Bonus Points or Preference Points: Which are Better?

Big game licenses are in high demand, and knowing the point system can help you get one.  Some states offer “preference points” while others offer “bonus points” to applicants not accepted for a license.  Knowing the difference is important and should guide your application process.  Here’s a look at each one.

What is a Preference Point?

I took this nice muley buck in the Medicine Bow region of Wyoming using an over-the-counter tag.  In Wyoming and across the West, big game tags are increasingly given by lottery, due to high demand.  In states with a preference point (PP) system, a hunter who is not drawn for a specific animal is given a PP as a consolation.  If that person applies again, his PP will put him ahead of all first-time applicants in the lottery.  Each year the applicant is not drawn, a PP is awarded increasing the chance of a positive draw because he is chosen ahead of those with fewer PPs.

Disadvantages of PP

This system was established to provide some certainty of drawing a license.  I had four preference points for my last elk hunt in Wyoming and everyone with four or more PP drew a license.  I’ll have five in 2025 and hope to draw a license, yet demand is so high that I may still not be successful.  For species such as moose, sheep, mountain goat, and select deer and elk regions, a person may never have enough preference points to draw a license because so few tags are allocated.

The Bonus Point Option

The bonus point option allows any person to draw a license at any time.  Although some see this as a fairer system, it also means that a person cannot plan a hunt with any certainty.  Many outfitters book hunters a year or two in advance and clients must count on luck to get a tag.  Unsuccessful applicants receive a “bonus point” (BP) each time they apply, and their name is not drawn.  The second year of an application, the person has his/her name in the “hat” twice, then three times, and so forth.  This system relies on probability and the more BP a person has, the greater the probability, yet that small advantage many make little difference among thousands of people.

Buying a Percentage

Sometimes, paying more for an application can boost the probability of drawing a license.  Wyoming offers a dual price structure.  A regular elk license for 2024 costs $692, however, a “Special elk” license is available for $1268 and both categories have their own license pool.  The theory is that fewer hunters will pay the extra cash and therefore a person can compete with fewer applicants in the lottery by paying more.

If you are serious about drawing a big game license, paying for a subscription is well worth the money.  Organizations like GoHunt, Huntin Fool, Cabela’s, United States Outfitters, and others offer simplified application procedures and for most you don’t have to pay up-front license fees.  Western hunting is true adventure, and you owe it to yourself to plan ahead.  Good luck!