Difference Between Montana's Bonus and Preference Points

Montana's Point Only Fees

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The screenshot above shows the Hunt Districts for general season archery elk in Montana. You can easily see each species, season, and weapon difference in our Filtering tool.

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How To Purchase Montana Bonus Points And Preference Points

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How to purchase bonus points and preference points in Montana for future year hunts

Don't miss out on your chance to grab Montana bonus points and preference points!

Montana can be a confusing state to apply to if you've never applied to this state before. When it comes to Montana, you have a lot of items that can be confusing to applicants. You've got words like combination licenses, bonus points, and preference points, and all of that can be a little daunting. So be sure to read the differences between bonus points and preference points in Montana below. Also, there are a lot of great comments at the bottom of this article, so be sure to read those if you have questions. And as always, drop a comment on the article if you'd like something clarified.

If you didn't apply for certain species in the main draw or are new to hunting in this state, you can purchase bonus points and nonresident preference points for Montana during their point-only purchasing periods. These points will help you in the following years' draw.

Montana point purchase dates:

These point-only periods do not allow you to gain more than one point per year as you cannot apply for a species in the draw and then purchase points for that same species in the same year. Hunters can only purchase bonus points for species that they have not yet applied for, and also a nonresident preference point if you didn't apply earlier in the year. For instance, if you did not apply for a bighorn sheep license, you can purchase a bighorn sheep bonus point.

The caveat to the "only one point per year" can be found in the preference point system. In 2022, FWP established a new rule that allows applicants hunting with an outfitter to purchase up to two preference points when applying. These points can be purchased for $100 each. Licenses issued using this point perk are only valid for hunting with an outfitter.

Any accumulated bonus points will not expire, but the state will purge your accrued preference points if you do not apply in consecutive years. So, if you purchase a preference point, make sure you apply it in the next available drawing.

Nonresidents who did not apply for a combination license during the main draw (deer, elk, or the big game combo) may purchase a preference point to be used in next year’s combination drawing.

Montana has bonus points and preference points. The difference between the two is very important.

Bonus points in Montana

Montana has a bonus point system in place for all special permits (deer, elk, antelope, sheep, moose, and mountain goat). For deer and elk, the special permits are used with a general hunting license (you need to draw a general combo license, to essentially be put into the draw for a special permit). Every year that you are unsuccessful in the drawing, and you elect to participate in the bonus point system, you will be awarded a point. When you apply in the draw your accrued bonus points are squared to increase the odds exponentially for the applicants with more accrued bonus points. All base bonus points accumulate over time until you draw a permit.

Example of why bonus and preference points are important: if you are aiming to draw a special permit for a certain hunt district and let's say you have 7 bonus points, but the year prior you drew a nonresident big game combination license and burned your preference points because you wanted to hunt elk deer on the general hunt. So now is the year you really want to burn your bonus points, so you apply for a special permit hunt district where you should draw since most applicants are drawing at 4 points. Well... now that you have zero preference points, you got unlucky in the random side of the draw for the nonresident combination license, and so because you didn't draw the nonresident combination license, you are automatically ineligible to draw a special permit hunt. This is why bonus points AND preference points are needed to draw a special permit hunt. Deer and elk permits must be used in conjunction with a General Deer or Elk License.

Applying as a party with bonus points

The maximum number of applicants within a group is five for deer, elk, and antelope. When processing a party permit, the state will consider the average number of points between all of the party members and then round to the nearest whole number for a final party permit total. For example, a party with an average of 2.33 points would enter the draw at two points, while a party with 2.66 points would enter at three.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: You may purchase one bonus point per year; either at the time of application OR between July 1 and September 30 of the current year. For example: if you submit an application for an elk permit on April 1, you may also purchase a bonus point at that time. If you do not choose to purchase a bonus point at that time, you may not purchase one from July - September. You may, however, purchase a bonus point for a different species between July 1 and September 30.

Preference points in Montana

Montana also has a preference point system in place for the nonresident Big Game Combination, Elk Combination, and Deer Combination Licenses. A preference point can be used for either the big game, elk, or deer combo (there is only one preference point system and they are not tied to only one combination license type).

The prerequisite for all nonresidents in Montana will be the big game, elk, or deer combination license.

What are combination licenses in Montana?

Those combination licenses are valid for the general hunt districts in the state. Preference points increase the chance of drawing a combination license and essentially move you ahead in line. 75% of all combination licenses awarded during the drawing will be issued to hunters with preference points. Anyone applying with three preference points will draw the license before anyone with two, and so on. The remaining 25% of the licenses are then put into a random draw with the remaining applicants who have not purchased any preference points.

Preference points accumulated will be used during the current drawing whether you purchase an additional preference point or not. Keep in mind that if you eventually want to draw a special permit hunt and use your "bonus points" you will also need preference points (or get lucky and draw a combo tag at random).

Applying as a party with preference points

Up to five applicants may apply as a party. Montana uses an average of the number of preference points accumulated by those applicants to determine the party's preference points, rounded to the third decimal point. For example, if three people apply with 5 total points, this party would go into the draw at 1.667 points.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Again, you may purchase one preference bonus point per year or two if applying with an outfitter; either at the time of application OR between July 1 and December 31 of the current year. For example: if you submit an application for an elk combination license on April 1, you may also purchase a preference point at that time. If you do not choose to purchase a preference point at that time, you may not purchase one from July - December.

Below are the fees for purchasing bonus points and a nonresident preference point in the points only purchase period. Note: There are no prerequisites to purchase the points during the point-only purchase period.

* The nonresident preference point is for the nonresident combination tags (deer, elk, and big game).

Throughout GOHUNT Insider, we have research tools that will enable you to find the perfect hunt quickly and easily. Whether you’re looking for your first Western hunt or want to see the best way to use your points, Insider is your ticket to unlocking the West.

Each research tool on GOHUNT will allow you to find a hunting opportunity. Combining Draw Odds with Filtering, plus our Application Strategy articles and GOHUNT Maps, those tools are everything you need to gain an edge and become more successful.

A look at all the General Hunt Districts by species

Nonresidents can see the full list of all of the general season hunt districts for deer and elk on Insider by clicking on one of the links below:

Montana Application Strategy Articles:

Application strategy articles are your go-to source of information before you apply. Every year, we publish new application strategy articles for every state and species. These articles are packed with in-depth information with lots of data presented to showcase what's new in the state and how you can possibly best use your points to pick up a tag.

Check out Montana's application strategy articles here.

Not a Member of GOHUNT?

A GOHUNT membership makes it easy to find hunting opportunities by state, species, probability of draw odds success, and much more! Whether you have 0 points, max points, or any number of points, GOHUNT gives you the information you need to plan a successful hunt. In addition to our research tools, all Insiders have access to our GOHUNT mobile app, where you can plan a hunt on GOHUNT Maps, as well as research tools on the app to help you find hunting opportunities. GOHUNT Maps is also available on the web. GOHUNT Insider is the only complete and total package set of tools to help you find the hunt you want this upcoming year or to help plan for hunts in the future.

If you're unfamiliar with GOHUNT, you can learn more below.

Below is a step-by-step walkthrough on how to purchase points in Montana.

Step 1 - Navigate to the FWP BUY AND APPLY page

You can purchase bonus points and nonresident preference points online here at any FWP license provider.

Once you land on the "Buy and Apply" page, scroll down and click on the "Online Licensing" link.

Step 2 - Select your residency

You'll then land on a screen that looks like the above image, with many different options. Basically, you want to select your residency.

Step 3 - Enter your information and ALS number to log in

After that, you'll need to enter your name, date of birth, and ALS number, then click "Continue."

If you can't remember your ALS number, click on "I can't remember my ALS#" to jump to the lookup page.

If you've never set up a Montana licensing account before, you have the option to do so by clicking on "I do not have an ALS#."

You'll land on another page where you have to accept all statements are true. Click "Accept."

Step 4 - Start a new order or use the previous year's information

On this page, you have two options: start a new order or buy items again.

Step 5 - select bonus points and if you want to purchase a preference point

Now, you can select which bonus points to purchase and if you want to purchase a preference point. Under the "Categories" tab, you can click on the "HUNTING" section to be dropped down to the category for all of the hunting-related items you can purchase.

Scroll down further, and you will see Bonus Points and Preference Points. Note that your screen might look differently if you applied for a species in the main draw and elected to purchase a bonus point or preference point already.

Check all of the boxes in the bonus points section for the species that you'd like to purchase. Don't forget that there is also a tab to purchase a nonresident preference point. This section might not show up if you already applied for a nonresident combination license in the main draw earlier in the year.

For this example, all of the bonus points are selected (except for the B bonus points, paddlefish bonus point, Smith River bonus point, and the swan bonus point), and also a preference point was selected. You'll see on the left under the "Categories" section, that there are nine total items selected. Click "Continue" at the bottom.

Step 6 - Verify your shopping cart

You will now see a screen asking you to verify the items you selected. If everything looks good, click "Continue."

Step 7 - Confirm address information

You must now confirm your address information. Once that is complete, click "Continue."

Step 8 - Verify personal information

One last page to confirm your personal information. If all looks good, click "Continue."

Step 9 - Final verification page

Again, you will need to verify all the items you want to purchase. Click "Proceed to payment."

Step 10 - Enter billing information

The next page will again show the points you are purchasing and the total cost, plus it will add a surcharge fee. Make sure everything is correct once again, and then scroll down to confirm your billing details. If everything looks correct, click "Next."

Step 11 - Enter payment information

On the last screen, you'll enter your card information. Then, accept the agreement and finally click "Submit Payment," and you're done!

Note: This article was originally published on July 12, 2019, and it has been updated to include new screenshots of the process as Montana has changed their website over the years, and I have included updated information.