Bonus Points vs Preference Points: What's the Difference?
Bonus points vs preference points hunting — how each draw system works, the math behind them, which states use what, and the strategy to maximize your odds.
Understanding bonus points vs preference points is the single most important thing you can do before committing years and thousands of dollars to western big game applications. These two systems sound similar — they both reward you for applying multiple years — but they work in fundamentally different ways that change your strategy, your timeline, and your realistic chances of drawing the tag you want.
Get this wrong and you’ll spend a decade stacking points in a system that was never going to work in your favor. Get it right and you’ll build an application strategy across multiple states that maximizes your chances of hunting quality units while you’re still young enough to climb into them.
This guide breaks down every major point system used in western hunting: true preference points, weighted preference, bonus points, bonus point squared, and no-point systems. We’ll run the actual math, show you which system favors which type of applicant, and lay out a strategy framework for each. If you’re already familiar with the basics and want state-specific application breakdowns, jump to our Draw Odds & Preference Points Explained guide or the Colorado Draw Odds & Application Guide.
The Core Difference in 30 Seconds
Preference points guarantee you’ll draw before anyone with fewer points. It’s a line. First in, first out. If you have more points than the next guy, you draw first. Period.
Bonus points improve your odds but don’t guarantee anything. They give you more entries in a random draw. More entries mean better chances, but someone with zero points can still draw ahead of you.
That distinction changes everything about how you plan.
True Preference Point Systems
How They Work
In a true preference point system, tags are allocated strictly by point total. The applicant with the most points draws first. If there are 10 tags available and 10 applicants have the maximum points, those 10 people get tags. Everyone else waits another year and accumulates another point.
It’s a queue. A line at the DMV. Time in line is the only variable that matters.
The Math
Say a unit has 5 elk tags and the following applicants:
| Applicant | Points | Draws? |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter A | 8 | Yes |
| Hunter B | 8 | Yes |
| Hunter C | 7 | Yes |
| Hunter D | 7 | Yes |
| Hunter E | 7 | Yes |
| Hunter F | 6 | No |
| Hunter G | 5 | No |
| Hunter H | 3 | No |
| Hunter I | 0 | No |
Hunters A through E draw because they have the most points. Hunter F with 6 points gets nothing. Hunter I with 0 points has literally zero chance until everyone ahead of them has drawn.
If there’s a tie at the cutoff point (multiple hunters at 7 points competing for the remaining tags), most states use a random tiebreaker among tied applicants.
States That Use True Preference
Colorado (75/25 split) — Colorado’s system deserves special attention because it’s the most widely discussed. Colorado allocates 75% of tags through the preference point draw (highest points first) and 25% through a weighted random draw. This hybrid gives point holders the lion’s share of tags while keeping a random window open for newer applicants.
Wyoming (75/25 split for elk/deer, different for other species) — Wyoming runs a similar hybrid. 75% of tags go to the highest preference point holders, 25% go to random. For moose, sheep, and goat, Wyoming uses a different allocation.
Who This Favors
True preference systems favor:
- Committed long-term applicants who started early and apply every year
- Patient hunters willing to wait 5, 10, or 15+ years for a premium unit
- Residents who started accumulating points when they turned 12
True preference systems punish:
- Late starters — if you didn’t start accumulating points until your 30s or 40s, you’ll never catch the people who started at 12
- Nonresidents entering a popular state — the point creep is real, and it only goes one direction
In Colorado, the top elk units now take 15-20+ preference points to draw in the 75% pool. That’s 15-20 years of annual applications at $50-100 per year per species. A nonresident who starts today might not draw a premium elk unit until they’re hunting with a walker.
The 25% random pool is the escape valve. If you’re a newer applicant targeting Colorado, that random pool is your realistic path — and you should structure your strategy around it. More on this in our Colorado Draw Odds & Application Guide.
Weighted Preference Point Systems
How They Work
A weighted preference system gives applicants additional entries in a random draw based on their point totals. Unlike true preference, there’s no strict queue. Instead, having more points gives you proportionally more chances in a lottery.
Think of it like a raffle. If you have 5 points and someone else has 1 point, you get 5 tickets in the hat and they get 1. You’re five times more likely to be drawn, but they can still win.
The Math
Same scenario — 5 tags, same applicants:
| Applicant | Points | Entries | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter A | 8 | 8 | 8/43 = 18.6% |
| Hunter B | 8 | 8 | 18.6% |
| Hunter C | 7 | 7 | 16.3% |
| Hunter D | 7 | 7 | 16.3% |
| Hunter E | 7 | 7 | 16.3% |
| Hunter F | 6 | 6 | 14.0% |
| Hunter G | 5 | 5 | 11.6% |
| Hunter H | 3 | 3 | 7.0% |
| Hunter I | 0 | 1* | 2.3% |
| Total | 43 (min 1 each) | 100% |
*Most states give first-time applicants at least 1 entry.
Hunter I with zero points still has a 2.3% shot. Not great, but not zero. Meanwhile, Hunter A isn’t guaranteed anything despite having the most points. They’ve got the best odds on each individual draw, but the randomness means Hunter H could beat them in any given year.
Who This Favors
Weighted preference is the most balanced system. It rewards loyalty without completely punishing newcomers. The downside is unpredictability — you can hold max points and still not draw for years if the random numbers don’t fall your way.
Bonus Point Systems
How They Work
Bonus point systems are similar to weighted preference but with a critical twist: in many states, each point gives you one additional entry in a purely random draw. There’s no preference pool. Everything is random, but your odds improve with more points.
Arizona’s Bonus Point System
Arizona is the poster child for bonus points. Here’s how it works:
- You apply for a hunt and don’t draw.
- You receive one bonus point.
- Next year, your name goes into the hat one extra time for each bonus point you hold, plus your base entry.
- The draw is completely random from the combined pool of entries.
So an applicant with 10 bonus points gets 11 entries (10 points + 1 base). An applicant with 0 points gets 1 entry.
The Math
Let’s run Arizona’s system with a unit that has 2 tags:
| Applicant | Bonus Points | Entries | Probability per draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter A | 20 | 21 | 21/79 = 26.6% |
| Hunter B | 15 | 16 | 16/79 = 20.3% |
| Hunter C | 10 | 11 | 11/79 = 13.9% |
| Hunter D | 5 | 6 | 6/79 = 7.6% |
| Hunter E | 5 | 6 | 7.6% |
| Hunter F | 3 | 4 | 5.1% |
| Hunter G | 2 | 3 | 3.8% |
| Hunter H | 1 | 2 | 2.5% |
| Hunter I | 0 | 1 | 1.3% |
| Total | 79 (combined with base) |
Even with 20 bonus points, Hunter A’s per-draw probability is only 26.6%. That means there’s a 73.4% chance they don’t draw on the first pull. After both tags are drawn (assuming the first winner is removed from the pool), Hunter A’s cumulative chance of getting one of the 2 tags is roughly 46%.
Meanwhile, Hunter I — zero points — still has a roughly 2.5% cumulative shot at one of those 2 tags. Not good, but not impossible.
Who This Favors
Arizona’s bonus system is the most “democratic” of the point systems. It gives long-term applicants better odds without guaranteeing them anything. This means:
- Newcomers have a real shot every year. A first-time applicant in Arizona can draw a premium unit. It happens. Not often, but it happens.
- Long-term applicants can get frustrated. You can hold 20+ bonus points in Arizona and watch someone with 2 points draw ahead of you. The math supports it.
- The system resists point creep. Because no one is guaranteed a tag, the effective “wait time” doesn’t spiral upward the way it does in true preference states.
Montana’s Bonus Point Squared System
How It Works
Montana takes the bonus point concept and adds an exponent. Each bonus point you hold is squared to determine your number of entries in the draw.
| Bonus Points | Entries (Points Squared) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 1 (base entry) |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 9 |
| 4 | 16 |
| 5 | 25 |
| 7 | 49 |
| 10 | 100 |
| 15 | 225 |
| 20 | 400 |
That exponential curve is the key. The jump from 3 points (9 entries) to 10 points (100 entries) is enormous. A hunter with 10 points has 100 times the entries of a first-time applicant with zero points.
The Math
Same 2-tag scenario with Montana’s squared system:
| Applicant | Points | Entries (Squared) | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter A | 15 | 225 | 225/684 = 32.9% |
| Hunter B | 10 | 100 | 14.6% |
| Hunter C | 7 | 49 | 7.2% |
| Hunter D | 5 | 25 | 3.7% |
| Hunter E | 5 | 25 | 3.7% |
| Hunter F | 3 | 9 | 1.3% |
| Hunter G | 2 | 4 | 0.6% |
| Hunter H | 1 | 1 | 0.15% |
| Hunter I | 0 | 1 | 0.15% |
| Total | 684 (with base entries) |
Hunter A with 15 points dominates the draw at 32.9% per pull. The gap between high-point and low-point holders is massive. Hunter I’s 0.15% chance is essentially a lightning strike.
Who This Favors
Montana’s squared system is a middle ground between true preference and pure bonus. It heavily rewards long-term commitment (the squaring function creates a steep advantage curve) while technically keeping the draw random (no one is guaranteed a tag). In practice, applicants with 10+ points in Montana have a very strong probability of drawing within a few years, while zero-point applicants face near-impossible odds in popular units.
For more on Montana’s system and the best units to target, read our Montana Draw Odds & Application Guide.
No-Point Systems
New Mexico
New Mexico doesn’t use points at all. Every applicant has an equal chance every year, regardless of how many times they’ve applied. It’s a pure lottery.
The math is simple: If 500 people apply for 5 tags, each person has a 1% chance. Whether you’ve applied for 20 years or are applying for the first time, your odds are identical.
Who This Favors
Pure lottery systems favor:
- Newcomers — no disadvantage for starting late
- Risk-tolerant hunters — if you apply across many units and species, you’ll eventually draw something
- Hunters who value fairness — everyone gets the same shot
Pure lottery systems frustrate:
- Loyalty — 20 years of applications carry zero weight
- Planners — you can’t build a predictable timeline
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | True Preference (CO/WY) | Bonus (AZ) | Squared Bonus (MT) | No Points (NM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guarantee with max points? | Yes (in preference pool) | No | No (but near-certain at high points) | N/A |
| Newcomer odds | 25% random pool only | Real but small | Very small | Equal to everyone |
| Point creep | Severe in popular units | Moderate | Moderate | None |
| Predictability | High | Low | Moderate | Low |
| Favors | Early starters | Patient gamblers | Long-term commitment | Everyone equally |
| Punishes | Late starters | Nobody severely | Zero-point applicants | Loyalty |
| Typical wait (premium unit, NR) | 15-25 years | 10-20+ years | 8-15 years | Random any year |
Strategy by System Type
Knowing how each system works is half the battle. The other half is building a multi-state strategy that plays to each system’s strengths.
Strategy for True Preference States (Colorado, Wyoming)
Start early and never miss a year. In Colorado, every missed application year is a year you fall further behind the curve. The people drawing premium units today started applying in the 2000s or earlier.
Target the 25% random pool for premium units. If you’re a newer applicant with fewer than 10 points, you’re not drawing a top Colorado elk unit in the preference pool for another decade. But the 25% random pool draws from all applicants regardless of points. Apply for your dream unit and let the random draw give you a shot.
Use your preference points on realistic units. Don’t blow 12 points on a unit that requires 18. Wait until your point total hits the historical draw line, then cash in. Track the draw cutoffs annually — our Draw Odds Engine shows you exactly where the lines fall.
Stack species separately. In Colorado, elk, deer, antelope, moose, sheep, and goat all accumulate preference points independently. You can build points in all of them simultaneously for a $50 application fee per species. Don’t skip species you might want to hunt someday — the cost of applying is trivial compared to the cost of starting 5 years late.
Strategy for Bonus Point States (Arizona)
Apply for what you actually want to hunt. Arizona’s system doesn’t guarantee anything regardless of point total, so there’s less incentive to play the “build points for 15 years” game. Apply for your top-choice unit every year and let the bonus points accumulate naturally.
Don’t chase point totals. Arizona hunters sometimes fall into the trap of picking “safe” units to avoid “wasting” points. But in a bonus system, your points aren’t consumed when you draw — they’re consumed when you use them. Apply for the best unit that matches your hunt style and let the math work over time.
Pair Arizona applications with other states. Since Arizona can’t be predicted, treat it as a long-shot in your portfolio. Apply in Arizona for your dream unit while building preference points in Colorado or Wyoming for more predictable hunts.
Strategy for Squared Bonus (Montana)
Commit to the long game. Montana’s squaring function makes each additional point exponentially more valuable. The difference between 5 points (25 entries) and 10 points (100 entries) is massive. Every year you skip costs you disproportionately.
Don’t burn points too early. With the squared system, there’s real value in letting your points build to a threshold where your draw odds become near-certain. If you have 8 points (64 entries), waiting two more years to hit 10 points (100 entries) increases your entries by 56%. That’s a huge swing.
General tags while you wait. Montana sells general elk tags that don’t require the draw. Buy a general tag and hunt every year while your bonus points accumulate for a premium limited-entry district. You’re hunting now and building toward a trophy unit later.
Strategy for No-Point States (New Mexico)
Apply every year without exception. Your odds are the same whether it’s year 1 or year 20, but you have to be in the draw to win it. Skipping a year saves you the application fee but costs you a chance.
Apply broadly. Since there’s no point penalty for picking different units year to year, apply for the unit that best fits your schedule, physical condition, and goals that particular season. You’re not building toward anything — you’re rolling the dice fresh each year.
Pair New Mexico with point states. NM is the wild card in your application portfolio. It costs relatively little to apply, and the draw could hit any year. Meanwhile, build points in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana for the predictable, long-term payoff.
Multi-State Application Portfolio
The smartest western hunters don’t put all their eggs in one state’s basket. Here’s a sample portfolio for a nonresident elk hunter:
| State | System | Annual Cost | Strategy | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Preference (75/25) | ~$100 (app + point) | Build preference points; target 25% random pool now | 10-20 years for premium unit via preference |
| Montana | Squared bonus | ~$963 (combo + point app) | Hunt general tag now, build bonus points for LEP | 8-15 years for premium LEP |
| Wyoming | Preference (75/25) | ~$100 (app + point) | Build points, cash in when line reaches your total | 10-18 years for premium unit |
| Arizona | Bonus | ~$165 (app fee) | Apply for dream unit every year | Could be any year |
| New Mexico | No points | ~$65 (app fee) | Apply broadly every year | Could be any year |
Total annual investment: roughly $1,393. That buys you active hunting in Montana every year, point accumulation in three states, and lottery tickets in two more. Over a 10-year period, the math says you’ll draw at least one premium tag and have hunted Montana general elk every season.
Use our Draw Odds Engine to model your specific odds across all five states and find the sweet spot for cashing in points.
Common Mistakes Hunters Make with Point Systems
Chasing one state exclusively. Putting all your effort into Colorado elk means you’re sitting at home every year you don’t draw. Apply across multiple states and hunt somewhere every season.
Not understanding the math. Hunters routinely overestimate their draw odds. “I have 5 bonus points in Arizona — I should draw soon” ignores the thousands of other applicants who also have 5 or more points. Run the actual numbers before you make plans.
Skipping cheap application states. Not applying in New Mexico because “I’ll never draw” is bad math. NM elk applications cost under $65. Over 10 years, that’s $650 for 10 independent shots at a premium elk hunt. That’s a better value than most things in your hunting budget.
Burning preference points on the wrong unit. In Colorado and Wyoming, cashing in 15 years of preference points on a unit that’s been declining in quality or changing in access is devastating. Research current conditions, not historical reputation.
Forgetting about leftover tags. After the main draw in most states, unclaimed tags go on sale to the general public. Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming all offer leftover tag lists. These can be incredible opportunities to hunt without burning any points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I accumulate both bonus and preference points in different states simultaneously?
Yes. Each state’s point system is completely independent. You can build preference points in Colorado and Wyoming while accumulating bonus points in Montana and Arizona at the same time. Your points in one state have zero effect on your standing in another. This is exactly why a multi-state application portfolio works.
Do I lose my points if I skip a year?
It depends on the state. Colorado does not expire your preference points if you skip a year — they stay on your account. Wyoming and Montana also maintain your points if you miss a year. Arizona is the same. However, some states have considered “use it or lose it” policies in recent years, so always verify current rules before skipping an application cycle.
Which system gives me the best odds as a first-time applicant?
New Mexico, by far. With no point system, your odds are identical to a 20-year applicant. Arizona’s bonus system is second best — you’re at a disadvantage, but not locked out. Colorado and Wyoming’s 25% random pools also give first-timers a shot at 25% of available tags. Montana’s squared bonus system is the toughest for new applicants because the squaring function creates such a steep advantage for high-point holders.
Is it worth buying a preference point if I can’t afford to hunt this year?
Almost always yes. In preference point states like Colorado and Wyoming, the $50-100 annual cost of buying a point is trivial compared to the opportunity cost of starting one year later. Every year you delay is a year you fall further behind in the preference queue. Even if you can’t hunt for five years, those five points will be waiting when you’re ready.
How do I know how many points I need to draw a specific unit?
Most state wildlife agencies publish historical draw data showing the minimum and maximum point totals that drew each unit. Colorado publishes this on their CPW website. Wyoming, Montana, and Arizona do the same. Our Draw Odds Engine aggregates this data across states and lets you model your odds based on your current point totals.
What happens to my points when I draw a tag?
In most preference point states, your points reset to zero when you successfully draw a tag. You start accumulating again the following year. In bonus point states, the same typically applies — drawing consumes your points. This is why “cashing in” points is such a strategic decision. You want to spend them on the right unit at the right time.
Are there any states considering changing their point systems?
Point system reform is a hot topic across the West. Colorado has debated changes to its preference system for years, with proposals ranging from eliminating preference points entirely to implementing a hybrid or bonus system. Montana reviews its squared bonus system periodically. Any major change would significantly impact application strategy, which is another reason to diversify across multiple states rather than betting everything on one system.
Should I apply for my dream unit or a unit I can realistically draw?
Both. In states with split draws (Colorado’s 75/25, Wyoming’s 75/25), you can effectively do both — your preference points work in the 75% pool while your application also enters the 25% random pool. In bonus states like Arizona and Montana, apply for what you want to hunt. In New Mexico’s pure lottery, apply for whatever excites you most that year.
The Bottom Line
Bonus points and preference points aren’t just different names for the same thing. They represent fundamentally different philosophies about how scarce hunting opportunities should be allocated, and understanding those differences is the foundation of every successful western big game strategy.
True preference rewards patience and punishes late starters. Bonus points reward persistence while keeping hope alive for everyone. Squared bonus heavily tilts toward commitment. Pure lottery treats everyone the same.
Build your strategy around the math, not around hope. Apply in multiple states. Hunt general-season tags while your points build. And whatever you do, don’t skip application years — the cost of a missed year compounds in ways that’ll haunt you at the draw results table.
Start modeling your draw odds across all western states with our Draw Odds Engine, and build the application plan that gets you into the field — not stuck behind a computer screen for another decade.