Sitka Gear
Preference Points?
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
Jasper 13-Oct-24
pirogue 13-Oct-24
Tilzbow 13-Oct-24
IdyllwildArcher 13-Oct-24
Jasper 13-Oct-24
t-roy 13-Oct-24
molsonarcher 13-Oct-24
DonVathome 23-Oct-24
OTC_Bowhunter 23-Oct-24
Brotsky 23-Oct-24
From: Jasper
13-Oct-24
Other than Wyoming, what states can you purchase points only?

From: pirogue
13-Oct-24
AZ is a Bonus point state, but they can be purchased alone.

From: Tilzbow
13-Oct-24
If we’re also including bonus points then NV, UT, MT, AZ not sure about the others

13-Oct-24
Idaho, New Mexico, and Alaska are pure lottery systems. Every other state you can buy a point in one form or another, although you may have to buy a hunting license in order to do so. And in the case of Washington and Montana, a general elk tag (although in MT, you can give the general tag back if you don't draw a limited entry tag).

CO, WY, CA, OR, and WA are preference point states and UT, AZ, NV, and KY are bonus point states. MT you need a preference point to earn a general tag and then you can use your bonus points for the limited entry tags if you win in the first round. UT and AZ use a combo of preference point/bonus point system for a percentage of their tags, even though they're considered bonus points.

If you're asking for the states that you can just buy a preference point without paying for anything else, than WY is the only state. If you include bonus points in that question, than that adds MT and I think KY.

From: Jasper
13-Oct-24
Wow Ike, thank you! And Tilz and Pirogue!

From: t-roy
13-Oct-24
I believe you can buy just a preference point in Iowa, without having to buy anything else, too.

From: molsonarcher
13-Oct-24
Troy you are correct. Thankfully if you miss a year buying one, you dont lose previously purchased points.

From: DonVathome
23-Oct-24
More important what states are worth it. Washington a hard no.

IMO best bets are WY and CO. If you are willing to drop $200 a year per state and understand you will need well over 20 years, and fees will increase during that time, then consider Utah, AZ and NV - if you are bowhunting. If rifle then plan to wait at least 30 years in those states.

WY and CO can get tags in a decade or less - good tags also 20+ years.

MT is easier to draw but you need a good "in" to find a decent place to hunt. The best hunter I know struggles to find any decent bull - ever, in MT during rifle season. He is in the outdoors almost 24/7

23-Oct-24
SD is $10 a point

From: Brotsky
23-Oct-24
SD points will be $20 starting in 2025.

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