Starting July 3rd Hunters Can Buy Preference Points
By Toby Trigger

Posted: July 1, 2017

So, you forgot to buy a preference point for big horn sheep or moose this year?  There’s still time!

Now hunters will have  second chance to buy a preference point since the implementation of a bill in the recent Montana Legislative Session.

According to a news release by the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, starting July 3, hunters who did not apply for bonus points during this year’s big game drawings or who are new to hunting, can now purchase a bonus point until Sept. 30 to help in next year’s drawing.

This new feature at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks was set up by House Bill 623, introduced by Rep. Kerry White during the 2017 Legislature, and allows anyone who missed applying for bonus points to still participate in the program by purchasing a bonus point for the drawings.

The legislation also ensured any bonus points accumulated will not expire, allowing hunters the ability to plan better and still be competitive in the bonus point program. It does not provide additional opportunity to gain bonus points because you cannot apply for and purchase bonus points in the same year.

In Montana, every hunter who applies for a special license through a big game drawing can participate in the bonus point system for an extra fee. Bonus points essentially allow more opportunities to get licenses through the drawing.

The fee to purchase a bonus point without applying for a license is $15 per species for residents and the nonresident fees are $25 per species except for moose, sheep, and goat which are $75 per species. Hunters can purchase bonus points for species which they have not yet applied for. For instance, if you’ve never applied for a moose license, you can purchase a moose bonus point.

For more information or to read the MFWP News Release visit: fwp.mt.gov/news

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