Do MT elk PPs get refunded if you return a General Tag?

[Wind Gypsy]

If someone is trying to draw a LE Elk permit in MT, is unsuccessful in the Permit drawing and elects to return the general tag for a refund, do they get their preference points refunded as well? My assumption is no but would like to understand it better.

I'm trying to plan a hunt in a relatively easy to draw permit area now. I expect odds of drawing this tag to be 75%+ in 2022. It would suck to fail to draw the permit in 2022, lose 2 PP, and then have a real possibility of not even being entered into the LE permit drawing again until 2025 when I could be going into the draw with 3 PP. Typically this wouldn't matter because I'd be pumped to hunt the general tag like I have the last 6 seasons but in this particular case i'm trying to line something up on private land so predictability sure helps.

 

[8andcounting]

2 pp is 100% draw and last year one pp was around 70% . Just FYI .

 

[Gerald Martin]

I don’t think you get a preference point back upon returning the general license.

 

[8andcounting]

I don’t think you get a preference point back upon returning the general license.

Correct . You do not

 

[Wind Gypsy]

2 pp is 100% draw and last year one pp was around 70% . Just FYI .

I’m pretty familiar with odds on the general tags. As they become less of a sure thing it will do some interesting things to drawing a LE Permit though. Makes bonus points much less desirable if they only get into the permit draw every 2, 3, or more years.

 

[8andcounting]

I’m pretty familiar with odds on the general tags. As they become less of a sure thing it will do some interesting things to drawing a LE Permit though. Makes bonus points much less desirable if they only get into the permit draw every 2, 3, or more years.

Totally disagree . It(for me atleast) makes bonus points for LE much more important

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Totally disagree . It(for me atleast) makes bonus points for LE much more important

you’re right, I didn’t state that how I was thinking it. I meant to say it makes it less appealing to plan for a LE unit hunt because they are becoming even more unpredictable. Even then, that thought is mostly in light of my efforts to plan a private land LE Permit hunt. The public stuff is basically still the same as the long shot applications I scatter across the west every season.

 

[Edwin]

Totally disagree . It(for me atleast) makes bonus points for LE much more important

Until the NR LE quotas are separate from the resident draw, the reduction in odds of NR combos will have zero impact on LE draw odds for NRs. Especially highly sought after rifle permits. Just too many residents in the pool for it to matter

 

[8andcounting]

Until the NR LE quotas are separate from the resident draw, the reduction in odds of NR combos will have zero impact on LE draw odds for NRs. Especially highly sought after rifle permits. Just too many residents in the pool for it to matter

Exactly - u just proved my point for me

 

[silverlab]

Question to bounce off of this thread. If I am more interested in a general elk tag and not so much the LE permit, will I lose my points if my first selection is for a general unit only?

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Preference points are only for General tag applications, Bonus points are only for Limited entry permit applications. If you get selected for a general tag, you lose your preference points.

There is an exception to this: some folks elect to turn in their general tag for a refund if they do not draw their desired LE permit. Those returned general tags then get distributed to applicants who failed in the general tag draw but still want a general tag. If you fail to draw a general tag in the PP or random draw but then are given a returned tag, you get to keep your preference points. I have benefitted from this, but it's stupid they allow it to happen.

Also, if you think you want to buy bonus or preference points and you are applying in the draw, you must buy them at the time of the draw. You can only buy points in the summer if you did not apply in the draw. I believe i've been able to buy a PP in the summer after an unsuccessful draw when I didn't purchase one with application but i wouldn't count on that.

MT's draw system is a convoluted mess.

 

[Corn king 60]

With all the BS going on in MT I’m not sure why I would want to get points but I’m thinking about doing so my question is can you buy a preference and bonus in the summer I’m not applying for anything during the draw period. The website tells me that I can for preference point but is not clear to me on bonus point . Thanks

 

[8andcounting]

With all the BS going on in MT I’m not sure why I would want to get points but I’m thinking about doing so my question is can you buy a preference and bonus in the summer I’m not applying for anything during the draw period. The website tells me that I can for preference point but is not clear to me on bonus point . Thanks

You can buy both in summer if you don’t apply

 

[8andcounting]

Gotta love Montana , gotta be successful in 2 drawings to get the tag you want . Trying to draw a LE permit is gonna be really tough now that general tags are hard to draw . Might only get entered for the LE every 2-3 years . Unbelievable

 

[Corn king 60]

You can buy both in summer if you don’t apply

Ok great thank you. I’ve been hunting in Mt but it’s been about 5 years. Thinking of going again and wanted to get some points.
they have the worst website IMO thanks again.

 

[Wildabeest]

they have the worst website IMO thanks again.

They compete with themselves and do their best to make it worse every year!

 

[Corn king 60]

They compete with themselves and do their best to make it worse every year!

seems like a true story

 

[8andcounting]

The website was always bad now it’s f’n impossible

 

[silverlab]

Preference points are only for General tag applications, Bonus points are only for Limited entry permit applications. If you get selected for a general tag, you lose your preference points.

There is an exception to this: some folks elect to turn in their general tag for a refund if they do not draw their desired LE permit. Those returned general tags then get distributed to applicants who failed in the general tag draw but still want a general tag. If you fail to draw a general tag in the PP or random draw but then are given a returned tag, you get to keep your preference points. I have benefitted from this, but it's stupid they allow it to happen.

Also, if you think you want to buy bonus or preference points and you are applying in the draw, you must buy them at the time of the draw. You can only buy points in the summer if you did not apply in the draw. I believe i've been able to buy a PP in the summer after an unsuccessful draw when I didn't purchase one with application but i wouldn't count on that.

MT's draw system is a convoluted mess.

Thank you for the info, now it makes sense. This is my first time apllying in MT, it is different for sure!

 

[Wind Gypsy]

The website was always bad now it’s f’n impossible

I tried finding Elk population survey info recently.. fer effs sake, its like they don't want people to see their reports.