brian

txhunter58 · Feb 22, 2010

>What about the part of the
>question regarding the fee for
>a different species? I
>had an elk tag last
>year, will I be charged
>$25 for a mule deer
>point this year?
>>
As I understand it now: NO

Here is the sentence that I first misunderstood:

a big game license in the previous
year OR current limited license for the same species for which they may be
seeking a point

Still confusing, but how I read this sentence now is that you are exempt for all $25 fees if you had a big game license last year, OR you would be exempt if you get a license THIS year for the SAME species.

So:
1) Had an elk tag last fall: exempt from all fees for all species this year

2) No tag last year. Apply for elk and deer tag this year, but only draw an elk tag, you will still be charged for the deer point.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

ilbowhunter2 · Feb 22, 2010

Thanks txhunter.

If that's the case then I guess I'd be stupid not to apply for many other species like Antelope, Sheep, Goats, etc if all I have to pay is a $3 app fee for each.

Has anyone actually done this in the past to confirm our interpretations?

Thanks!

txhunter58 · Feb 22, 2010

I have yet to pay the $25 even once. I get one big game tag every year and apply for both deer and elk every year. So that is the way it has been in the past, I was just trying to be sure they had not changed the rules.

And yes, you will only be out the application fee in the end, but you have to front the full tag price to apply. They just refund the difference after the drawings.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)