I've been looking at expanding my Western hunting net and want to start getting points for Utah. Will someone explain to me the PP/bonus point system for Utah? Thanks.
Utah PP/bonus point system
- Thread starter Work2hunt
- Start date
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Utah has a bonus point not a preference point system. The way it benefits you is if you have say 5 points and are applying this year, you would have 6 chances to draw (5 + current year). The actual way this is pulled off by the draw software may be somewhat different, but that is basically your advantage.
If a hunt has two or more non-resident tags, half of those tags go to the person with the most bonus points. So in that way your bonus points act like preference points, and if you have the most points you will draw. For example I am chasing one of the top elk hunts, and it has two tags, so one tag goes to those with the most points. I am in the max point pool, and last year five guys (with max points) put in so I had a 1:5 or 20% chance to draw. Those with even one point under max had less than a 1% chance to draw that particular tag.
Another thing to keep in mind when applying in Utah is that the hunting license has a 365 day life. If you buy it very close to the last day you can apply on one year, the following year you can use that same hunting license to apply if you apply earlier than the prior year. In effect you only have to buy a hunting license every other year.
If a hunt has two or more non-resident tags, half of those tags go to the person with the most bonus points. So in that way your bonus points act like preference points, and if you have the most points you will draw. For example I am chasing one of the top elk hunts, and it has two tags, so one tag goes to those with the most points. I am in the max point pool, and last year five guys (with max points) put in so I had a 1:5 or 20% chance to draw. Those with even one point under max had less than a 1% chance to draw that particular tag.
Another thing to keep in mind when applying in Utah is that the hunting license has a 365 day life. If you buy it very close to the last day you can apply on one year, the following year you can use that same hunting license to apply if you apply earlier than the prior year. In effect you only have to buy a hunting license every other year.
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UH,
Thanks. I figured you would know how to explain this to me.
Financially, to apply for bonus point it appears there is a $10 application fee, a $10 bonus point fee, and then the hunting license $65 every other year if worked how UH pointed out. Is that correct?
Thanks. I figured you would know how to explain this to me.
Financially, to apply for bonus point it appears there is a $10 application fee, a $10 bonus point fee, and then the hunting license $65 every other year if worked how UH pointed out. Is that correct?
Musket Man
Veteran member
Fink
Veteran member
The app fee and bonus point fee are one in the same. For example, if you were to buy points for deer and elk (at the end of the application period, of course) your total would be $65 license + $10 per specie = $85. Next year, when you apply at the beginning of the application period, your license is still valid, so you're out $20 to apply for deer and elk.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
I am not positive on that one because I have put in on-line for so long and I normally apply for the tag I am after rather than for a point. I think the $10 bonus point fee IS your application fee and you wont's get charged twice. I'm not positive on that one, but applying on-line will keep you from making a mistake.
Utah is one of those states that as long as you are buying a point for one specie, it does not cost a whole lot more to apply for another specie. I think deer elk and antelope can eventually pay off. Desert sheep, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mountain goat, bison and moose will always be a long shot if you are just starting out. I am in the max pool for desert sheep and still have less than 1% draw odds because it has been years since they have had more than one tag for a given hunt, so max points is not having a big advantage.
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The Deer
Member
NDHunter
Veteran member
That's what the MRS used to say but as others have said, that is wrong. Maybe they've fixed that mistake, I'm not sure.
Musket Man
Veteran member
Best I can figure you pay for a $65 hunting license and a $10 app fee and if you dont draw you get a point at no additional charge. The UT web site seems to get more confusing the more I look at it....
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clacklin009
Active Member
I have never bought a bonus point, however I think it is only one $10 fee and you buy a point if you will not be able to hunt that year but you don't want to fall behind with the points, so instead of applying for the hunt you just buy the point.
NDHunter
Veteran member
Basically, it costs $10 to either buy a point or apply. If you buy a point it is $10. If you apply it is $10 and don't get drawn, you will get a point.
Alabama
Veteran member
That's exactly how it works.
Also Utah has true preference points for general deer. That means whoever has the most points will get the tag over someone with lower points.
All other hunts are a bonus point hybrid system. 50% go to the people with the most points (basically like a true preference point) and the other half goes into a random draw. It is random but if you have more points your chances are greater but only slightly. If it's your first year you get one random number assigned and if it's your fifth year you get five random numbers but only the lowest is kept. Permits for that species are then drawn starting with the lowest random number until all of the permits are gone.
Not trying to call you out UH (you know more about hunting and drawing permits than I ever will) but specie is a term for coin money.
Species is correct whether it is singular or plural. Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Huh…learn something new every day. My dad always said he didn't trust an engineer that could spell. I'm sure he would have been proud!Not trying to call you out UH (you know more about hunting and drawing permits than I ever will) but specie is a term for coin money.
Species is correct whether it is singular or plural. Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
Sew that must meen that mooses, deers, elks, antelopes, and sheeps are all species two. I am hopeing to stock sum ov thems this fall.
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Alabama
Veteran member
HAHA....I knew you could take some good natured ribbing. But seriously since I taught you something now you have to teach me something....maybe how to draw a bighorn sheep tag in the lower 48!Huh…learn something new every day. My dad always said he didn't trust an engineer that could spell. I'm sure he would have been proud!
Sew that must meen that mooses, deers, elks, antelopes, and sheeps are all species two. I am hopeing to stock sum ov thems this fall.
Musket Man
Veteran member
Drawing a sheep tag is easy, all you need is lots and lots of points or lots and lots and lots of luck
Alabama
Veteran member
You must be an optimist MM! So if I draw I'll buy a lotto ticket the next week and keep the streak going!Drawing a sheep tag is easy, all you need is lots and lots of points or lots and lots and lots of luck
Zim
Very Active Member
Work2hunt, If you are starting from ground zero, I'd highly advise you to invest your money elsewhere before Utah. It was once a good state for nonresidents, but since SFW began converting all the nonresident tags to auction 10 years ago, things have changed considerably, and will only get worse. Do the math, and you will see due to diminishing number of nonresident tags, the odds have gone Powerball. If you are already investing funds in AZ, NM, CO, WY, NV, MT, NH, ME, and are just looking for a snowball's chance in hell supplement, consider investing in UT points. Otherwise send your money to any of the above. I have 18 deer points and after I burn them, I'll dump all my other species and get out of the scam capital of the USA game. It's simple math. Check it out before investing.
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Musket Man
Veteran member
Someone has to draw and it might be you if you enter!! lol I only apply for trophy species in my home state and 1 other that doesnt cost me alot more to add them to my deer/elk/antelope app. Other wise Im not sure its worth it if you dont already have 10+ points. I might put in a couple places sometime that are a strait random draw like WY mountain goats but generally I try to invest my money on hunts I have a chance at drawing.