Preference Points, Bonus Points, OTC — How Western Big Game Tags Work

Before you can chase elk, mule deer, pronghorn, moose, sheep, or goat out west, you have to get through the part that stops most first-timers cold: figuring out how you actually get a tag. There's no single national system — every state runs its own, and the terminology alone (preference points, bonus points, OTC, lottery) is enough to make people give up before they've even picked a unit. Here's what each one actually means.

There's no federal system — every state does its own thing

Just like duck season dates, there's no single tag system that applies everywhere. Each state's wildlife agency sets its own rules for each species, which means the system that gets you an elk tag in Colorado may look nothing like the system for the same species in Wyoming. The good news: once you understand the handful of underlying models, you can figure out any state's system fairly quickly.

Preference points

A preference point system rewards people who keep applying and not drawing. Every year you apply for a unit and don't get picked, you earn a point. Tags get allocated to the applicants with the most points first, which functions like a queue — the longer you've been applying for a specific unit without drawing, the closer you move to the front of the line. This is the most common system for premium, high-demand units, and it means drawing a top-tier tag can genuinely take years of applying before you're anywhere near the front.

Bonus points

Bonus points sound similar but work differently. Think of each point as another raffle ticket in the drum rather than a spot in a queue — more points mean more chances, but there's no guarantee. Someone applying for the first time with zero points can still draw over someone who's applied for ten years, they just have far lower odds. The upside of a bonus point system is that everyone always has some chance, even in year one.

Pure lottery

Some states and some specific units skip points entirely and run a straight lottery — every applicant has identical odds regardless of history. No amount of prior applications improves your chances.

Over-the-counter (OTC) tags

OTC tags don't require a draw at all. You buy them directly, often during a set window, until the allotted number for that unit sells out. This is the fastest path to a tag if you want to hunt this year rather than build points toward a future season, though OTC units are typically more accessible and see more hunting pressure than the premium draw-only units.

Why this matters before you plan anything else

The system you're dealing with determines your actual strategy. If a unit runs on preference points, showing up and applying once won't get you a tag anytime soon — you're either building points for a future season or looking at a different unit. If OTC tags are available for the species and area you want, you can realistically plan a hunt for this fall instead of waiting years. Knowing which situation you're in before you start planning saves you from building an entire trip around a tag you were never going to draw.

Once you actually have a tag in hand, the planning problem changes completely — now it's about gear, logistics, physical prep, and how to actually hunt the unit you drew. That's exactly where our Out of State Archery Elk: The First-Timer's Guide picks up.

Informational only. Seasons, bag limits, zones, and draw/tag rules vary by state and change every year — always confirm the specifics with your state wildlife agency before you head out.