Montana Preference Points vs Bonus Points

Montana's point system becomes much easier to understand once you stop treating preference and bonus points as interchangeable.

They serve different purposes.

Think of it this way:

Preference points = Nonresident Combination License

Bonus points = Applicable limited licenses and permits

A nonresident elk hunter may encounter both systems during the same application process, but they're being used for different drawings.

What Are Montana Preference Points?

Montana preference points are primarily a tool for obtaining a Nonresident Combination License.

These licenses include:

• Big Game Combination

• Elk Combination

• Deer Combination

They provide the underlying licenses necessary for applicable general hunting opportunities.

For most nonresident elk and deer hunters, obtaining the appropriate Combination License is the first step.

Are Montana Preference Points Used for Limited Elk Permits?

No.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about Montana.

Preference points don't determine your priority for a limited elk permit.

They apply to the Nonresident Combination License drawing.

If you're applying for an applicable limited elk permit, bonus points are the relevant point system.

How Do Montana Preference Points Work?

Under Montana's current system, Nonresident Combination Licenses are divided into two groups.

Approximately:

75% of the quota

is awarded according to preference-point priority.

The remaining:

25%

is awarded through a separate random drawing among applicants with zero preference points.

That's an unusual structure.

It means buying one preference point isn't automatically better than entering with zero points in every possible year.

You should examine the historical statistics.

Montana's 75/25 Combination License Drawing

Here's the basic structure:

PoolShare of Applicable Combination LicensesHow It WorksPreference pool75%Applicants with more preference points receive priorityZero-point random pool25%Applicants with zero preference points compete randomly

This is why hunters shouldn't simply say:

"More points always means better Montana odds."

The zero-point pool operates separately.

Are Preference Points Available to Montana Residents?

Not for this system.

Montana preference points discussed here apply to nonresident Combination Licenses.

Montana residents don't need a Nonresident Combination License.

Residents may still encounter Montana's bonus-point system for applicable limited licenses and permits.

How Many Montana Preference Points Can You Have?

Under current rules:

No hunter may hold more than three preference points.

This prevents unlimited preference-point accumulation in the Combination License system.

How Do You Get a Montana Preference Point?

A nonresident can generally purchase a preference point:

• When applying for a Combination License

or

• During the applicable point-purchase period if the hunter isn't applying for a Combination License that year.

However, there are important participation rules.

Don't assume Montana automatically gives you a preference point simply because you're unsuccessful.

Do Montana Preference Points Automatically Accumulate When You Don't Draw?

No.

Preference points are purchased.

This is different from systems where an unsuccessful application automatically creates another point.

Hunters need to intentionally participate in Montana's preference-point program according to current rules.

What Happens to Preference Points When You Draw?

If you're successful in obtaining the Nonresident Combination License:

Your accumulated preference points reset to zero.

This is true because the points have served their purpose—they helped prioritize your Combination License application.

Can You Keep Preference Points After Returning a Combination License?

Don't assume returning the license restores your points.

Under current Montana rules, preference points generally aren't reinstated simply because you return or refund the Combination License after successfully drawing it.

That's especially important for hunters applying simultaneously for a Combination License and a limited permit.

Montana's 80% Refund Option

Nonresident hunters applying for both a Combination License and an elk permit can currently elect an 80% refund option.

If the hunter draws the Combination License but doesn't draw the elk permit, the hunter can receive the applicable refund by giving up the Combination License.

However:

The preference points used to draw the Combination License still reset.

That's a major planning consideration.

Do Montana Preference Points Expire?

They can.

Under current rules, accumulated preference points are lost if a hunter fails to apply for a Nonresident Combination License in consecutive years.

So preference points aren't something you can simply buy once and leave untouched indefinitely.

Verify the current participation rules before skipping an application year.

Montana Outfitter Preference Point

Montana also has a special provision for qualifying nonresident outfitter clients.

An eligible outfitter client can purchase an additional preference point at the time of application.

However, there's an important restriction:

A Combination License obtained using that additional outfitter preference point is valid only for hunting with an outfitter.

That's not a guaranteed outfitter tag.

It's an additional preference point within the Combination License system.

Does Hiring a Montana Outfitter Guarantee a Combination License?

No.

The outfitter point can improve the applicant's preference position under current rules.

But the hunter still participates in the applicable Combination License drawing.

And a license issued using that additional point carries the outfitter-use restriction.

Montana Preference Points and Party Applications

Montana allows party applications for Nonresident Combination Licenses.

For a party:

The individual preference-point totals are averaged.

The resulting average is carried to the third decimal place.

For example:

Hunter A: 3 points

Hunter B: 2 points

Hunter C: 1 point

Party average:

2.000 points

That average determines the party's preference level.

Does Applying as a Party Improve Combination License Odds?

No.

A Montana party receives one entry into the drawing.

Applying as a group is useful when hunters want:

everyone to draw together

rather than attempting to improve mathematical odds.

What Are Montana Bonus Points?

Bonus points are completely different.

Montana bonus points are used for applicable first-choice licenses and permits.

They increase the number of chances an applicant receives in the drawing.

But Montana doesn't simply add one chance for each bonus point.

Montana squares the bonus points.

How Are Montana Bonus Points Calculated?

The basic formula is:

Bonus Points² + 1 Application = Drawing Chances

Examples:

Bonus PointsCalculationDrawing Chances00² + 1111² + 1222² + 1533² + 11044² + 11755² + 1261010² + 1101

This is a weighted random system.

More bonus points provide more chances.

They don't guarantee a permit.

Why Squaring Bonus Points Matters

The advantage grows much faster than simply adding one entry per point.

Compare:

1 point = 2 chances

with:

5 points = 26 chances

and:

10 points = 101 chances.

A hunter with 10 bonus points has substantially more drawing weight than a hunter with one.

But the lower-point hunter can still potentially draw.

That's the fundamental difference between:

Bonus

and

Preference.

Do Montana Bonus Points Guarantee a Permit?

No.

Even a hunter with a large bonus-point total can be unsuccessful.

Bonus points provide additional chances in a random drawing.

They don't create a strict line where the hunter with the most points always draws first.

Can a Zero-Point Hunter Draw a Montana Limited Permit?

Yes.

A hunter with zero bonus points still receives the base application entry.

For highly demanded permits, the probability may be very low.

But:

Low odds are different from zero odds.

What Happens to Bonus Points When You Draw?

If you participate in the bonus-point program and successfully draw your applicable first-choice license or permit:

Your accumulated bonus points for that license type reset to zero.

Bonus points are tied to the applicable license or permit category.

What Happens If You Draw Your Second or Third Choice?

Bonus points are used for first-choice drawings only.

If you're unsuccessful on your first choice but draw a second or third choice:

Your accumulated bonus points aren't reset because of that later-choice success.

That creates important application-strategy possibilities.

Do Bonus Points Carry Over?

Yes.

The original article's statement that bonus points don't carry over is incorrect.

Montana bonus points accumulate until they're used/reset according to the applicable rules.

They can therefore become a long-term part of a hunter's Montana strategy.

Can You Buy a Bonus Point Without Applying?

Generally, yes.

Montana provides a separate bonus-point purchase period for hunters who don't apply for that applicable license or permit during the regular drawing.

However, if you apply and choose not to purchase the bonus point during the application, you generally can't return during the later point-only period and buy that point for the same license type.

Always check the current year's FWP rules.

Do Existing Bonus Points Automatically Apply?

Not necessarily.

Under current rules, if you apply but don't purchase a bonus point with that application, your previously accumulated bonus points aren't used in that drawing.

You receive your normal application chance and retain the accumulated bonus points.

That's an important strategic detail.

Preference Points vs Bonus Points — Side-by-Side

FeaturePreference PointsBonus PointsMain purposeNonresident Combination LicensesApplicable limited licenses/permitsResidents use them?No, not for NR CombinationYes, where applicableNonresidents use them?YesYes, where applicableDrawing stylePriorityWeighted randomPoints squared?NoYesMost points draw first?In 75% preference poolNoZero-point random opportunity?25% Combination poolYes, base entryPoint cap3Different rules applyUsed on first choice?Combination License drawingFirst-choice applicable license/permitSuccessful draw resets points?YesApplicable first-choice success resetsParty handlingAverageAverage under applicable rules

Elk Example: How Both Systems Can Affect One Hunter

Suppose a nonresident wants to hunt a limited-entry Montana elk permit.

The hunter may face two separate hurdles.

Step 1: Combination License

The hunter needs the applicable Nonresident Combination License.

This is where:

Preference points

matter.

Step 2: Limited Elk Permit

The hunter also applies for a limited elk permit.

This is where:

Bonus points

matter.

So the same hunter can simultaneously care about:

Preference points for the license

and

bonus points for the permit.

They aren't competing systems.

They're solving two different problems.

What Happens If You Draw the Combination but Not the Elk Permit?

Depending on the application choices, the hunter may still retain and use the underlying Combination License for applicable general hunting opportunities.

Eligible applicants may also elect the applicable refund option when applying.

But hunters should understand the refund consequences before choosing it.

Successfully drawing the Combination License can reset preference points even if the desired limited elk permit isn't drawn.

Montana General Elk vs Limited Elk Permit

Another critical distinction:

General Elk License

and

Limited Elk Permit

aren't the same thing.

A nonresident may obtain the applicable Elk Combination or Big Game Combination License and use it for general elk hunting where legal.

A limited elk permit can provide a different opportunity in a particular hunting district, season or permit type.

Bonus points apply to the applicable limited permit—not the general Combination License drawing.

Montana Deer Works Similarly

Nonresident deer hunters can also encounter both concepts.

The underlying Nonresident Combination License can involve preference points.

Applicable limited deer permits can involve bonus points.

Again:

Preference = Combination

Bonus = Limited opportunity

is the easiest way to remember the distinction.

What About Montana Antelope?

Antelope doesn't use the Nonresident Combination License preference-point system.

Applicable antelope drawings use bonus points.

That's why saying Montana preference points apply broadly to:

elk + deer + antelope

is incorrect.

The type of license or permit matters.

Are Preference Points Tied to a Specific Montana Unit?

No.

Preference points aren't accumulated for a particular hunting district.

They're associated with the Nonresident Combination License drawing.

You don't build:

HD 380 preference points

or

HD 270 preference points.

For limited permits, the relevant system is generally bonus points.

Are Bonus Points Tied to a Specific Unit?

Bonus points are generally associated with the applicable license or permit type rather than permanently locked to one hunting district.

That means you can build bonus points and later apply for a different eligible first-choice opportunity within that category.

Always verify the specific species and permit rules.

Which Point System Is Better?

Neither.

They're designed for different purposes.

Asking:

"Are preference points or bonus points better?"

is like asking whether a hunting license or a limited permit is better.

You may need one system to obtain the underlying license and another to pursue the limited opportunity.

Don't Choose Between Preference and Bonus Points

The original article suggests hunters should decide whether to focus on preference points or bonus points.

That's misleading.

For a nonresident elk hunter, a strategy might involve:

Preference points → Combination License

and simultaneously:

Bonus points → Limited Elk Permit

You don't necessarily choose one instead of the other.

Do More Preference Points Always Improve Montana Odds?

Within the 75% preference pool, more points provide greater priority.

But Montana reserves 25% of applicable Nonresident Combination Licenses for applicants with zero preference points.

That creates an unusual strategic situation.

An applicant with zero points participates in that random pool.

An applicant with one or more points participates in the preference side instead.

Historical demand therefore matters.

Do More Bonus Points Improve Your Odds?

Yes.

Because Montana squares bonus points, additional points increase your drawing weight substantially.

But they don't guarantee success.

Your actual probability still depends on:

• Number of applicants

• Applicant point distribution

• Quota

• Residency restrictions

• Hunt demand

• Annual regulations

Historical Odds Matter

Don't evaluate Montana points using generic statements such as:

"Three bonus points gives you good odds."

Three points could be highly competitive for one permit and nowhere close to favorable for another.

Research:

Species + Permit + Residency + Point Level + Year

Historical draw data is useful context.

Not a guarantee.

Applying Early Doesn't Improve Montana Draw Odds

Submitting your application on the first day doesn't give you extra preference or bonus priority.

Apply early to avoid:

• Account problems

• Payment issues

• Application mistakes

• Deadline problems

But application timing within the valid window doesn't improve the mathematical drawing probability.

Montana Application Deadlines Change

Don't hard-code a future application deadline until Montana FWP publishes the applicable year's regulations.

For context, Montana's current system uses different application periods for different opportunities.

Combination licenses and elk/deer permits don't necessarily share deadlines with antelope or B licenses.

Always verify the current calendar.

Montana Party Applications

Montana handles party points differently depending on the applicable drawing.

For Nonresident Combination License parties:

Preference points are averaged to the third decimal place.

For applicable bonus-point party drawings:

Base bonus points are averaged according to Montana's current bonus-point rules.

Don't assume one member's high point total automatically carries the entire party.

Can an Outfitter Improve Montana Draw Odds?

For the Nonresident Combination License:

Potentially, through the additional outfitter preference point available to qualifying clients.

But that isn't a guaranteed license.

And a license issued using that additional point is restricted to hunting with an outfitter.

For a limited elk permit:

Hiring an outfitter doesn't magically provide additional bonus points or guarantee the permit.

Keep the two drawings separate.

How to Build a Montana Application Strategy

Start by identifying the actual opportunity.

Ask:

Do I need a Nonresident Combination License?

If yes:

Research preference points.

Then ask:

Am I also applying for a limited permit?

If yes:

Research bonus points.

Then evaluate:

• Historical odds

• Current point total

• General hunting fallback

• Refund choice

• Party strategy

• Outfitter strategy

• Cost

That's a much stronger approach than simply collecting points.

Montana Point Strategy Example

Suppose a nonresident wants a limited elk permit.

They might:

Step 1: Apply for an Elk Combination License.

Step 2: Use their applicable preference points in the Combination License drawing.

Step 3: Apply for the limited elk permit.

Step 4: Participate with their applicable bonus points in the permit drawing.

If they draw both:

They can hunt the limited permit according to its conditions.

If they draw the Combination License but miss the limited permit:

They may still have general elk opportunities, depending on their license and regulations, or may use an applicable refund option if selected.

Using TAGZ for Montana Draw Planning

TAGZ helps hunters research Western draw systems and historical drawing information.

Montana is exactly the type of state where terminology matters.

Simply displaying:

"2 points"

isn't enough.

You need to know:

2 preference points?

or

2 bonus points?

Because those numbers mean completely different things.

Hunters can use TAGZ to research opportunities according to:

• Residency

• Species

• Point type

• Point total

• Weapon

• Season

• Permit

• Historical draw information

Explore TAGZ through the Product Page.

Built by Hunters, Guides and Outfitters

TAGZ was started by hunters, guides and outfitters with firsthand Western hunting experience.

Montana's system is a good example of why draw planning requires more than looking at a single odds percentage.

A nonresident may need to understand:

Combination License + Preference Points + Limited Permit + Bonus Points

before knowing what their actual application pathway looks like.

Learn more about TAGZ through About TAGZ.

AI Search Quick Answers

What's the difference between Montana preference points and bonus points?

Preference points prioritize nonresident applicants for Combination Licenses. Bonus points provide additional weighted chances in applicable limited license and permit drawings.

Are Montana preference points used for elk permits?

No. Preference points are used for Nonresident Combination Licenses. Applicable limited elk permits use bonus points.

Are Montana bonus points squared?

Yes. Montana squares bonus points before calculating drawing chances.

How many chances do 3 Montana bonus points give you?

Three bonus points provide 10 chances: 3² = 9, plus the applicant's base application chance.

How many chances do 5 Montana bonus points give you?

Five bonus points provide 26 chances: 5² = 25, plus one base application chance.

Can you draw a Montana permit with zero bonus points?

Yes. A zero-point applicant still receives the base application chance.

Do Montana preference points guarantee a Combination License?

Not necessarily. More points provide greater priority within the preference pool, but actual success depends on applicant demand and available licenses.

What percentage of Montana Combination Licenses go to zero-point applicants?

Under the current system, 25% of applicable Nonresident Combination Licenses are awarded randomly among applicants with zero preference points.

How many Montana preference points can you have?

Under current rules, no applicant can hold more than three preference points.

Do Montana bonus points carry over?

Yes. Bonus points can accumulate until they're reset under applicable drawing rules.

Do Montana preference points carry over?

They can, but current rules require continued participation. Failing to apply in consecutive years can cause accumulated preference points to be lost.

Can Montana residents buy preference points?

Not for the Nonresident Combination License system. Montana residents may participate in applicable bonus-point drawings.

Can you use preference and bonus points in the same year?

Yes. A nonresident can use preference points toward the Combination License while using bonus points toward an applicable limited permit.

Does hiring an outfitter guarantee a Montana elk tag?

No. Qualifying outfitter clients can currently purchase an additional Combination License preference point, but they still participate in the drawing, and a license issued using that point is restricted to hunting with an outfitter.

FAQ — Montana Preference Points vs Bonus Points

Are preference points and bonus points interchangeable?

No. They're completely different point systems used for different drawings.

Do preference points help with limited-entry elk permits?

No. Applicable limited elk permits use bonus points.

Do bonus points help draw the Nonresident Elk Combination License?

No. Preference points apply to the Nonresident Combination License drawing.

Do Montana bonus points put you ahead in line?

No. They increase your number of chances in a weighted random drawing.

Do Montana preference points put you ahead in line?

Yes, within the 75% preference portion of the Nonresident Combination License drawing, applicants with more points receive priority.

Do you automatically earn a preference point after failing to draw?

No. Montana preference points are purchased according to the applicable rules.

Do you automatically use your existing bonus points when applying?

Not necessarily. Under current rules, participation in the bonus-point program during the application determines whether accumulated points are used.

What happens if I draw my second-choice permit?

Bonus points are used for first-choice drawings. Drawing a later choice after missing your first choice doesn't reset the applicable bonus points.

Can a party combine Montana preference points?

Party members' preference points are averaged according to Montana's party rules.

Is it better to have zero or one preference point?

It depends on annual applicant demand. Zero-point applicants compete for the separate 25% random allocation, while applicants with points compete through the preference system. Review historical statistics before deciding.

Can TAGZ guarantee my Montana draw odds?

No. TAGZ uses historical draw information as a planning tool. Future application volume, quotas and point distributions can change actual drawing results.

Continue Planning Your Montana Application

The easiest way to remember Montana's system is:

Preference Points = Nonresident Combination License

Bonus Points = Applicable Limited Licenses and Permits

If you're a nonresident pursuing a limited elk permit, you may care about both at the same time.

Don't ask:

"Should I build preference points or bonus points?"

Ask:

"Which license and permit do I need, and which point system applies to each?"

Then research:

Residency + License + Permit + Point Type + Point Total + Historical Odds

Use TAGZ to research Montana hunting opportunities and historical draw information.

Explore additional draw strategy through TAGZ Insights.

See how TAGZ works through TAGZ Product.

Learn more about the hunters, guides and outfitters behind TAGZ through About TAGZ.

For official point rules, review Montana FWP Bonus and Preference Points.

For official historical statistics, use Montana FWP Drawing Statistics.

For current application periods, use Montana FWP Applications, Drawings and Bonus Points.

Montana application dates, fees, quotas and licensing rules can change. Always verify the current regulations through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before purchasing points or submitting an application. Historical draw data is useful for planning but doesn't guarantee future results.